Document review for a law firm in an internal investigation: a typical assignment scenario

Short answer: In an internal investigation, a law firm can expand its matter team for document review at short notice with interim review lawyers and a review lead. The firm directs the review: it sets the review protocol, coding and quality control, and it remains responsible to the client. Alpinum provides the professionals, not the review as a managed service.

Typical assignment scenario: This guide describes how document review for a law firm in an internal investigation typically runs with interim review lawyers. It does not describe a single matter and names no firms, clients, data volumes or results. It is written for partners and associates at law firms in Switzerland and Germany.

The situation: the investigation starts, the team is too small

A company instructs a law firm to conduct an internal investigation, for example after a report through its whistleblowing channel. Once the data has been collected, emails, chats and documents sit on a review platform. Review has to start quickly because the executive board or the supervisory board needs findings. The matter team is too small for the volume, and permanent hires do not make sense for a single investigation.

The brief: what the review team takes on

The review team works through the documents according to the firm's instructions and prepares the findings for the matter team. The table shows the typical split of work.

Approach and team: how the assignment usually runs

1. Define the need: languages, practice areas, platform, workload, place of work and expected duration.
2. Profiles and conflict check: selected profiles are usually available within 48 hours; the firm and Alpinum agree the start date together. The firm checks for conflicts of interest.
3. Briefing and calibration: the firm explains the facts, protocol and coding; a joint test batch aligns the reviewers' calls.
4. Review: the review lead allocates batches, answers questions and reports to the matter team daily or weekly.
5. Quality control: the firm checks samples and updates the protocol when new questions arise.
6. Close: access is revoked, and results and open points are handed over.

The team works through staff leasing (Swiss Personalverleih, German Arbeitnehmerüberlassung) or freelancing, part-time or full-time. How law firms set up review teams in general is covered in our guide to document review for law firms.

The legal framework in Switzerland and Germany

• Germany: according to the Federal Court of Justice judgment of 20 March 2023 (AnwZ (Brfg) 12/21), a back-office assignment of leased lawyers without external legal practice raises no professional-law concerns; in the case decided, the hiring entity was a law firm.
• Switzerland: professional secrecy under Art. 321 of the Swiss Criminal Code covers, among others, attorneys and their auxiliaries. The firm sets confidentiality and access rules in writing for everyone involved in the review.

Other questions an internal investigation raises, for example on employment and data protection law, are covered in our guide on choosing the right support for internal investigations.

The outcome: how the firm measures the assignment

Findings of individual investigations are confidential and are not reported here. For the firm, the assignment can be measured by documents reviewed per day, the deviation rate in samples, the number of questions raised and whether deadlines agreed with the client are met.

What other firms can take from this

• Finalise the protocol and coding before the start and calibrate them with a test batch.
• Appoint a review lead who bundles questions and reports to the matter team.
• Limit platform access to the duration of the assignment.

Limits and risks

• Accountability: Alpinum does not offer managed review with responsibility for outcomes. Direction and responsibility to the client stay with the law firm.
• Confidentiality: non-disclosure agreements, conflict check and access concept before the first login.
• No legal advice: Alpinum is not a law firm and does not advise the client.

Frequently asked questions about document review in internal investigations

Who directs document review in an internal investigation?

The instructed law firm. It sets the investigation questions, search strategy, review protocol and quality control, and it decides on sensitive and privileged documents. Interim review lawyers work to these instructions. The review lead coordinates the team and is the contact for the matter team, while the firm remains responsible to the client.

Which profiles does a review team need?

First-level review needs junior and experienced profiles with the right languages and experience on review platforms. The review lead and second-level review need senior profiles with experience in the relevant area, such as white-collar crime, competition law or compliance. The firm decides the mix based on data volume and risk.

How quickly can a review team start?

Selected profiles are usually available within 48 hours. The firm and Alpinum agree the start date together; it depends on the conflict check, non-disclosure agreements, platform access and briefing. Firms that prepare the protocol and access concept early can deploy the team faster and run the first test batch sooner.

Can the team work remotely?

The law firm decides, based on confidentiality, the platform and the client's requirements. Many review platforms allow secure remote access. For particularly sensitive data, clients often require work on the firm's premises. Clarify the place of work before selecting profiles, because it affects availability and the start date.

Next step

Alpinum Solutions is the leading provider of interim legal & compliance in the DACH region and provides law firms with review lawyers, review leads and project teams. Tell us about the languages, platform and timeframe of your review.

• Project lawyers for law firms: review teams and support for matters
• Law firm capacity shortage: project lawyers, freelancers or secondment?
• Practice & case studies: all guides and case studies on interim assignments
• Legal privilege in internal investigations with an interim team
• Discuss your needs

Last updated: 10 November 2026.