During a recent meeting with Michael Quartararo, president of ACEDS, and Maribel Rivera, VP of Strategy and Client Engagement at ACEDS, we discussed the latest trends in the ESI industry during our regular monthly Eye on ESI webinar.
I kicked off the session by recommending attendees check out a recent TRU webinar titled Unlock the Future of eDiscovery with AI: Essential Skills, Jobs, and the Latest in Relativity. Co-presented by TRU and Relativity, the 60-minute webinar explored essential skills for leveraging AI in eDiscovery, the critical intersection of jobs and training, and new AI-powered features in Relativity. The session is available for download on the TRU website if you’re interested in learning more.
What’s Hot in ESI
TRU has been tracking the latest trends in ESI hiring, and there are some notable developments. For example, the number of attorney-focused roles on the market has surged recently.
We’ve seen a wide range of these positions still open, and the roles typically require a hybrid mix of leadership skills for large-scale review management and technical review leadership—often with a focus on AI or technology-assisted review skills. There’s a strong demand for attorneys who bring both legal expertise and technological fluency to the table.
Trends from October and Predictions for 2025
Looking ahead, we see several key trends shaping the ESI job market in the coming months and years:
- Raises for Lit-Support Directors & Managers: Many lit-support directors and managers have reported significant salary increases—up to 40-50% this month. What they all share in common is involvement in innovation-focused committees or working groups, such as eDiscovery, legal firm operations, client services, and AI integration. Firms are prioritizing innovation, which is leading to big raises and new opportunities.
- Abundance of Staff/ESI Attorney Roles: There’s a growing demand for staff attorneys with high-level tech skills, especially in eDiscovery. If you’re an attorney with expertise in technology, it might be a great time to explore new opportunities, as law firms are actively hiring for these roles.
- A New Era for ESI “Rainmakers”: Many top-tier ESI attorneys are in the market, looking for better opportunities to grow their practices. I expect this trend to continue, with high-caliber professionals moving from large firms to mid-sized and boutique firms as they seek more flexibility and growth potential.
- Competitive Job Market: Last month, I noticed that a significant number of job seekers I’ve worked with had multiple offers at the time of hire. The market is becoming increasingly competitive, with hiring managers vying for the same talent. This competition is likely to continue, leading to higher salaries in the next three to six months.
- Increase in Contract and Vendor Jobs: We’re seeing a rise in contract and vendor roles, with new projects pushing this market to a six-month high. The increase in private litigation, following changes in regulation and the political landscape, is driving demand for ESI services. Many service providers are opting to hire contractors for these roles as they navigate these uncertain and evolving projects.
- Difficulty Hiring In-Office ESI Pros: There’s still a significant challenge in hiring full-time, in-office ESI professionals in major cities like New York and San Francisco. The time it takes to fill these roles is two to three times longer compared to similar fully remote positions.
New Data on RelativityOne Use
RelativityOne adoption has been growing steadily since 2018. In fact, during the peak of the Great Resignation, many job seekers with RelativityOne experience strategically used this expertise to secure new roles. As of now, only about 50% of job seekers in the ESI field have experience with RelativityOne, but I anticipate that this number will increase over time, particularly as users look for new opportunities to expand their skillset.
The data shows that more law firms are adopting RelativityOne, with 53% of the roles TRU placed recently going to law firms. This marks the first time in 10 years that I’ve seen more jobs go to law firms than to vendors. The shift demonstrates not only the growing adoption of RelativityOne in law firms but also how lean vendors are running these days.
One thing that stood out to me was how job seekers rated their own proficiency with Relativity’s more advanced features, like Case Dynamics and Relativity Dynamic Objects.
While most applicants rate themselves highly in basic Relativity skills, few are experts in these advanced areas. If you’re looking to differentiate yourself in the job market, focusing on mastering these advanced features, especially getting experience in aiR, could give you a competitive edge.
Contract vs. Direct Hire
There’s been a notable shift towards contract roles in the ESI job market. In the last quarter, 45% of the roles TRU filled were contract positions, up from 25% previously. Many organizations are opting for contractors because they need professionals who can hit the ground running without the lengthy onboarding process required for full-time hires.
Motivations for Job Seekers
In terms of job seeker motivations, TRU has noticed that burnout has moved into the number two spot behind the desire for higher compensation.
While salaries in both vendors and law firms have remained relatively stable in recent months, professionals are looking to make a move either for better pay or to escape burnout in their current roles.
The data from this month’s webinar underscores just how important it is to be well-versed in the latest technology. Those professionals who are adept at AI, RelativityOne, and ESI technology leadership can command higher salaries and land positions at leading firms that value this expertise.
If you’re interested in exploring the latest opportunities or want more insights on the trends shaping the ESI job market, reach out to us at TRU Staffing Partners today.
