Behind the scenes: Meet the Discovery Specialists team
Meet Melissa George
In each issue of our newsletter, we introduce a member of our team to share a bit about their role and what goes into making the discovery process run smoothly.
This time, we hear from Melissa, our Business Development Manager at Discovery Specialists. She shares insights into her role, why she enjoys working with lawyers and legal teams, and how technology has changed the conversations she has with clients.
Tell us a little about your role at Discovery Specialists.
As Business Development Manager, I'm responsible for growing our document discovery practice, building strong relationships with clients, and finding new opportunities to help our clients navigate complex discovery challenges.
But I don't just talk about discovery, I get involved as well. I'm very hands-on and work closely with our team to oversee many of the projects that come through our doors, making sure everything runs smoothly from start to finish. I love being part of the process and seeing great outcomes delivered.
You've worked in the legal industry for more than 20 years. What's the biggest change you've seen in discovery during that time?
When I first started in law, discovery was an entirely paper-based process. We worked with hard-copy files, photocopying documents, manually reviewing them, and using coloured stickers to identify those that were relevant. Once the review was complete, every document had to be numbered by hand using an automatic numbering stamp. It was an incredibly time-consuming and labour-intensive process.
The digitisation of discovery has definitely been the most significant change I've witnessed throughout my career. Not only has it made the process faster and more cost-effective, but it has also transformed the way lawyers work. Instead of spending weeks in the opposing party's offices inspecting boxes of documents, we can now securely review electronic documents from virtually anywhere. Technology has made discovery far more efficient, accurate, and accessible, allowing legal teams to focus on analysing the evidence rather than managing the logistics of paper.
What do you enjoy most about working with lawyers and legal teams?
Throughout my career, I have worked alongside lawyers in one capacity or another. I've always been fascinated by the law, particularly litigation. I enjoy seeing how complex legal issues and large volumes of information are analysed and ultimately presented and argued before the courts. The intellectual challenge and strategic nature of the litigation process are what have always drawn me to this area of law.
What's one piece of advice you'd give to anyone planning a large discovery exercise?
To call us! No but in all seriousness, plan early and involve the right people from the outset. A successful discovery exercise isn't just about reviewing documents, it's about understanding the client's data, identifying key custodians, preserving information correctly, and agreeing on a clear strategy before large volumes of data are collected.
How has technology changed the conversations you have with clients?
That is an ever-evolving question. With the rapid advancement of AI-assisted review, the focus has shifted to how we can best leverage these technologies while continuing to meet our legal and ethical obligations throughout the discovery process.
AI has enormous potential to improve the efficiency of discovery, but its use is not always straightforward. Successfully incorporating AI requires a clear understanding of the technology, the nature and quality of the data being reviewed, and the legal issues underpinning the matter. Ultimately, AI is a powerful tool, but achieving a successful discovery process still depends on informed legal judgment, careful oversight, and a well-planned strategy.