By Brittany Thaler, ACP eDiscovery 

Best practice says to keep a valid chain of custody for our media and storage files.  Are you doing this in Media Manager? If so, are you adding necessary details to keep that chain of custody valid and informative?  Would you be able to find that physical device in, let’s say, 5 years?  

Media Manager allows Administrators to attach images and other attachments (like a shipping manifest).  For us at IPRO, we recommend using these options every time to maintain a clear chain of custody, and maybe your sanity in five years.  

Images: If you receive storage devices (yes plural) for a production, consider taking a picture of the original container and each item. This way you maintain how it came in, and what attributes you are looking for should you need to find the physical item later.  

Attachments: A general example is a shipping manifest, but as a paralegal, I like to include a little more detail.  For instance, if it is a response to a subpoena, I will likely attach the Subpoena and any responsive letter.  If it is a discovery request production, then I include their discovery response pleading. Did this come from my client? Perhaps I include an email chain where I requested specific documents and their response as to what they have sent me.  

Adding this extra bit of information can assist me in finding the media I need, when I need it, and where it is located.   

For complete instructions and in-depth detail, visit our Help Center for our Incoming Delivery Workflow and Create New Media pages.   

Just as the Learning Experience Team has your back with our Blog series, we now have Workflow Wednesday! A short, concise workflow that can increase your efficiency.  Drop us a line at training@iprotech.com with the workflows and guidance you would like to see.