Electronic discovery reference model meaning

The Electronic Discovery reference model (EDRM) describes the typical workflow for handling electronically stored information (ESI) in litigation, arbitration and investigations: identification, preservation (including legal hold), collection, processing, review and analysis, production and presentation. It is not defined in legislation or case law; it is an industry-developed, descriptive framework used to plan, select and assess eDisclosure/eDiscovery tools and services and to structure defensible disclosure exercises. Across the UK and Ireland its use is broadly consistent, though terminology differs: in England and Wales practitioners often say eDisclosure (see PD 57AD), Scotland refers to recovery of documents/commission and diligence, and Ireland and Northern Ireland typically use discovery. The EDRM stages apply in each jurisdiction. Practically, the EDRM guides teams to scope issues and custodians, preserve and collect data proportionately, manage legal professional privilege and confidentiality, deploy technology-assisted review (TAR/predictive coding), agree search terms and protocols, assure quality, and produce documents to courts or regulators in line with procedural rules and data protection obligations. It also supports cost budgeting, project management of disclosure, and the evaluation of vendors and software for electronic disclosure/discovery.