This is a truly exciting and rewarding vocation—the skill of an investigator, the wisdom of a lawyer, and the knowledge of a computer analyst, all rolled into one. Being able to advise legal counsel or the investigation team on the outcome of an examination puts the practitioner in a unique and privileged position.
Irrespective of the outcome, the practitioner's advice cannot be ignored. It is not uncommon for the examination to reveal very little information of value; nothing had been present to recover in many instances. However, it is common for the client and lawyer to say that the venture was productive in that it could be set aside and the search for evidence could focus elsewhere. It is also pleasing to secure evidence that helps secure a conviction or acquittal too, depending on the party who engaged the practitioner.
Practitioners do not work in a vacuum. They do follow standard processes and develop their...