From Data to Justice
Inside eLit Specialist Kostantino Athanasopoulos’ Journey with Legal Tech
In our latest interview, we sat down with Kostantino “Dean” Athanasopoulos, an eLitigation technology coordinator at the United States Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, to discuss his two decades of experience at the Department of Justice (DOJ) and his journey into litigation technology.
[The views represented herein are exclusively the views of the interviewee, and do not necessarily represent the views held by his employer.]
Behind his quick wit and passion for the law is a seasoned litigation technologist who plays a vital behind-the-scenes role in some of the most important legal cases in the country. Based in Philadelphia, Athanasopoulos has spent nearly his entire career with the DOJ, evolving alongside the technologies that now power modern litigation.
“I didn’t know too much about eLitigation or the world of technology crossovering with law,” he admits. “But after my first trial, I saw the bigger picture and the mission of the office — fighting for justice. That’s when it clicked.”
Our entire lives are on our phones, social media and the cloud now. That’s our time capsule. So, when we need to litigate, that’s a lot of data to get through.
And that “click” has led to an adventure that spans 20 years of trials, technological shifts, and an ever-expanding volume of data. In his role, Athanasopoulos helps prosecutors make sense of complex case data, turning raw information into compelling visual evidence that juries can understand — and that can lead to convictions, acquittals, or systemic change.
His story is one of adaptation: from an era when case files were still mostly paper to a present where data lives in the cloud, on smartphones, and across social media platforms.
“Our entire lives are on our phones, social media and the cloud now. That’s our time capsule,” he explains. “So, when we need to litigate, that’s a lot of data to get through.”
This tidal wave of digital information has reshaped how cases are built, and tools like Everlaw have become essential to his DOJ workflow. Athanasopoulos was part of the team that test-piloted Everlaw in the federal government three years ago — and he hasn’t looked back since.
“My first ‘aha’ moment was seeing how fast it processed data. It’s the fastest tool I’ve used,” he says. “That’s huge, because the faster I can process data, the faster I can support the attorneys and move the case forward.”
For Athanasopoulos, Everlaw isn’t just a convenience — it’s a transformation. In the past, he had to cobble together multiple software tools to do what Everlaw now consolidates into one platform. With features like data visualization and clustering, he’s able to help attorneys identify patterns and insights they might otherwise miss.
He also emphasizes the human side of litigation technology. It’s not just about sifting through emails or metadata; it’s about helping attorneys tell the story of what happened — and fighting for victims who often have no voice.
“Every case is different,” he notes. “You could be dealing with the same type of crime, but it unfolds in a completely different way each time. It keeps things interesting.”
His passion comes through whether he’s talking about trial preparation, training colleagues on new tools, or highlighting powerful moments from his civil rights and public corruption cases.
The faster I can process data, the faster I can support the attorneys and move the case forward.
Of course, implementing new technology in a government agency isn’t always easy. But Athanasopoulos credits Everlaw’s intuitive design and responsive support team for helping smooth the process.
“It just works,” he says simply. “It has a great user interface. It has all the tools I need in one platform.”
In a world where data is only growing more complex, Athanasopoulos’ blend of technical expertise, storytelling instinct, and commitment to justice makes him a key player on the front lines of federal litigation.
