What may be examined
Email and shared files
Selected mailboxes, personal work storage and shared sites can be included where authorised. Agree whether versions, attachments, deleted-item containers and metadata are in scope.
Collaboration records
Chat exports and collaboration content can have different collection and retention limits. A platform’s search results may not include every related source.
Preservation and export
Holds, searches and exports depend on the service, permissions and licensing. Record the actual settings and export results so another reviewer can follow the collection.
Before an examination
Involve the organisation’s legal representative where a dispute or preservation duty is involved. Identify the relevant accounts and systems without deleting or changing their retention. An enquiry is not a legal hold; the authorised party must arrange and confirm any required preservation.
What you can receive
Agree the requested format, item inventory, metadata, handling records and any exclusions. The collection can support later review without making legal judgments about relevance, privilege or disclosure.
What the evidence may not establish
A search query has limits. Date interpretation, attachments, encrypted material and unindexed content can affect the results. Counsel decides legal scope and disclosure requirements.
Questions before you begin
Where supported, a scoped collection can use dates and custodians. The method should document time zones, search limitations and material that could not be searched.
Only if that work is included in the agreed scope. Collection, technical processing, legal review and production are distinct stages.