Legal Hold
A Legal Hold (also known as a litigation hold) is a process that companies use to preserve all relevant information when they expect or face a lawsuit. It's like pressing a "pause button" on the normal deletion of documents, emails, and other records. When someone works with Legal Holds, they help make sure important information isn't accidentally deleted and could be needed for court cases. This role often involves working with both the legal team and IT department to protect and manage important documents. Similar terms include "litigation hold," "document preservation," or "legal preservation."
Examples in Resumes
Managed Legal Hold processes for over 200 active cases across multiple departments
Implemented new Legal Hold and Litigation Hold notification system company-wide
Trained 500+ employees on Legal Hold compliance and documentation requirements
Typical job title: "Legal Hold Specialists"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Legal Hold Specialists
Professional Associations
Online Communities
Job Resources
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How would you handle a situation where a department refuses to comply with a legal hold?
Expected Answer: Should discuss escalation procedures, documentation of non-compliance, communication strategies with management, and ability to explain consequences of non-compliance in business terms.
Q: Describe how you would implement a legal hold program from scratch in a large organization.
Expected Answer: Should explain creating policies, selecting appropriate software tools, training programs, communication plans, and collaboration with IT, Legal, and HR departments.
Mid Level Questions
Q: What steps do you take when initiating a new legal hold?
Expected Answer: Should mention identifying relevant custodians (people with important information), drafting and sending notices, tracking acknowledgments, and following up with non-responsive employees.
Q: How do you ensure ongoing compliance with legal holds?
Expected Answer: Should discuss regular reminder notices, tracking systems, periodic reviews of active holds, and processes for updating custodian lists when people join or leave the company.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What is the purpose of a legal hold notice?
Expected Answer: Should explain that it's a formal notification to employees to stop deleting potentially relevant documents and explain what types of information need to be preserved.
Q: How do you track who has received and acknowledged legal hold notices?
Expected Answer: Should describe basic tracking methods using spreadsheets or software tools, and explain the importance of following up with people who haven't responded.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic understanding of legal hold process
- Sending and tracking hold notices
- Maintaining documentation
- Basic communication with employees
Mid (2-5 years)
- Managing multiple legal holds simultaneously
- Training employees on compliance
- Working with legal hold software
- Coordinating with IT and legal teams
Senior (5+ years)
- Developing legal hold policies
- Managing complex preservation projects
- Leading program implementation
- Handling compliance issues
Red Flags to Watch For
- No understanding of basic legal terminology
- Lack of experience with documentation and record-keeping
- Poor communication skills
- No knowledge of data preservation concepts
- Unfamiliarity with legal compliance requirements
Related Terms
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