Certifications are not trophies. Certifications give us a common language, standards, and validation with clients and colleagues—a shared vocabulary that shortens the distance between a problem and a solution. They signal that we understand how a technology platform really works and can apply it to build solutions for real problems.
Certifications matter to me for another reason. I graduated law school into a recession and struggled to find a stable, well-paid role in my field. That was humbling.
Enter Relativity (or kCura, as we knew them then). In an industry that often felt opaque, Relativity’s approach to client engagement and user enablement was radically different. And their certification gave me a lifeline to forge my own path forward during a time when the career aspirations I had for myself felt all but impossible.
This is a story about more than just certifications; it’s about how the paths we carve for ourselves sometimes lead us right back to where we started, but with a whole new perspective. But before I go too far down the rabbit hole, let me explain how I got here in the first place.
2008: A JD in My Pocket and a Chip on My Shoulder
My e-discovery career began not with a bang, but with a J.D. in hand and the Chicago legal industry hemorrhaging jobs. I casually built my legal technology knowledge by managing document reviews on a contract basis, telling myself this was just temporary. In 2011, I saw an opening. I was surrounded by people who knew the law and by people who knew technology, but rarely did I meet someone with dual competencies. The opportunity was obvious. I was a licensed attorney, already becoming known in our small community for my platform knowledge—there was a path right there in front of me.
Around this time I encountered Relativity. Relativity’s training resources and documentation, even in the early days, were meticulously thorough and intentionally accessible. Years later I learned from Andrew Sieja that they intentionally curated documentation, learning materials, and their certification program to give people who were hungry, like I was, a direct path to build their own success along with Relativity, much like Microsoft’s documentation had done for him early in his own career.
For me, now three years out of law school and desperate for the opportunity to prove my value, this idea was everything. I immersed myself in every facet of technology, moving from review management to permanent roles in e-discovery project management and then data hosting to see the work from every angle. With a chip on my shoulder and the Relativity documentation pinned in my browser, I went deep. I taught myself the platform from end to end and, in the process, became a self-made expert.
Expertise I could quantify through—you guessed it—Relativity certifications.
Building Technical Expertise Systematically
In 2013, this journey brought me to New York City, where I quickly became the go-to Relativity expert at my company. Just three months after moving, I passed my first Relativity certification: the Relativity Certified Administrator, or RCA. That was the real beginning. More confident in my knowledge, I knew that if you had a problem, I could build you a solution. I devoured early analytics and technology-assisted review (TAR) tools like Equivio, early versions of workflows I knew would revolutionize how we approach discovery.
My newfound Relativity expertise began to open unexpected doors. When Relativity launched its analytics and TAR suite, I was tapped to roll out the technology across our company, define our processes, and build a department to support the practice. And with new technology came new Relativity exams. In short order, I earned the Review Specialist, Analytics Specialist, Assisted Review Specialist, and PM Specialist certifications, becoming the first in my company—and only the 11th in the industry—to achieve Relativity Master status.
During that time, I also began leading certification training sessions. Sessions that over the next few years would contribute to my colleagues and peers earning nearly 300 Relativity certifications. Watching them succeed, using the same documentation that had launched
Career Evolution and Industry Impact
The Master certification wasn’t an endpoint; it was a launchpad. My career evolved. I co-led a team of solution architects and implemented continuous process improvement framework. I found a passion for transforming organizations by building cultures of excellence.
That foundation opened doors for thought leadership, too. I co-taught the NYS judiciary continuing education on e-discovery, contributed to the New York State Bar Association’s guideline on cyberbreach response, advised legislators on technology regulation, and I even figured out how to get skeptical clients to trust analytics and TAR by demonstrating their power on the text of Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings, and Harry Potter.
As my career branched into business intelligence and operations, sales management, and even expanded into information governance (for what it’s worth, I believe in-place governance will impact our field in the coming years just as significantly if not more than generative AI), these certifications stayed central to my professional identity, providing credibility and opening doors that might otherwise have remained closed.
When Life Takes Priority
Things changed suddenly when, in late 2023, my mom was diagnosed with cancer. I packed up my NYC apartment after 11 years there and moved back to Pennsylvania to help care for her.
There was only one priority. Certifications and conferences could wait. I missed Relativity Fest and then I missed my certification renewal window and those credentials I'd maintained for nearly a decade simply expired. The decision was right, but the loss was felt.
The Unexpected Confidence Boost
Fast forward to last fall: Mom is doing better, and I’ve started an exciting new chapter at Cimplifi. But the phrase “former Relativity Master” stuck with me. After some soul-searching and a little #RelativityFest inspo, I decided I wanted my Master status back.
At the same time, I dreaded it. I worried I’d forgotten too much. Then a strange twist gave me the push: I mistakenly registered for the Project Management Specialist exam instead of Review Management, realizing the error only two days before. With no chance to study or reschedule, I sat for it anyway. And then a tiny miracle happened. I passed—on the very exam that had once taken me two tries. From there, it was a whirlwind: complete recertification in just 51 days.
- June 30: Project Management Specialist
- July 14: Review Management Specialist
- July 23: Relativity Certified Administrator (RCA)
- July 24: Analytics Specialist
- August 20: Processing Specialist
This journey reminded me that expertise built over years of practice doesn’t just vanish; it remains, waiting to be tapped again.
The Broader Significance of Certification
Certifications are not trophies. Certifications are tangible evidence of knowledge forged through years of real-world experience, proof of the quiet expertise behind defensible, repeatable outcomes. Certifications illuminate a depth of knowledge that might otherwise remain unseen, a key to unlocking career paths for those who let their work speak louder than their voice. Certifications can also be a guide rope—for those hungry to chart their own course forward. Most importantly, they show a commitment to learning—whether you’re gaining initial expertise or staying relevant after career shifts.
At Cimplifi, I’m proud to stand alongside eight other Relativity Masters and seven Relativity Experts who bring deep experience to bear on messy, high-stakes matters. Together, we design client-tailored, purpose-built solutions that enhance platform functionality and simplify e-discovery practice.
Looking Forward
True to my nature, I plan to keep going. Since earning my Master this summer, I’ve added a Relativity Data Management Specialist Certification and am scheduled to sit for Infrastructure Specialist soon. Maybe a Six Sigma Green Belt, too.
More than taking pride in the personal achievement, I hope this journey encourages others who’ve let certifications lapse, question their retained expertise, or are considering attempting their first exam. The hardest step is registering for that test; after that, it’s about trusting what you’ve built and remembering that both individual and industry growth never stop.
In tandem with my certification journey, I was humbled to be named a finalist for the Relativity Innovation Award for Stellar Women in e-Discovery. The award highlights women committed to paying it forward, building the pipeline of women in tech, and fostering more equitable workplaces. Whether I win or lose when results are announced at Relativity Fest Chicago this October, the recognition affirms what I’ve believed throughout my career: success matters most when it creates opportunities for others.
This industry succeeds because of professionals willing to learn continuously, share knowledge generously, and support each other's development. What are we doing if not challenging ourselves and each other to continuously reach higher?
Thank You
I’m grateful to my colleagues at Cimplifi and friends across the industry for encouragement and accountability. Most of all, thank you to my family—my mom is doing better, and this climb belongs to her too.
Readers: I hope to see you at Relativity Fest. If you spot me, say hello. I’m always up for a nerdy chat on analytics, TAR, process improvement, or why in-place governance is the next big shift.
Graphics for this article were created by Caroline Patterson.
