© Husch Blackwell LLP Large Firm Records Management in a Small Office Jordan Ockerman Records Supervisor Husch Blackwell, LLP September 2010
Jan 17, 2016
© Husch Blackwell LLP
Large Firm Records Management in a Small
Office
Jordan OckermanRecords Supervisor
Husch Blackwell, LLPSeptember 2010
Main Topics
• How do you manage Records & Information in a large company?– Support– Important Concepts– Standards
• How do you make that program work in a smaller office?– Support– Maintain program standards– Flexibility
Husch Blackwell
• Missouri-based Law Firm• 2008 Merger• 600+ attorneys• 13 offices
– 2 Large– 4 Mid-Size– 7 Small
© Husch Blackwell LLP
Large Firm Records Management
Management Support
• Upper Management– As high up as you can go– Cost Benefit Analysis– Commitment to Provide Resources– Commitment to Program
Consistency
• Software
Consistency
• Supplies
Consistency
• Policies & Procedures• Off-Site Storage• Retention
Know What You Have
• Consistent Identification– Same Place– Same Titles – Folders & Documents
Know What You Have
• Shared Work– Between employees, department, offices
• Legal Compliance– Sarbanes Oxley & HIPAA– Legal Hold, Ethical Wall– Litigation
• Disaster Recovery
Avoid Duplicative Work
• Identify proper resources for workflow
• Choose a medium– Physical v. Electronic
Large Office Norms
• Centralized Records Center
Large Office Norms
• Files Requested to be Delivered– By Phone, Email, or RMS request
Large Office Norms
• Files Delivered within 2 Hours• Loose Filing Completed in 2 Days
– Clerks divided by number range or department
• New Files Created in 1 Day
Large Office Norms
• Staffing– Supervisor/Manager– Coordinators– Analysts– Retention Analysts– Archivists– Clerks– Technician– Courier
© Husch Blackwell LLP
Small Office Records Management
Challenges
• Less Space• Less Staff• Different Culture
Support
• Upper Management – President, Vice President, Chief Officers
• Local Management– Office Administrators, Department Chairs
• As Many People As Possible!!– People are much more willing to cooperate with a
friendly face or voice– Learn About Their Culture– Solicit Feedback
© Husch Blackwell LLP
Jefferson City
Pre-Merger
• Created own Records System• Indexed files for archiving• Each attorney/secretary kept their
own• Several Copies• Decentralized
Goals
• 1. Index all material into RMS• 2. Start using same folders• 3. Centralized Records Room
Getting Support
• Office Administrator• Office Managing Partner• Upper Management
– Already established program should be firm-wide
– Thumbs up for finances
• Meetings with attorneys & staff
Now : Similarities
• All files indexed into RMS– Staff & Attorneys can access– New folders created in RMS– Circulate files to requestor
• Centralized File Room– Converted large office
Now : Similarities
• Centralized Area
Now: Differences
• Records Liaison• No Deliveries• Requestors Circulate Files to
Themselves• Folders Created in Omaha
Other Variations
• Omaha– 1 Clerks, 1 Analyst – All jobs– No Delivery Schedule– Easy Access for Customers
• Phoenix– No onsite support – Attorney Liaison– 50% Electronic– Same supplies, use RMS
© Husch Blackwell LLP
Questions?
© Husch Blackwell LLP
Jordan Ockerman
Husch Blackwell4801 Main Suite 1000Kansas City, MO 64110
816-983-8864