Navigating the Tricky Terrain of Remote and Self-Collections

Although predictive coding has been the most prominent buzzword in e-discovery circles this year, remote collection of Electronically Stored Information (ESI) remains a hot topic. Like self-collection of data, with which remote collection is often associated, remote collections have been viewed by IT staff as a way to save time and money. But legal professionals remain skeptical. Remote and/or self-collections can be dangerous to the integrity of the data and the case if not handled properly. e-Discovery experts are justifiably suspicious of their validity, especially if a lawyer has not been involved in overseeing the process. In many cases, remote collection is likely to be indefensible in court, unless certain guidelines are followed throughout the process.