eDiscovery Talent is Tough to Find
By Debora Motyka Jones
SEATTLE, Wash. (July 17, 2019) – eDiscovery talent is tough to find. During my career at Lighthouse, I have had many conversations with corporate ediscovery professionals about how tough it is to find top talent. As the ediscovery industry continues to expand and develop, the search for new hires continues to become more difficult. In order to ease this process, I have used a few simple guidelines to find the right candidates for Lighthouse.
Below are four qualities I look for when interviewing a potential candidate and some of the questions and ideas that help me reveal those traits:
- Focus on problem solving. This seems intuitive, but you would be surprised at how many people I speak to in ediscovery that focus on “can’t.” When instead, they could be framing the same issue as a positive by asking about the goal, and then suggesting a new way to get to that goal, getting you to a better place. Here are some scenarios that will help you to figure out if a candidate is focused on problem solving:
- A co-worker asks you to process some data immediately. Your process dictates that they fill out a basic request form in order to get the data through, but they do not have such form. You know it is a terminable offense to violate the process.
- A lawyer insists that you produce email files in native format, because they have agreed to a native production format in the meet and confer. What do you do?
- Jack of all trades. Being able to be nimble and a quick learner is essential for an ediscovery practitioner. I find that the people who have taught themselves SQL in their spare time turn out to be great colleagues. Here are some questions that could help identify a nimble candidate:
- What was the last thing you mastered?
- This job requires that you learn [insert tool name here], how will you go about learning said tool?
- A true team player. In the ediscovery industry there will always be individual work, but there is a lot of collaboration required among different functions. Top ediscovery practitioners know how to work and communicate as a team player. Here are some scenarios to ask about:
- Everybody on the team is flooded with work except your department/function. You are asked to help. Describe your reaction and what steps you would take.
- Your co-worker made an error on a project and you discover it. How do you react? c. Conduct group interviews and see how they interact with several people on your team.
- Produces tangible results. In order to support the development of your ediscovery department and/or your company, you want to select someone who will continue to strive to produce great outcomes. These folks typically want to innovative, create, and continue to drive toward future achievements.
- Ask them to share specific measurable results from previous efforts.
- Ask them to explain how they reached their career goals and how they plan to continue to do so.
Recruiting is no easy undertaking, especially when searching for top talent in a specific industry like ediscovery. However, when you set specific guidelines like the ones above and ask the right questions, you will begin to discover the right folks that are the right fit for your company.
If you would like to continue this discussion or have additional comments, feel free to email us at info@lhediscovery.com. If you are a job seeker looking for a career in ediscovery, feel free to check out our careers page at https://lighthouseglobal.com/careers/.
As Vice President of Service Delivery, Debora manages all client-facing and operations functions related to ediscovery services including Client Onboarding, eDiscovery Technical Services, Client Services PMs, Expert Solutions Services, Continuous Improvement, Quality & Operational Excellence departments. Debora also plays an essential role on the company’s executive team by collaborating around new markets, and by bringing a customer-centric and pragmatic approach to achieving corporate and customer goals. She is responsible for building out a robust team of legal and technology experts, driving forward partnerships focused on delighting clients, and driving quality and efficiency throughout her teams. Debora’s background as a litigator and buyer, as well as her vast client-facing and operational experience will enable Lighthouse to provide the high-caliber, consultative client experience, the company is known for.
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Debora Motyka Jones
VICE PRESIDENT OF SERVICE DELIVERY
As Vice President of Service Delivery, Debora manages all client-facing and operations functions related to ediscovery services including Client Onboarding, eDiscovery Technical Services, Client Services PMs, Expert Solutions Services, Continuous Improvement, Quality & Operational Excellence departments. Debora also plays an essential role on the company’s executive team by collaborating around new markets, and by bringing a customer-centric and pragmatic approach to achieving corporate and customer goals. She is responsible for building out a robust team of legal and technology experts, driving forward partnerships focused on delighting clients, and driving quality and efficiency throughout her teams. Debora’s background as a litigator and buyer, as well as her vast client-facing and operational experience will enable Lighthouse to provide the high-caliber, consultative client experience, the company is known for.
As Vice President of Service Delivery, Debora manages all client-facing and operations functions related to ediscovery services including Client Onboarding, eDiscovery Technical Services, Client Services PMs, Expert Solutions Services, Continuous Improvement, Quality & Operational Excellence departments. Debora also plays an essential role on the company’s executive team by collaborating around new markets, and by bringing a customer-centric and pragmatic approach to achieving corporate and customer goals. She is responsible for building out a robust team of legal and technology experts, driving forward partnerships focused on delighting clients, and driving quality and efficiency throughout her teams. Debora’s background as a litigator and buyer, as well as her vast client-facing and operational experience will enable Lighthouse to provide the high-caliber, consultative client experience, the company is known for.
Debora has been with Lighthouse since 2009 and has made a significant impact on the company’s growth and business strategy during her tenure. With a background in litigation from practicing at law firms in both Washington D.C and Washington State, her expertise and deep understanding of complex ediscovery matters enabled her to create a resonating brand and architect the innovative products and services that keep Lighthouse at the forefront of the ediscovery market. She led the execution and implementation of the company’s rebranding in 2012 and developed the marketing department from the ground up. In addition, she has been instrumental in spearheading the company’s strategic technology partnerships, driving the formation of Lighthouse’s product strategy, and the evolution of Lighthouse’s SmartSeries. She also instituted a client advisory board to ensure strong alignment with market demands. In 2015, Debora led the company’s expansion to the eastern seaboard by managing the development the New York office, the operational and sales teams, as well as expanding upon the company’s current set of services and clientele. Finally, since 2017, Debora has taken on leadership roles in Lighthouse’s M&A integrations.
Prior to joining Lighthouse, Debora was a Complex Commercial Litigation Associate at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP in Washington, D.C. where she worked on matters such as the WorldCom and Enron bankruptcies. Her practice also included multi-million-dollar commercial and securities litigation, and internal investigations. While at Weil, Debora was recognized three times for her dedication to pro bono service. Debora also practiced as a litigation Associate at McNaul Ebel Nawrot & Helgren PLLC. Her practice included commercial, employment, and securities litigation, as well as legal malpractice defense.
Debora received a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Washington where she graduated magna cum laude. She received her law degree from The George Washington University Law School in Washington, D.C. She is admitted to practice law in New York State, the District of Columbia (inactive membership), and Washington State. Debora is Level II Pragmatic Marketing Certified. Debora is actively involved in the legal community as the former Director of Women in eDiscovery, as a mentor with Mother Attorneys Mentoring Association of Seattle, as an Advisory Board Member for the Organization of Legal Professionals, as the former Chair of the Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC)’s New to In-House Committee, and as a former board member of the Washington Women Lawyers (WWL). Debora was also recognized for her contribution to the ACC and was named 2012 WWL Board Member of the Year. Debora is a frequent speaker on eDiscovery strategy, a former instructor for the Organization of Legal Professionals, and a regular Lighthouse blog contributor.