Preparation

Prepare an evidence pack before speaking to a solicitor

A useful evidence pack does not decide the matter. It makes the material easier for a qualified professional to review accurately and efficiently.

Why it matters

Professionals can only work with the material they receive. A collection of screenshots, message fragments, and recollections may contain something important, but it is difficult to assess without dates, originals, source details, and a clear account of what remains uncertain.

The practical framework

• Create a neutral one-page situation summary.
• Build a chronology: date, event, source, and why it may matter.
• Index each item with a stable identifier and retain the original where possible.
• Separate direct records from personal recollection and third-party reports.
• List the questions you need answered rather than trying to supply a conclusion.

What to do

• Preserve originals and metadata where available.
• Keep a record of where each item came from and when it was obtained.
• Use short, neutral summaries that point back to the underlying material.
• Explain any gaps, missing records, or uncertainties honestly.

What not to do

• Do not edit originals to make them easier to read without retaining a copy.
• Do not mix commentary into the evidence inventory.
• Do not ask an evidence pack to prove more than it can support.

This briefing is not legal advice and does not determine liability, authenticity, or the correct legal outcome. It is an evidence-organisation guide only.