Achieving Relativity Master certification is a milestone that reflects deep technical expertise, advanced problem-solving skills, and a true commitment to excellence in eDiscovery. In this blog, Josh Burke, Avalon’s Director of Legal Tech Operations, discusses his journey toward this achievement, what it means to him personally, and how it strengthens the services we deliver to our clients.
What was your certification path?
I started my Relativity certification journey with the Relativity Certified Administrator (RCA) in October 2013, about a year after I entered the world of eDiscovery. Coming from an electronic medical record background, I was still finding my footing when Avalon’s CEO encouraged me to go for the RCA. I took that challenge seriously and passed the RCA exam at my first Relativity Fest after many long nights of studying.
Last year, Avalon made a renewed commitment to having our subject matter experts expand their certifications, and I set a goal to achieve the Relativity Master designation by December 2024. I built a plan, paced myself, and not only hit that target but went beyond it, earning one extra specialist certification within the same timeframe.
I was lucky to go through that process alongside my longtime teammate and good friend Jason Haag. We were on the same timeline, encouraging each other every step of the way, celebrating small wins, sharing progress updates, and even doing frantic math together to estimate our scores before the results came in. That support made the journey more meaningful.
My certification path includes:
When did you complete the certification? How long did it take you?
I earned my first certification, the RCA, in 2013. My most recent push began in 2024, when I achieved Relativity Expert status in October and completed the requirements to become a Relativity Master in December of the same year.
Although my journey with Relativity began years earlier, my push to earn the full Master designation was a focused, six-month effort from start to finish. It took a lot of time management, studying, and motivation, but the support from Avalon and my family made all the difference.
What does it mean to you to be a Relativity Master?
For me, the Relativity Master designation isn’t just a title to list in an email signature or hang on the wall. It represents drive, determination, and a commitment to continuous learning and expertise in our field.
When Avalon needed someone to step up and help secure our Silver Partner status, I wanted to be that person. Achieving this level of certification was about showing our clients and our team that Avalon always answers the call.
On a personal level, I was elated when I passed. After each exam, my family and I went out to dinner to celebrate. I actually found out I had achieved Master status while sitting in a local pizza place, and I remember feeling an enormous weight lift off my shoulders. Once that pressure was gone, I kept the momentum going and earned another specialist certification before the year ended.
What’s next for your Relativity “education”?
Now that I’ve completed all the relevant Specialist exams, I’m steadily checking off the Relativity Pro exams one by one. Beyond my own certifications, I’ve shifted focus toward helping others on their RCA tracks. Every week, I host office hours where our team can ask questions, compare notes, and talk through tricky topics. It’s been rewarding to help others grow in their Relativity knowledge, and revisiting the material myself after all these years has deepened my own understanding too.
What does your advanced Relativity knowledge allow us to do for clients? How does it benefit them?
Achieving the Master designation helped me round out my knowledge of the full Relativity suite, including features that aren’t used every day. That broader understanding has allowed me to develop more creative and defensible solutions for our clients.
It’s also given me the foundation to write new white papers, lead client training, and help organizations establish their own Relativity standards and best practices. The result is that our clients gain not just technical support, but true partnership and guidance rooted in experience and expertise.