Ferguson Case Orr Paterson Leverages Everlaw for Modern Litigation
In the ever-evolving landscape of legal technology, firms that embrace innovation not only survive, but thrive.
Ferguson Case Orr Paterson (FCOP), the largest full-service law firm in Ventura County, California, prides itself on being at the forefront of the technological evolution in the legal profession. With practice areas spanning business transactions and litigation, trusts and estates, intellectual property, personal injury, and more, their attorneys have to remain aware of the latest developments in order to best serve their clients.
Jessica Wan is a partner in the firm’s Business Litigation, Employment Litigation and Consulting, and Intellectual Property practice groups, where she has prosecuted numerous design and utility patents to issuance, and has regularly achieved success registering word mark and stylized/design trademarks in the U.S. and foreign countries.
“What makes FCOP unique is that it's a small town firm with a big firm feel, meaning we can handle cases of any size and complexity, but with a really fine touch because the attorneys and the staff are very humble and down to earth,” Wan said.
Wan has witnessed the transformation of electronically stored information (ESI) over the course of her career, from its time as a trending topic for CLE sessions to the necessary part of the litigation process it is today.
“It has been wonderful to see advances in legal technology to be able to collect data and information in a cost effective way, and it actually makes litigation more efficient and streamlined in my opinion,” Wan said.
From Skepticism to Success: Championing Everlaw at FCOP
When Wan began exploring ediscovery platforms, transparency was key.
She found Everlaw through a Google search, and was immediately impressed by the platform's straightforward pricing and the helpfulness of the customer success team.
“Everlaw’s transparency in both the platform and its pricing made sense for FCOP, and that's why we decided to choose them to handle our ediscovery.”
However, once Wan and her team selected Everlaw, the challenge quickly pivoted toward getting attorneys and litigation support up to speed in the platform. Through the help of the customer support team and Wan’s own initiatives, she was able to get the partners to start using Everlaw during the litigation preparation process.
“With the support of our customer success representative, we were able to spearhead a lot of training and user education, which increased adoption,” Wan said. “Another tactic I had was to simply start adding the new matters I was assigned to in Everlaw. Then I’d add the partners, which allowed me to show them what I was doing, and even show the paralegals how I was uploading documents, reviewing, tagging, and producing them.”
Once people in the firm had a basic understanding of the platform, Wan was able to start leading more advanced training for features like Storybuilder, and for common workflows like deposition preparation.
“I started showing them tips and tricks about Storybuilder, and from there helped them with depositions, uploading transcripts, and linking exhibits. That’s when I saw adoption really take off with a lot of the other litigation partners, and especially the assistants. They found it much easier to use than the old school way of using Adobe and folders and subfolders and things like that.”
Delivering Client Value and Embracing AI’s Potential
This ability to quickly get the whole firm up to speed has had a direct effect on FCOP’s productivity.
“Everlaw has definitely made me more productive and more effective as a litigation practitioner,” Wan said.
As data volumes grow and deadlines become more stringent, technology is more important than ever to an effective legal practice.
“An ediscovery platform like Everlaw makes a huge impact in digesting and understanding massive amounts of data, even though deadlines are growing less flexible and judges are becoming less likely to give continuances in certain instances.”
With Everlaw’s generative AI features, Wan and her team are excited by the prospect of saving time and creating a better work product.
“I think the potential of Everlaw’s AI features is huge,” she said. “Especially for smaller teams like ours, it can be a huge time saver. Attorneys can leverage AI to save time so they can then focus on more substantive issues and strategic planning, versus the grind of getting a mediation statement started, or discovery responses started, or even taking a first pass at document production.”
Wan sees AI significantly impacting those smaller workflows, allowing attorneys to pivot away from administrative work.
“When it comes to prepping for depositions, and digesting data, and assisting with outlines, and preparing exhibits, that's a huge pro and advantage that I think AI will play a role in,” Wan said.
Leveraging Efficiency for Pro Bono and Diversity
For Wan and the entire FCOP team, their pro bono practice is one they hold in high regard. The ability to take on legal work for under-resourced litigants, and to increase access to justice in their community, has been hugely impactful for the attorneys.
“Everlaw has been huge in freeing up time to take on pro bono cases,” Wan said. “And, because of how Everlaw does its pricing structure, firms are better able to absorb the costs of those cases.”
Wan is a passionate advocate for diversity initiatives, and sees technology as a critical tool for promoting justice and affordability.
“Technology helps bridge certain gaps,” Wan said. “For example, if you can use Zoom to call in from your home versus having to go to a courtroom three hours away, that increased accessibility is huge.”
By making litigation more affordable and accessible, Everlaw directly supports this mission. “The existence of Everlaw helps bridge the gap in the affordability of legal services,” Wan said.
Setting the Standard for Modern Practice
FCOP's journey with Everlaw is a blueprint for how mid-sized firms can strategically invest in technology to elevate their practice and better serve their clients.
By embracing the efficiency and cost-savings of the Everlaw platform, FCOP has become more effective and productive in handling its full caseload. This strategic partnership ensures that FCOP can litigate complex matters with the sophistication of a large firm, yet maintain the affordability and hands-on client care that defines its small-town character.
As the legal landscape continues to be reshaped by data proliferation and AI innovation, firms like FCOP are demonstrating that the future of litigation belongs to those who prioritize client outcomes, strategic efficiency, and a user-centric approach to legal technology.
