Legal Services Offshore blog
Custodian-interview logging for offshore discovery support
Capture interview facts, source systems, and follow-up questions without deciding preservation scope or the legal meaning of a response.
Use a factual interview template
Record custodian identifier, role supplied by the firm, interview date, systems named, date ranges discussed, and documents or locations identified. Distinguish direct answers from follow-up notes.
Mark uncertainty precisely
A forgotten date, shared folder, personal device, or unclear account should become a question with its source. Do not fill the gap from assumptions about how the custodian should work.
Return decisions to the discovery owner
Counsel or the discovery lead decides preservation, collection, search terms, and follow-up interviews. Support staff maintain the signed or approved record and track each authorized action.