Matters

In Google Vault, a "matter" serves as a dedicated workspace or container for managing all the activities and data related to a specific eDiscovery case, investigation, or legal project. Think of it as a digital folder or project file for your eDiscovery efforts.

What can a matter do?

Manage eDiscovery projects using different matters
Create searches, holds, and exports by matter
Share matters with other users for collaboration
Close, delete, and restore matters during eDiscovery

What does a Matter Contain?

Each matter in Google Vault typically includes:

A list of Legal Holds that have been placed for that specific case.
Saved Search Queries that are relevant to the investigation.
A list of Exports of data collected for the case.
An Audit Log specifically tracking all Vault user activity within that particular matter.
A list of Users with whom the matter has been shared.

Google Vault matters layout

How do you create a matter?

Sign In to Google Vault:
- Open your web browser and go to vault.google.com
- Sign in with your Google Workspace administrator credentials.
Navigate to Matters:
- On the left-hand navigation menu, click on Matters.
Click "Create":
- On the "Matters" page, in the top left corner, you'll see a button labeled Create. Click it.

If you don't have the Create option, ask your Google Workspace administrator to give you the necessary privileges.

Enter Matter Details:
- A "Create matter" dialog box will appear. You'll need to fill in the following:
  - Matter name (Required): Enter a clear and descriptive name for your matter. Follow your organization's naming guidelines.
  - Description (Optional but Recommended): Provide a brief description of the matter's purpose or the case it relates to. This is very helpful for anyone else accessing the matter, or for your own reference later. The description is shown when you open the matter.
  - Data Region (Optional, if applicable): If your organization has specific data region policies (e.g., for compliance with data residency laws), you might see an option to select a data region for your matter. Choose the appropriate region if this option is available and relevant.
Click "Create":
- After entering the details, click the Create button.

What Happens Next?

Once created, the new matter will immediately open, typically to the Search tab within that matter.
You are now within the specific workspace for this eDiscovery case. From here, you can:
- Create Legal Holds: To preserve specific user data indefinitely for this matter.
- Run Searches: To find relevant information across Google Workspace services.
- Export Data: To download the search results for further review.
- Share the Matter: To allow other authorized Vault users to collaborate on this specific case.
- View the Audit Log specific to this matter.

Example:

Let's say your legal team needs to conduct an investigation into a specific employee for a period between January and March 2025.

You sign in to Google Vault.
You click on Matters.
You click Create.
You enter:
- Matter name: Internal Investigation - John Doe - Q1 2025
- Description: Investigation into potential policy violations by John Doe during Q1 2025.
You click Create.

Now you have a dedicated matter to manage all related Vault activities for "John Doe - Q1 2025," keeping everything organized and auditable.