Extract from Kristen Alfred and Odette Claridge’s article “Top 6 Things to Consider With Chat Data When Working on an Investigation”
With chat platforms now dominating workplace communication, legal investigations face new complexities in managing chat data, a format that is distinct, fragmented, and more nuanced than traditional email. Legal teams must modernize their data review protocols to ensure no crucial insight is lost in translation when dealing with chat data during investigations.
Here are six key considerations when tackling chat data during investigations.
1. Slang and Conversational Language
Unlike formal emails, chat messages are frequently informal and rife with slang. Organizations and attorneys need to reframe their traditional e-discovery email and edoc search terms mindset to a more conversational style of communication when working with chat data types.
Search strategies should incorporate shorthand terms and phrases reflective of casual conversations, not always the formal language you would see in business files.
