Legal document scanning may sound like a walk in the park compared to other tasks performed by
a paralegal or lawyer on a regular basis. After all, standard document scanning happens every day
in-house at any law firm. Document scanning, also known as document imaging, helps you deal
with the rapidly increasing burden of maintaining your organization's paper archives. However, legal
scanning is not the same as regular document scanning. It requires a level of expertise that not
every scanning company possesses, and the volume of documents that need to be scanned is so
immense that no individual paralegal can handle it alone. Moreover, in the legal community,
perfection is demanded and expected by U.S. Courts and arbitration associations like the American
Arbitration Association (AAA) or the Financial Industry Regulatory Association (FINRA), from in-house
recordkeeping to discovery productions and trial and hearing exhibit exchanges.
Depending on the magnitude and scope of the project, legal document scanning can be
surprisingly too arduous, laborious, and unduly burdensome for most to perform. It can also be a
waste of valuable time for paralegals or lawyers who could focus on other critical assignments
instead of standing at a copier machine. At Pinnacle, we are well-equipped to handle the most
demanding legal document scanning tasks, both on and off-site, leaving you free to focus on other
essential tasks.
Pinnacle Discovery Solutions provides high-quality, high-volume document scanning services and
document management solutions for organizations across various industries, focusing on improving
efficiency, reducing costs, and staying up-to-date with the latest standards. We specialize in serving
law firms and businesses of all sizes, and our scanning services range from digitizing single files to
entire storage rooms of boxes. Our cutting-edge scanning technology converts your paper
documents into digital images that are fully indexed, easily searchable, and retrievable in
seconds.
Document indexing is the process of assigning specific information as key identifiers to scanned documents. This is typically done during the production phase of document scanning, allowing immediate access to the documents through text search. Pinnacle's scanning operator will assign names to the files as they are scanned, following the naming instructions provided by you. Common indexing instructions include naming files after the dates, client or vendor names, and invoice numbers. Still, whatever the instructions are provided, they will be executed with the utmost accuracy and precision. Indexing is a critical step in organizing digital records to mirror the appearance of paper documents, enabling efficient retrieval and management of information.
Electronic Bates stamping is a process of electronically adding a unique identifier or page number
to each page of a digital document or set of documents. This electronic identifier is commonly
called a 'Bates stamp,' named after the physical stamping machines previously used for this
purpose in paper-based document management. Electronic Bates stamping is widely used in the
legal industry to organize and identify large sets of electronic documents, especially during the
discovery phase of a case. In addition, it helps ensure that each page can be easily located and
referenced during legal proceedings. Typically, electronic Bates stamping involves a three-letter
prefix followed by sequential numbering that is added to the bottom right-hand corner.
Electronic exhibit stamping is the process of adding an electronic stamp or label to digital
documents that are being used as exhibits in legal proceedings. For example, to present evidence
during a trial, the initial stage involves marking the evidence with an exhibit sticker for identification
and submitting it to the court's possession. The stamp typically includes identifying information,
such as the case number, exhibit number, and date and serves to authenticate and track the
document. Electronic exhibit stamping must be added to the first page of every exhibit in your trial
exhibits. Typically, the defense uses blue stickers, while plaintiffs utilize yellow stickers.
OCR, short for Optical Character Recognition, is a technology capable of recognizing text within a digital image. PDF is one of the most common file types that benefit from OCR. By utilizing OCR software, a document can be transformed into a searchable PDF. With this feature, pressing Ctrl+F (or Command+F on a Mac) will display a search box that enables users to search for keywords within the document. Pinnacle's cutting-edge OCR software goes beyond standard text recognition by capturing handwritten notes on documents and automatically rotating images to the correct orientation. This enhanced functionality ensures that all text, whether printed or handwritten, is accurately recognized and processed, saving users valuable time and effort in manual adjustments. This significantly reduces the time needed for document review saving you time and your client money.
Rolling productions are an excellent option for large-scale projects. With this approach, we scan, perform quality control, and upload the production as it is produced, providing you with immediate access to data for document review. This swift turnaround allows you to start your review process without delay, making it easier to stay on top of the project timeline and manage time-sensitive situations effectively. For instance, if we pick up 50 boxes from your office today, by the same day or evening, we usually have 4 or 5 boxes uploaded for your review, with more expected to be available by the next morning. Additionally, this approach can help you gain extra time when facing tight deadlines with your adversary.
Legal cases often involve handling and exchanging highly restricted confidential documents that
cannot be removed from their stored location. In some cases, adversaries may be uncooperative
and refuse to allow the discovery documents to leave their client's premises. To address such
situations, we offer an on-site scanning solution that sends a professional team equipped with
high-volume scanning equipment to the location to find the "smoking gun."
Our team of trained professionals and high-volume scanning equipment can be assembled within
hours to establish a scanning environment, utilizing similar equipment and workstations as our own
production facilities, without disturbing the location's regular business operations. Then, with just
access to an electrical outlet, we can efficiently scan and digitize the documents on-site, making
them readily available for your review.
Pricing is determined on a grading system for scanning projects. For example, auto-feed loose documents free from obstructions such as staples or paper clips are on the low end, and glasswork (tiny receipts) would be on the highest end.
Our entire team of litigation support superheroes has been with us since our founding, and we work
tirelessly together to get the job done right the first time, every time. Although we are a boutique
litigation support team, we work out of two offices (NYC and Long Island) and handle some of the
most complex, high-stakes litigation matters you can imagine!
Pinnacle’s core values are rooted in providing unparalleled customer service, ensuring client
satisfaction, and meeting the tightest deadlines. So when you choose Pinnacle’s litigation support
superheroes for your legal document production needs, you can rest assured that you have
reached the pinnacle of litigation support services!
Pinnacle’s superheroes are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for immediate assistance
with your upcoming trial, arbitration, deposition, or hearing. Let’s talk!