[Podcast] HaystackID® in the EDRM Illumination Zone: Dorothe Schuch, Vice President of Forensics
Editor’s Note: In an industry where yesterday’s cutting-edge forensics tools become tomorrow’s obsolete software, few professionals have navigated technological disruption as successfully as Dorothe Schuch. Her 28-year journey from paper discovery to AI-enhanced digital forensics offers invaluable lessons for legal professionals grappling with increasingly complex data challenges. What sets this conversation apart is Schuch’s candid discussion of the “hair-pulling” moments that come with continuous learning; she’s currently pursuing a Computer Forensic Examiner certification. Her emphasis on mentorship and templatizing processes provides a practical roadmap for teams struggling to maintain quality and defensibility amid rapid technological change. Beyond the technical insights, Schuch’s personal anecdotes, from hunting black bears in Canada to participating in Women in eDiscovery, reveal the diverse experiences that shape exceptional industry leaders. This episode demonstrates how adaptability, structured learning, and paying it forward through mentorship create not only successful careers but also a stronger, more resilient legal technology community.
[Podcast] HaystackID® in the EDRM Illumination Zone: Dorothe Schuch, Vice President of Forensics
By HaystackID Staff
Digital forensics professionals are confronting a perfect storm: mobile devices now carry terabyte-level storage capacities, AI-generated content blurs the line between authentic and fabricated evidence, and operating system updates outpace the industry-standard tools designed to extract data from them. This reality demands not just technical expertise but a fundamental shift in how legal teams approach digital evidence management and forensics. In the latest episode of the EDRM Illumination Zone, HaystackID’s Vice President of Forensics, Dorothe Schuch, offered a masterclass on staying ahead during all this change. With 28 years of experience spanning the industry’s transformation from “big boxes of paper” to today’s complex digital ecosystem, Schuch has witnessed firsthand how landmark antitrust cases drove the need for electronic discovery and how each technological leap has created new opportunities and obstacles for legal professionals.
Schuch’s approach to staying ahead of these challenges centers on continuous learning and mentorship. Currently pursuing certification as a Computer Forensic Examiner, she exemplifies the kind of commitment required to remain effective in forensics. Her involvement with Women in eDiscovery and her role in building mentorship programs reflect her understanding that individual growth and industry advancement are interconnected.
During her conversation with podcast hosts Mary Mack, Kaylee Walstad, and Holley Robinson, Schuch discussed the practical strategies that help teams manage complexity without sacrificing quality or defensibility, saying, “To get the most value out of your data, teams need to develop repeatable, defensible, and templatized processes. Ensure everyone on your team is trained on those processes and continuously stays at the cutting edge of everything new that comes in.” As HaystackID’s team continuously tests emerging technologies to provide client solutions, Schuch’s philosophy remains clear: embrace change through structured preparation, continuous education, and knowing “what you don’t know” because, in an industry where the rules are constantly rewritten, adaptability is essential for survival. Listen to the full episode to discover how veteran professionals are building resilient careers in forensics while helping others handle the industry’s most pressing challenges.
More About Dorothe Schuch
Dorothe Schuch joined HaystackID in 2019 and is currently Vice President of Forensic Logistics and Evidence Management on the forensic team. In this role, she serves as the primary point of contact between HaystackID and clients, planning and implementing client forensic projects to ensure expectations are met for quality and timeliness. Before joining HaystackID, Dorothe was in-house at Chemours Company as an eDiscovery manager and at McGuireWoods as a litigation paralegal and has substantial experience in managing large-scale, multi-jurisdictional antitrust, products liability, and securities litigation matters. Dorothe has written and co-written articles on litigation and eDiscovery and has frequently spoken at paralegal conferences and continuing education platforms. She has served on the board of the Baltimore City Paralegal Association and the National Association of Legal Assistants. Dorothe was instrumental in developing successful mentorship programs both at Chemours and HaystackID.
The podcast is available on your favorite listening app, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Play. The podcast is available on the EDRM website and is provided below for convenience.
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About the Electronic Discovery Reference Model
Empowering the global leaders of e-discovery, the Electronic Discovery Reference Model (EDRM) creates practical global resources to improve e-discovery, privacy, security, and information governance. Since 2005, EDRM has delivered leadership, standards, tools, guides, and test datasets to strengthen best practices throughout the world. EDRM has an international presence in 136 countries, spanning six continents. EDRM provides an innovative support infrastructure for individuals, law firms, corporations, and government organizations seeking to improve the practice and provision of data and legal discovery with 19 active projects. Learn more at EDRM.net.
About HaystackID®
HaystackID® solves complex data challenges related to legal, compliance, regulatory, and cyber requirements. Core offerings include Global Advisory, Cybersecurity, Core Intelligence AI™, and ReviewRight® Global Managed Review, supported by its unified CoreFlex™ service interface. Recognized globally by industry leaders, including Chambers, Gartner, IDC, and Legaltech News, HaystackID helps corporations and legal practices manage data gravity, where information demands action, and workflow gravity, where critical requirements demand coordinated expertise, delivering innovative solutions with a continual focus on security, privacy, and integrity. Learn more at HaystackID.com.
Assisted by GAI and LLM technologies.
Source: HaystackID