Extract from Everlaw’s article “Four Tips for Enhancing the Early Case Assessment Process”
How can legal teams ensure that they can leverage early case assessment (ECA) so that they not only gain a more thorough understanding of a matter but also manage costs and maximize efficiency? Here are four tips that will help legal professionals navigate the early case assessment process and enable them to make informed and cost-effective decisions:
1. Gather Context About the Case Early and Often
Before taking any action, it’s crucial to identify the viability of the case, which involves analyzing the merits of the arguments themselves. Gaining context can be the difference between making an astute decision to settle or taking on a case that builds mountains of cost. Some things that should be considered are:
- The timeline of events.
- The issues at hand.
- The number of parties involved.
- Where to find the evidence.
- Arguments or evidence that can hurt the case.
Legal teams won’t understand every aspect of the matter at one time, so it’s critical to poke holes and assess the weaknesses and strengths of the case throughout the ECA process.
