Document Retention For Engineering And Architecture Services Companies

Document retention.

That phrase reminds me of a Dilbert cartoon from about a decade ago that depicted the "pointy-haired boss" confronting Alice, the engineer, about her exceeding the company's permitted email storage. The boss was depicted holding a white piece of paper. When Alice responded to his apparent sole work activity of carrying a piece of paper around the office, the boss emphatically informed her, "It's not a piece of paper; it's a document!"

That cartoon apparently made the "keep permanent" category of my brain's retention protocol.

Now, many years later, my law practice includes engineering, architecture and related professional services firms that have sought counsel about, among other things, document retention policies, procedures, and practices. This article provides an overview of business and legal considerations for developing and implementing a document retention program, with a focus on a few unique considerations for engineering and