Overview of Everlaw StoryBuilder
Everlaw StoryBuilder is a comprehensive and innovative suite of post-review tools designed to enhance the efficiency, organization, and collaboration of legal teams in the eDiscovery process. Launched in January 2021, StoryBuilder addresses the need for robust collaboration tools in the legal industry, particularly exacerbated by the pandemic.
Key Purpose
StoryBuilder enables legal teams to organize key case documents, craft compelling narratives, and prepare for critical events such as depositions, all within a single, secure, and collaborative platform. This tool integrates various functionalities to streamline case management, reduce data mismanagement, and improve workflow efficiency.
Key Features and Functionality
1. Timelines
StoryBuilder allows users to create detailed timelines that organize key documents, events, and profiles of individuals into a cohesive case narrative. These timelines are annotated with relevant information, enabling teams to view documents in relation to a timeline of events in the case. The Events view helps teams see documents within specific time spans, tying them to particular events.
2. Drafts
The Drafts tool is used to build outlines for depositions, arguments, or overall case strategies. It enables teams to produce written work product and reference documents within the text body, saving work in real-time. Drafts can be linked to specific documents in the timeline, facilitating the creation of structured and well-organized case narratives.
3. Depositions
The Depositions feature is designed to prepare for, conduct, and summarize depositions or other interview processes. It includes real-time collaboration tools, such as live chat, to help teams build question lines and streamline deposition workflows. Users can highlight key testimonies, curate exhibit lists, and create tasks. After a deposition, teams can write summaries and review transcripts, which automatically link to marked exhibits.
4. Dashboard
The dashboard provides a holistic view of key documents and evidence, allowing users to pinpoint key findings by adding visual cues that tie documents to specific events. This overview helps in managing documents, objects, and activity within the story, ensuring all team members are aligned.
5. Task Management and Collaboration
StoryBuilder enables users to create, assign, and track tasks for each case team member. This feature streamlines the overall case management process, ensuring that all tasks are completed in a timely manner. The platform supports adding multiple users to a story, with real-time collaboration capabilities to facilitate quick decision-making.
6. Document Management
Users can upload documents into a story, organize them, and apply labels to filter and categorize the documents. Documents can be associated with events, people, drafts, and depositions, making it easier to manage and reference them throughout the case. The platform also supports seamless document export and import, generating detailed exhibit lists for easy export.
7. Advanced Search and Automated Recommendations
StoryBuilder includes advanced search capabilities and automated document recommendations, helping teams locate impactful testimonies and relevant documents quickly. This feature is particularly useful given the vast volumes of electronically stored information (ESI) involved in eDiscovery.
Benefits
- Enhanced Collaboration: Provides a fully collaborative environment for legal teams to work together on case narratives and preparations.
- Improved Organization: Organizes key documents, events, and profiles into cohesive timelines and narratives.
- Streamlined Workflows: Reduces inefficiencies by integrating review and post-review processes into a single platform.
- Efficient Task Management: Allows for the creation, assignment, and tracking of tasks, ensuring timely completion.
- Advanced Search and Recommendations: Simplifies the process of locating key testimonies and documents.
Everlaw StoryBuilder has revolutionized the eDiscovery process by offering a secure, integrated, and collaborative platform that empowers legal teams to create compelling case narratives, manage transcripts, conduct live depositions, and streamline overall case management.