Evidence indexes that survive partner review
A simple indexing pattern for linking tip allegations to contracts, ledger extracts, and interview notes.
Partners lose patience with folders named “final_v3_reallyfinal.” An evidence index should let a reviewer move from allegation strand to document in one step.
Assign each item a stable ID (E-014), a short description, source (management, tip channel, interview), date received, and the strand labels it supports. Note whether the item is original, extract, or secondary summary. If a PDF is a scan of a contract already on the audit file, say so—duplicate storage without cross-reference wastes review time.
When an item is withheld for privilege or sensitivity, keep a placeholder row with the reason and who holds the original. Empty silence in the index looks like incomplete work; an explicit hold looks like controlled process.
Revisit the index at handover. Remove orphan IDs cited nowhere in the chronology, and add any late extracts so the open-item list and the index tell the same story for the financial audit file.