This software was traditionally difficult to learn and often required a technician to operate. Attorneys had little direct contact with these applications, and thus little regard for them. Today's generation of litigation support programs not only perform many more functions but also are much simpler to use. The new software helps litigators make the most of case information yet does not require a huge investment of time in the technology. Unfortunately, no one can quite agree on an exact definition of litigation support software.
Some users see it as encompassing only transcript, manuscript, or database functions.
Others focus on organizing a warehouse of documents with some type of tab and sorting system. Still others consider the main task of litigation support software as the analysis of complex fact and evidence patterns. Because of the diversity of the litigation support category, attorneys should focus first on whether litigation support programs are worth the time and effort for their firm. To help solve this problem, a firm should take an honest look at itself. A firm should first look at the types of litigation matters it routinely handles.