The Complete Guide to Legal Fact Management

What is Legal Fact Management?

Legal fact management simplifies the overwhelming task of organising litigation information by turning scattered details into structured, accessible facts. Unlike traditional systems that merely store files, legal fact management focuses on extracting and linking key pieces of information.

This approach tackles a persistent issue: critical details often get buried in a sea of unorganised documents [1]. Emails, witness statements, contracts, and discovery materials can hold vital evidence, but without a systematic way to connect these pieces, it’s easy to miss patterns or relationships that could be crucial to a case.

A Fact Management System (FMS) automates this process, transforming unstructured data into a searchable and concise timeline [1]. Instead of manually digging through hundreds of documents to piece together events, legal professionals can rely on an organised system that connects facts, revealing the true story behind the case.

For example, users of Mary Technology's FMS have reported saving an average of 72% of their time per case. They’ve also been able to create detailed chronologies in under seven minutes [3]. The system boasts a 99.6% user-reported accuracy for chronologies, alongside a 9.3/10 average satisfaction score [3]. By reducing the chance of human error in data entry and organisation, automated fact management delivers not only speed but also precision.

Organising facts into a chronological structure turns raw data into a clear, persuasive narrative. This method forms the foundation for understanding the importance of chronology in litigation.

Why Chronology Matters in Litigation

Chronology plays a critical role in building strong legal arguments. Australian courts, for instance, require precise and clear timelines to ensure effective case presentations [4]. This is reflected in practices such as the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal (ACAT), which directs parties to submit detailed chronological timelines of events, complete with supporting documents for each entry [4].

The Federal Court of Australia also highlights the need to pinpoint key disputes early on and resolve them efficiently [5]. Having access to well-organised facts allows legal teams to uncover the main points of contention. Without a proper timeline, essential connections between events can go unnoticed, potentially weakening a case.

According to the Federal Court of Australia, "The overarching purpose of civil practice and procedure and case management within the individual docket system is to facilitate the just resolution of disputes according to law as quickly, inexpensively and efficiently as possible." [5]

Modern fact management tools can even generate dynamic timelines that expose inconsistencies or gaps at a glance [1]. Beyond meeting court requirements, these tools enable legal teams to identify the most compelling narrative threads. This allows lawyers to shift their focus from tedious data organisation to high-value tasks like case analysis and strategy.

Common Fact Management Problems

Outdated processes and manual methods often lead to inefficiencies, errors, and wasted time. Legal teams frequently grapple with the sheer volume of documents and data involved in complex cases, which can result in crucial facts getting lost amid irrelevant information.

Many firms still rely on basic document management systems that treat each piece of evidence as isolated, rather than part of a cohesive narrative. Add in version control issues - where multiple team members work on the same case - and you end up with duplicated, contradictory, or outdated information. This lack of coordination can confuse case preparation and lead to inconsistent arguments in court.

The emergence of artificial intelligence offers promising solutions to these challenges, though adoption has been gradual. For instance, only 3% of attorneys reported using AI six months after ChatGPT’s launch. Meanwhile, 41 of the Am Law 100 firms have started integrating AI into various legal and business operations [7]. However, concerns around data security and regulatory compliance remain significant barriers. Legal professionals must navigate these challenges while maintaining strict confidentiality standards [7].

"As the fact management system increasingly handles fact organisation, litigation lawyers spend less time on routine data sorting and more time analysing cases, identifying strengths or weaknesses earlier, and building persuasive arguments based on clear and easily accessible facts."
– Daniel Lord-Doyle, Co-founder, Mary Technology [1]

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