Lacking permissions blocks the Start Review button in an Active Learning project.

Outline:

• Hook: A reviewer sits at the screen, but the Start Review button stays stubbornly invisible.

• Core idea: In Active Learning projects, permissions decide who can begin. The Start Review button is the signal that a reviewer is cleared to start.

• Why it matters: Delays ripple through timelines, affect quality cycles, and can derail the rhythm of a project.

• What to check: Roles, project vs. document permissions, reviewer assignments, licensing, and the Active Learning stage.

• Consequences of inadequate permissions: The reviewer is blocked, work stalls, and teams chase explanations instead of progress.

• Quick fixes: A practical admin checklist to restore access fast.

• Real-world flavor: A short scenario showing the cost of a missing Start Review button and how a quick permission tweak fixes it.

• Tools and guidance: Where to look in Relativity docs and community resources, plus tips for ongoing governance.

• Takeaway: Permissions matter as much as the data itself; get them right to keep the review cycle moving.

In the loop where decisions get made, small gates can become big bottlenecks. Picture this: you’ve curated a batch of truly relevant documents, the AI in your Active Learning workflow has funneled meaningful candidates your way, and then—nothing. The Start Review button doesn’t appear. The reviewer can see the material, but they can’t actually begin. It’s a quiet crash, and it doesn’t show on the surface. What’s happening under the hood? The short answer: inadequate permissions.

Why permissions matter in Active Learning projects

Relativity’s Active Learning approach blends human judgment with machine efficiency. In this setup, permissions aren’t just about security. They’re about flow. They decide who can view, who can code, who can adjust settings, and who can actually kick off a review pass. When a reviewer doesn’t have the rightSlate of rights, the entire review loop grinds to a halt. The absence of the Start Review button is the most direct, unambiguous symptom: the system knows the user isn’t cleared to initiate the work.

Think of it like theater tickets. The audience can see the stage, but if the usher hasn’t given you a seat badge that grants access to the performance, you’re stuck outside the velvet rope. In a timeline-driven project, that delay isn’t just a momentary hiccup—it pushes back deadlines, slows feedback loops, and increases the risk of misalignment between quick wins and long-term goals. It’s frustrating in the moment, and it can be costly in the aggregate.

What to check when the Start Review button is missing

Let’s walk through a practical checklist that’s based on real-world experiences in Relativity environments:

• Reviewer role and specific permissions

• Is the user assigned to a reviewer role that includes the right to start a review? In many configurations, there is a distinct permission flag like “Can Start Review.” If that flag isn’t enabled, the button remains hidden.

• Are there sub-permissions at the document level that override project-level rights? Sometimes a reviewer is allowed to view but not to act on the batch you’re working with.

• Project-level vs. document-level access

• Permissions can live at two layers. The project (or case) level sets the broad rules; document-level permissions can introduce exceptions. If the project allows starting reviews but the document set has restricted permissions, you’ll see partial access—yet the Start Review button may still hide because the system detects a permission mismatch at the scope you’re attempting to operate in.

• Active Learning stage and assignment

• Is the reviewer actually assigned to the Active Learning task or review set within the project? If the reviewer isn’t tied to the current batch, the system won’t open the Start Review control.

• Is there a pending change in the workflow stage (e.g., a batch not yet released, or a step paused by QA)? If so, the Start Review button won’t appear until the stage moves forward.

• Licensing and user status

• Some environments enforce license-based gating. If a reviewer’s license isn’t active or isn’t the right type for Active Learning actions, the button may stay hidden.

• Double-check that the user isn’t flagged as inactive or suspended in the user directory, which can ripple into permission checks.

• Quick sanity checks

• Try another reviewer with known good permissions on the same project. Do they see Start Review? If yes, the issue is user-specific; if no, it’s project- or environment-wide.

• Review audit trails or activity logs for permission changes. Sometimes a recent tweak can affect visibility without anyone realizing it.

The consequence if no one notices is simple but brutal: work stalls. While someone is chasing the cause, the data you hoped to accelerate with Active Learning sits idle. Delays creep in, reviewers lose momentum, and the cadence you’ve built—pull, label, train, review—begins to wobble. It’s not dramatic, but it’s real. And in knowledge work like eDiscovery or legal data analysis, timing is often everything.

A practical fix: a lean admin playbook

If you’re supervising a Relativity environment or supporting a team that uses Active Learning, here’s a concise, actionable checklist to restore access quickly:

• Verify the specific permission set

• Confirm the Start Review right is enabled for the reviewer’s role or group.

• Check for any conflicting restrictions at the document or project scope.

• Confirm assignment and scope

• Make sure the user is assigned to the correct review set in the Active Learning workflow.

• Ensure the batch is not tied to a paused stage or a conditional rule that blocks initiation.

• Review licensing and status

• Check that the user’s license is active and permits Active Learning actions.

• Look for any temporary disablements or expirations that could affect visibility.

• Audit and communicate

• Review recent permission changes in the admin console and cross-check with the user’s activity history.

• Notify the reviewer once permissions are confirmed, and consider a quick demo or screenshot to confirm the button appears after changes.

• Implement a lightweight governance routine

• Create a simple, repeatable permission verification step before key review cycles begin.

• Schedule a short health check of permissions after major project updates or user role changes.

A relatable scenario

Imagine a project where a senior reviewer is ready to kick off a large batch. They can see the documents, they can open them, but the Start Review button never appears. The rest of the team has no visibility issue, but this one reviewer remains staring at a screen without traction. A quick look at their role shows they’re missing the “Start Review” flag. A five-minute adjustment by an admin, and the button appears. The batch starts, feedback flows, and the AI model gets useful signals that improve accuracy. The project keeps its rhythm, and the team breathes a little easier.

Real-world tips you can carry forward

• Document permissions as part of onboarding. Create a short checklist for new reviewers that includes a sanity check for their ability to start a review.

• Build a small “permission health” ritual. At the start of each sprint or milestone, confirm that the essential roles have the right access for Active Learning tasks.

• Keep a log of typical blockers. If Start Review is missing, you’ll have a quick reference to tell you where to look first.

• Use visuals when explaining. A quick diagram showing the relationship between roles, project scope, and Active Learning stages helps non-technical stakeholders grasp the cause-and-effect.

A nod to tools and resources

Relativity’s documentation and community forums are great places to validate how permissions are structured in the specific version you’re using. The Relativity platform often updates how roles and permissions interplay with Active Learning features, so keeping an eye on release notes can save you headaches later. If you run into edge cases, reaching out to a Relativity administrator or a trusted community expert can help you map the exact permission path for your setup.

Bringing it back to the core idea

The Start Review button is more than a UI element. It’s the visible sign that a reviewer has permission to begin shaping the data with human judgment and machine-assisted guidance. When that button is missing, it’s a signal that something in the permission chain isn’t aligned with the workflow needs. The remedy is straightforward: verify roles, confirm scope, and ensure the reviewer is properly assigned. Do that, and you’ll often see the line of work resume with clarity and speed.

Closing thought: permissions as a daily habit

If you treat permissions as a one-off admin task, you’ll miss the subtle but meaningful effects they have on momentum. When teams have confidence that the right people can start the right tasks at the right time, the entire process benefits. Active Learning becomes not just a feature, but a reliable collaborator in your project. And that starts with a simple, sometimes overlooked check—the Start Review button appearing exactly when it should.