Case Structure

Intake

Every engagement begins with a structured intake conversation. The purpose is not to gather facts — it is to determine whether the matter is appropriate for documentary analysis. Some questions cannot be answered from records alone. Identifying those questions at the outset saves time and preserves the integrity of the work.

During intake, the following is established:

• The question the client is asking
• What documentation is available
• Whether the available documentation can plausibly address the question
• The scope and limits of the engagement
• Timeline and deliverable expectations

If the matter is not suitable for documentary analysis, the practice will say so and decline the engagement.

Scoping

Once a matter is accepted, a written scope is defined. The scope specifies:

• The analytical question to be addressed
• The body of documentation to be examined
• The methodology to be applied
• The boundaries of the engagement (what will not be done)
• The expected deliverable and format

The scope is not a formality. It is the governing document of the engagement. Deviations from scope are documented and explained.

Analysis

The analysis phase follows the four stages of the methodology:

1. Collection and Inventory — all available documentation is cataloged and its condition assessed
2. Structural Analysis — the organization, sequence, and gaps in the documentation are mapped
3. Content Examination — documents are read in context, cross-referenced, and tested for consistency
4. Reconstruction — findings are synthesized into a structured account with clear evidentiary categories

Throughout analysis, a working log is maintained documenting analytical decisions, questions raised, and lines of inquiry pursued or abandoned.

Deliverable

The final deliverable varies with the engagement but always includes:

• Methodology Statement — a description of how the analysis was conducted, what was examined, and what tools or frameworks were applied
• Findings — organized into the three evidentiary categories: Established, Suggested, and Unknown
• Gap Analysis — identification of missing records and characterization of their significance
• Source References — every finding is traced to specific documents with clear citations
• Limitations — a candid statement of what the analysis could not establish and why

The deliverable is designed to be independently verifiable. A reader should be able to trace every finding to its source and assess the basis for every conclusion.

Confidentiality

All engagement materials are handled with strict confidentiality. Client documents are not retained beyond the engagement period without explicit agreement. Work product is not shared, published, or referenced without written authorization.

Data handling and retention policy details will be added upon confirmation.