We are thrilled that we are close to releasing the results of the Mattern 2023 Information Governance Survey (“Survey”). We launched this survey in coordination with the industry’s most respected IG thought leaders to provide law firms first-of-kind data surrounding industry-wide practices of data retention as well as insights regarding common roadblocks to the development and implementation of information governance (IG) policy.
Simply put, information governance (IG) is foundational to the delivery of legal services and affects multiple, critical touchpoints that round out the top concerns of clients: cybersecurity, regulatory compliance, and data privacy rank as the most important issues facing Chief Legal Officers year over year according to the ACC CLO Survey in 2023.
An effective IG policies and procedures framework serves to guide employees on appropriate data use, where information should be stored and in what format, and how and when information should be disposed (return to client, destroyed, or converted to vital record status). IG programs further help with regulatory and outside counsel guideline compliance, operational efficiency, and reducing discovery costs.
Our purpose, therefore, for developing the 2023 Information Governance Survey was to answer the primary question that most firms pose but to which there was no prior industry-wide benchmark – what are our peer firms doing in this vital area?
This question commonly surfaces throughout Mattern engagements with firms of all sizes, whether it be on the topic of email retention, digitization programs, or how to curb data sprawl across network shares.
We are thrilled to have curated significant data that will be significant for our client and participating firms as they continue to develop and mature their IG policies.
Here’s just a sneak peak of what we are seeing in the report. The Mattern 2023 IG Survey clearly illustrates that, despite the fact that a majority of clients (65%) are pushing for outside counsel guidelines which include clearly defined retention limits regarding client-provided information and firm work product, most firms are failing to fully deliver what clients want.
For instance, the majority of respondent firms surveyed have an IG policy of some kind in place (94.2%), enforcement, across IG Survey respondents, is weak. There is overall, substantial non-compliance, endemic cultures of “granting exceptions,” and poor to weak strategies for reigning in data sprawl.
What exactly are firms doing and where is the industry headed? Participating firms
will be receiving their fully customized reports soon. And while we cannot broadly share the full results with non-participating firms, we do encourage firms to request the Executive Summary here!