When a case involves 50,000 or 100,000 documents it is very difficult to manage the paper and produce necessary lists using entirely manual methods. Computerization is the answer. Once the information about the documents is held in a computer database, a team of lawyers can search for incriminating patterns, locate a letter that contradicts direct testimony previous given, find the smoking gun. So runs a powerful argument in favour of computerized litigation systems. The fact that so many firms are going ahead with pilots or operational systems perhaps indicates more of a desire to be seen to be abreast of technology, rather than the calculated expectation of direct return.