Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/1596
ILTA White Paper E-Mail Life Cycle 8 E -mail management is an integral element of the matter life cycle, and it plays an important role in a firm's key business processes. The mistake that many firms make is to have an overly narrow view of EMM and to think of it only as a technology operational issue, as when the mail store gets too big and is challenging to manage. Firms typically address this challenge by implementing an archiving capability as their EMM solution. This would address the immediate issue, but most archiving solutions are designed to do only that and might not have more capabilities, such as an effective search function. Archiving is only one minor aspect of EMM. It should go much further and should be addressed as part of the full matter life cycle. EMM and ThE MaTTER LIfE CyCLE EMM starts when a new matter is opened. The new business intake process should include the establishment of the file organization for the client record. For example, in a matter- centric environment this would include the opening of the workspace for the new matter. The workspace should include folders which will hold client communications in some form. There is no single right way to structure these files, but they should include some way to organize and file e-mail messages. Some firms include an e-mail folder that would be similar to a traditional correspondence file; other firms include e-mail as part of other folders that could be organized along more functional lines such as "drafts," "matter administration" and "pleadings," with e-mail messages being filed in the folder that deals with the subject matter or reason for the e-mail. Thus EMM begins as the matter starts. EMM planning needs to include how and where e-mail messages will be filed. BOB dOlinsky esentiO technOlOgies Send, Delete, File . . . But Where? Make E-Mail Management Acceptable by Making It Easy to Use and Effective