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Certified E-Discovery Specialist (CEDS) Examination
600 questions
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About this exam
The Certified E-Discovery Specialist (CEDS) Examination is an ACEDS certification exam for professionals who work with electronically stored information in litigation and investigations. Paralegals, litigation-support staff, legal technology professionals, and other members of legal teams may take it to demonstrate broad e-discovery knowledge. The exam assesses understanding of the e-discovery process and the decisions involved in managing information responsibly—not simply familiarity with one software platform. For paralegals, the material connects legal requirements with practical coordination across counsel, clients, vendors, and technical teams.
CEDS study areas include the E-Discovery Reference Model (EDRM) and the e-discovery lifecycle, project scoping and budget control, data identification and mapping, and preservation and legal hold workflows. Candidates should also be ready to connect these topics: for example, how early planning affects collection choices, costs, and defensibility. Treat the exam as a broad knowledge assessment rather than a test of isolated definitions. Review the current ACEDS body of knowledge and candidate guidance for the applicable exam structure and requirements; details can change between exam cycles.
How to prepare for the CEDS Examination
- Use the current ACEDS body of knowledge or candidate materials to build a topic checklist, then review the EDRM workflow from identification and preservation through processing, review, and production.
- Study project scoping, data mapping, and legal holds through practical scenarios: identify who needs to be involved, what information must be preserved, and how scope and budget choices affect the matter.
- Use timed multiple-choice practice to find gaps, then explain why each answer is right or wrong; confirm exam format, timing, eligibility, and registration details with ACEDS before your exam cycle.
FAQ
Who is eligible to take the CEDS Examination?
The exam is intended for people seeking to demonstrate e-discovery knowledge, including paralegals, litigation-support professionals, and legal technology staff. Check ACEDS’s current eligibility and application guidance for any experience, education, or registration requirements that apply to your situation.
What is the format of the CEDS Examination?
CEDS is a certification knowledge exam. Question format, exam timing, and delivery details should be confirmed in the current ACEDS candidate materials, since official requirements may change by cycle.
What subjects should I study for the CEDS exam?
Review the e-discovery lifecycle and EDRM workflow, project scoping and budget control, data identification and mapping, and preservation and legal hold workflows. Use the current ACEDS body of knowledge to check the full scope and organize your study plan.