--- title: "Law Firm Case File Archiving UK | Firevault" description: "Secure closed legal matters and privileged case files in physically disconnected LUV or Vault hardware, with controlled retrieval and retention evidence." lang: en-GB json-ld: | [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://fire-vault.com/oss-for-legal/case-file-archiving#webpage", "url": "https://fire-vault.com/oss-for-legal/case-file-archiving", "name": "Law Firm Case File Archiving UK", "description": "Secure closed legal matters and privileged case files in physically disconnected LUV or Vault hardware, with controlled retrieval and retention evidence.", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://fire-vault.com/#website" }, "about": { "@id": "https://fire-vault.com/#organization" }, "primaryImageOfPage": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://fire-vault.com/images/og/og-base-home.jpg" }, "inLanguage": "en-GB", "breadcrumb": { "@id": "https://fire-vault.com/oss-for-legal/case-file-archiving#breadcrumb" } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "@id": "https://fire-vault.com/oss-for-legal/case-file-archiving#breadcrumb", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://fire-vault.com" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Oss For Legal", "item": "https://fire-vault.com/oss-for-legal" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Law Firm Case File Archiving UK", "item": "https://fire-vault.com/oss-for-legal/case-file-archiving" } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Service", "name": "Law Firm Case File Archiving", "serviceType": "Offline legal case file archiving", "description": "Physically disconnected archiving for closed legal matters, privileged records and retention-controlled case files.", "provider": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Firevault", "url": "https://fire-vault.com" }, "areaServed": { "@type": "Country", "name": "United Kingdom" }, "url": "https://fire-vault.com/oss-for-legal/case-file-archiving" }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "How long should a law firm retain a closed case file?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "There is no single retention period for every legal matter. The firm should document periods by record category, purpose, legal obligation and risk, review them regularly, and erase or anonymise personal data when it is no longer needed. Firevault provides the controlled storage and evidence layer; the firm and its advisers set the retention policy." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Does offline case-file archiving make a firm UK GDPR compliant?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "No product makes an organisation compliant by itself. Physical disconnection can support appropriate technical measures under Article 32 and reduce exposure during the justified retention period, but the firm remains responsible for lawful processing, storage limitation, access decisions, review and disposal." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Which Firevault product suits closed legal matters?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "LUV is a fixed 300GB instance for infrequently accessed archives, available on one nominated day each week within a 12-hour window. Vault provides 2TB, 4TB or 8TB with 24/7 on-demand access for larger archives or records that practitioners need more frequently. Above 8TB, the route is Firevault Storage." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Can archived files still be retrieved for a complaint, claim or regulatory request?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes. Authorised users request an identity-verified connection window, retrieve the required records and return the instance to its physically disconnected state. Connection and access events are recorded for the firm's evidence trail." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Does the SRA confidentiality duty end when a matter closes?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "No. SRA guidance explains that paragraph 6.3 requires the affairs of current and former clients to remain confidential unless disclosure is required or permitted by law or the client consents." } } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://fire-vault.com/#organization", "name": "Firevault", "legalName": "Firevault Limited", "url": "https://fire-vault.com", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://fire-vault.com/logo.png", "width": 200, "height": 60 }, "foundingDate": "2025-03", "description": "Protect what matters with Offline Secure Storage and control what moves with Control by Firevault. Physically disconnected, always reachable by you.", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "addressCountry": "GB", "addressLocality": "United Kingdom" }, "contactPoint": [ { "@type": "ContactPoint", "contactType": "customer service", "email": "hello@fire-vault.com", "availableLanguage": "English", "areaServed": [ "GB", "EU", "US", "AE" ] } ], "sameAs": [ "https://www.linkedin.com/company/firevault", "https://x.com/firevaultuk" ], "slogan": "Disconnect to Protect", "knowsAbout": [ "Offline Secure Storage", "Physical Air Gap Data Protection", "Ransomware Protection", "Data Sovereignty", "GDPR Compliance", "NIS2 Compliance" ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://fire-vault.com/#website", "name": "Firevault", "alternateName": [ "Firevault", "Firevault UK", "Firevault Limited" ], "url": "https://fire-vault.com", "publisher": { "@id": "https://fire-vault.com/#organization" }, "inLanguage": "en-GB", "description": "Protect what matters with Offline Secure Storage and control what moves with Control by Firevault. Physically disconnected, always reachable by you.", "potentialAction": { "@type": "SearchAction", "target": { "@type": "EntryPoint", "urlTemplate": "https://fire-vault.com/learn?q={search_term_string}" }, "query-input": "required name=search_term_string" } } ] --- Recent Breaches Breaches [2026 PowerSchool 62.4M records ](/learn/breaches)[2026 DISA Global Solutions 3.3M records ](/learn/breaches)[2026 Globe Life 850K records ](/learn/breaches)[2026 Co-operative Group 6.5M records ](/learn/breaches)[2026 Harrods Attempted intrusion ](/learn/breaches)[2026 Legal Aid Agency (Ministry of Justice) 2.1M records ](/learn/breaches)[2026 Adidas UK Customer contact details ](/learn/breaches)[2026 Peter Green Chilled Order and logistics data ](/learn/breaches)[2026 Jaguar Land Rover Production and IT systems disru... ](/learn/breaches)[2026 Collins Aerospace (RTX) Check-in and boarding disruptio... ](/learn/breaches)[2026 PowerSchool 62.4M records ](/learn/breaches)[2026 DISA Global Solutions 3.3M records ](/learn/breaches)[2026 Globe Life 850K records ](/learn/breaches)[2026 Co-operative Group 6.5M records ](/learn/breaches)[2026 Harrods Attempted intrusion ](/learn/breaches)[2026 Legal Aid Agency (Ministry of Justice) 2.1M records ](/learn/breaches)[2026 Adidas UK Customer contact details ](/learn/breaches)[2026 Peter Green Chilled Order and logistics data ](/learn/breaches)[2026 Jaguar Land Rover Production and IT systems disru... ](/learn/breaches)[2026 Collins Aerospace (RTX) Check-in and boarding disruptio... ](/learn/breaches) [View All →](/learn/breaches) [![Firevault - offline secure storage, physically disconnected from the internet](/assets/logo-color-DBVl0KCg.png)](/) Products Solutions [Why OSS](/why-oss) More Buy your Vault Law firm case file archiving # Closed matters still carry live obligations. Offline Secure Storage® gives UK legal practices a physically disconnected home for case files that must be retained but do not need to remain exposed on the live estate. - Former-client confidentiality - Retention-controlled - Physically disconnected [Buy your Vault](/get-started) [Legal sector overview](/oss-for-legal) ![Legal case files prepared for secure offline archiving](/assets/oss-industry-legal-OLbc5vp8.jpg) 01 What belongs offline ## A case-file archive, not another live document system. Firevault sits after the active matter-management workflow. It holds the authoritative records that must remain confidential and recoverable without leaving them continuously reachable. Closed matter files and privileged correspondence Court, tribunal and disclosure bundles Client identity, source-of-funds and due-diligence records Completion documents, deeds and signed agreements Evidence sets, expert reports and counsel opinions Records retained under the firm's documented schedule 02 Retention workflow ## Keep what is justified. Disconnect what is retained. Offline archiving does not mean keeping everything forever. It gives the firm's retention decisions a protected physical destination and an auditable retrieval path. 01 ## Classify Apply the firm's retention schedule by matter type, legal basis and disposal date before anything enters the archive. 02 ## Move offline Place the authoritative archive copy on dedicated hardware that is physically disconnected at Layer 1 by default. 03 ## Retrieve deliberately Open a controlled, identity-verified access window when an authorised practitioner needs a record. 04 ## Review and dispose Use the firm's schedule to review, return, anonymise or securely delete records when the reason for keeping them ends. 03 Choose the access pattern ## LUV for deep archives. Vault for on-demand records. Capacity matters, but retrieval frequency is the more important decision for a legal archive. 300GB fixed ## LUV One nominated day each week, within a 12-hour window Closed matters and privileged archives that are rarely reopened [Explore LUV](/luv) 2TB, 4TB or 8TB ## Vault 24/7 on-demand access Larger archives and retained files practitioners need more frequently [Explore Vault](/vault) From 20TB ## Storage Designed around organisational requirements Firm-wide archives above 8TB and multi-office retention programmes [Explore Storage](/storage) 04 Authoritative guidance ## The duty continues. The retention period must still be justified. Firevault supports the firm's controls. It does not determine the lawful basis or retention period, and it does not make a firm compliant by itself. [ ## SRA confidentiality SRA guidance says paragraph 6.3 requires the affairs of current and former clients to remain confidential unless disclosure is required or permitted by law or the client consents. Read the official source ](https://www.sra.org.uk/solicitors/guidance/confidentiality-client-information/)[ ## Secure closed files SRA practice-closure guidance says closed files should be stored securely to protect confidentiality and should be archived or destroyed promptly where appropriate. Read the official source ](https://www.sra.org.uk/solicitors/guidance/closing-down-your-practice/)[ ## UK GDPR storage limitation ICO guidance says personal data must not be kept for longer than needed, standard retention periods should be documented and holdings should be reviewed periodically. Read the official source ](https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/uk-gdpr-guidance-and-resources/data-protection-principles/a-guide-to-the-data-protection-principles/storage-limitation/)[ ## Retention schedules The ICO records-management toolkit expects storage periods to be documented and the action after expiry, such as anonymisation, archiving or deletion, to be defined. Read the official source ](https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/advice-and-services/audits/data-protection-audit-framework/toolkits/records-management/retention/) Questions ## Law firm case file archiving FAQ Straight answers on how Offline Secure Storage® behaves in practice. ### How long should a law firm retain a closed case file? ### Does offline case-file archiving make a firm UK GDPR compliant? ### Which Firevault product suits closed legal matters? ### Can archived files still be retrieved for a complaint, claim or regulatory request? ### Does the SRA confidentiality duty end when a matter closes?