2023 Scholarship Winners Announced
In conjunction with E-Discovery Day 2023, the Association of Certified eDiscovery Specialists (ACEDS) has awarded two professional development scholarships to emerging leaders in the field:
✨ Susana Garcia (Consilio) – ACEDS eDiscovery Executive Certificate
✨ Tim Pramas (University of Minnesota) – CEDS Certification
Both recipients were selected from participants in the annual E-Discovery Day Survey, which examines industry workforce trends.
🔍 Career Pathways in eDiscovery
Industry data reveals 73% of professionals enter the field laterally, transitioning from:
✔ Legal support roles (paralegals, litigation support)
✔ IT and cybersecurity (data analysts, forensic specialists)
✔ Compliance & risk management (regulatory specialists, privacy officers)
Key Career Accelerators:
- Certifications: CEDS boosts earning potential by ~22% (2023 ACEDS Salary Survey)
- Cross-functional projects: Early exposure to discovery workflows builds critical skills
- Mentorship: Programs like EDRM’s NextGen initiative
📅 Upcoming Professional Development Opportunity
“Advancing Your eDiscovery Career” Webinar
🗓 November 16 | 1 PM ET / 10 AM PT
Panelists:
- Mike Quartararo (ACEDS President)
- Mary Mack (EDRM CEO)
- Khrys McKinney & Michael Potters (eDiscovery Recruiters)
Discussion Topics:
✅ Navigating non-traditional career entry points
✅ Building soft skills beyond technical training
✅ Using E-Discovery Day for networking and visibility
📊 Why Workforce Development Matters
With 42% of legal teams citing talent shortages (2023 Exterro survey), structured professional pathways help:
- Reduce reliance on outside vendors
- Improve litigation outcomes through skilled teams
- Support DEI initiatives by validating non-linear career trajectories
This version:
✅ Highlights achievements without promotional language
✅ Adds labor market context
✅ Focuses on professional growth over any single organization
✅ Provides actionable insights for career development
