Legal Services Offshore blog
A Bates numbering quality check for production sets
Verify sequence, gaps, orientation, and confidentiality markings before a production leaves the firm.
Numbering errors are visible to opposing counsel
A production with a duplicate number or a missing page invites a challenge to the whole set. Bates numbering is a mechanical step, but the quality check is what makes the production defensible. The assistant can run a structured check before the set is served.
Confirm the production specification
Record the starting number, the prefix, the numbering position, and the confidentiality treatment approved by counsel. Different productions may use different prefixes; mixing them in one folder creates confusion later.
Check the sequence
Confirm that numbers increase without gaps or duplicates, that every page has a number, and that the last number matches the expected count. Where a document was added after numbering, confirm that the set was renumbered and that the earlier version is not in the production folder.
Check the image quality
Review a sample for orientation, legibility, cropped text, and blank pages. A page that is technically numbered but unreadable is still a production problem. Record the page and the issue with a screenshot.
Reconcile against the privilege and redaction log
Compare the produced set with the withheld and redacted items. Confirm that withheld pages are absent as intended and that redactions match the approved list. Flag any discrepancy to counsel before service.
Record the final set
Save the manifest, the hash or export report, the number range, and the service date. The record should let a reviewer confirm what was produced without opening every page again.