Document Taxonomy is the organization scheme law firms use to manage and archive their documents. Some firms use simple taxonomies, realized in naming conventions and nested Windows folders. Other firms have complex systems that work well for many different areas of law and types of practice. A good taxonomy is one that fits well, is easy to understand, and is no more complex than necessary.
A Document Management system should wrap itself around a firm’s taxonomy by being flexible enough to mimic the taxonomy’s design. Good document management systems make adherence to taxonomy and firm standards automatic. It helps billable employees focus on billable work, not document processing, archiving, and document retention tasks.