Discovery is part of a lawsuit. It is a way for one party to find out information from the other party before the trial.Learn what discovery is and its importance in legal proceedings. We'll walk you through the different steps and types of evidence that make up this process. The following forms are meant to serve as examples of the kind of documents used in first steps of litigation: the discovery process. All forms below with a "fillable icon" are documents that you can open "on-line", fill in the appropriate fields and then print on your printer. All Illinois Courts must accept these forms. What Discovery Methods Are Used in Illinois Personal Injury Cases? Discovery gives attorneys the freedom to pursue many sources of evidenceeven those that may not, in themselves, be admissible in court. Qualified Chicago personal injury lawyers often engage in years of discovery before a case is settled or goes to trial.