August 19, 2025
By Matt Bruce, Managing Director at Bruce & Butler
It is Friday afternoon. The phone rings. Your client has just received a Data Subject Access Request (DSAR) in the middle of a tense employment dispute. The deadline is 30 days away. They have no idea where to begin.
You can already see the scale of the task. Thousands of emails across multiple systems. A mix of sensitive HR records, third-party data and privileged communications. The client expects you to advise on exemptions and strategy, but the practical delivery could swallow days of your time.
This is the point where law firms start weighing up whether to bring in a specialist DSAR partner. The decision is not about capability, but about capacity, risk and the reassurance of getting it right first time.
A DSAR partner is not needed for every case. Many are small enough for the client and solicitor to handle together. But there are clear signs that external support will add value and reduce risk.
1. The volume is unmanageable
If the data spans thousands of records across fragmented systems, even the best internal processes can slow to a crawl. A specialist team can search, organise and prepare this material at scale without disrupting your focus on the legal strategy.
2. The deadline isimmovable and close
Urgency is where mistakes creep in. If your team is already busy with ongoing matters, involving a DSAR partner early can prevent rushed searches,inconsistent redactions or missed deadlines.
3. The redactions aresensitive and high-stakes
Some DSARs include information that, if mishandled, could damage reputations or weaken the client’s case. Consistent, defensible redaction is a specialist skill, particularly when privilege is involved.
Outsourcing does not have to mean handing over the entire process. Law firms use Bruce & Butler in different ways, depending on the situation.
“The key is flexibility,”says Matt Bruce, Managing Director at Bruce & Butler. “We can be on the ground managing the whole process, or we can step in quietly at the point where the solicitor needs us most.”
Some firms hesitate to involve an external provider because they worry it could be seen as a weakness. In reality, it shows strong risk management and client care.
“For the client, the experience is seamless,” Matt explains. “They see their solicitor delivering a professional, compliant response without being distracted from the legal strategy. That is what matters.”
The right DSAR partner becomes part of the firm’s extended team. The solicitor stays in full control of the legal advice. The operational work happens behind the scenes, discreetly and securely, so the client receives a watertight response on time.
Bringing in a DSAR partner is not about replacing the solicitor. It is about protecting the client, safeguarding the firm’s reputation and delivering under pressure without stretching internal resources.
If your firm advises clients on DSARs and wants the confidence of a trusted operational partner, contact Bruce & Butler today.