Quick answer: For legal files too big for email, upload to Share Large Video Files (up to 20 GB per transfer) and restrict the link: only named emails or your client's domain, a signed NDA before download if needed, view only with a watermark for drafts, a short expiry and a download receipt. Transfers are encrypted in transit (HTTPS) but not end to end, so encrypt privileged material yourself and follow your firm's and regulator's rules.
Files lawyers send, and how big they get
| File | Format | Typical size |
|---|---|---|
| Scanned court bundle, 500 pages | 50 to 500 MB | |
| Disclosure or discovery set | PDF, email exports, ZIP | 1 to 50 GB |
| CCTV, body-worn or phone video evidence | MP4, proprietary formats | 100 MB to 20 GB |
| Interview or hearing recording, 1 hour | MP3, WAV | 60 MB (MP3) to 600 MB (WAV) |
| Contract drafts | DOCX, PDF | under 10 MB |
Can it go by email or chat?
Can you send a scanned court bundle (about 200 MB) as an attachment?
| App | Limit | Fits? |
|---|---|---|
| Gmail | 25 MB per email | No, send a link |
| Outlook.com | 20 to 25 MB per email | No, send a link |
| WhatsApp (document) | 2 GB per file | Yes |
| Telegram | 2 GB per file | Yes |
| Facebook Messenger | 100 MB per file | No, send a link |
| Discord (free) | 20 MB per file | No, send a link |
| Slack | 1 GB per file | Yes |
| WeTransfer (free) | 3 GB per transfer | Yes |
| Share Large Video Files | 20 GB per transfer | Send the link anywhere |
Limits from our file size limits by app table, checked against each service's help pages.
A workflow that works
- Prepare the files: remove metadata from drafts, and put privileged or special-category material into a password-protected ZIP with a strong password.
- Upload and open More options. Set Who can open the link to Only emails or domains I list and add the recipients.
- For drafts or settlement material shown before an agreement, tick Require an NDA before download or View only (no downloads) with the watermark.
- Choose a short Expires after, and tick Email me when it's downloaded.
- Send the link by email and the ZIP password by another channel (phone or SMS). Keep the download records from your Transfers page on file.
Recommended options
| Option (under More options) | Setting | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Who can open the link | Only emails or domains I list | A forwarded link does not open for anyone else |
| Require an NDA before download | On, with your agreement text | Recipient signs by typing their name; both sides get a PDF certificate |
| View only (no downloads) | On for drafts | Watermarked with the viewer's email and time |
| Download limits: per person | 1 or 2 | Fewer copies in circulation |
| Expires after | The shortest that works | Files are deleted from the servers when the transfer expires |
| Email me when it's downloaded | On | A record of when each recipient collected the files |
Open the upload page with the “Matter documents” settings on: only the emails you list can open it, they accept the confidentiality agreement first, and previews are view only with a watermark naming the viewer. You can change anything before sending, then press Save current next to Preset to keep your own version for every matter.
Scanned bundles and client documents
Scanned bundles are pictures of pages, so you can't search them for a name or a date. The free OCR PDF tool adds a searchable text layer in your browser, and PDF to Word turns a PDF into an editable draft; neither uploads the document. To collect documents from a client, create a file request with a checklist of what you need (ID, signed engagement letter, evidence) and a due date; clients you add by name get their own link and automatic reminders, and you approve each file or ask for it again.
What this does and does not provide
Links travel over HTTPS and files are deleted when the transfer expires, and the options above control and record who opens them. Share Large Video Files does not offer end-to-end encryption, and we do not claim certification under any legal-sector, privacy or security standard. For privileged, criminal or special-category data, encrypt the files before uploading (for example, a password-protected ZIP) and check that sending through a third-party service is allowed by your firm's policy, your client and your regulator. See security.
Frequently asked questions
Is it secure enough for client files?
Transfers are encrypted in transit and deleted on expiry, and you can restrict, watermark and record access. There is no end-to-end encryption, so encrypt privileged material yourself and follow your firm's rules.
Can I require an NDA before someone downloads?
Yes. Tick Require an NDA before download. Recipients confirm their email, sign by typing their name, and both sides can get a PDF certificate of the signature.
Can I prove when a bundle was downloaded?
Your Transfers page records opens and downloads with the time, and Email me when it's downloaded notifies you. Keep those records with the matter file.
How do I send a password safely?
By a different channel from the link: if the link goes by email, give the password by phone or text.
Is Share Large Video Files HIPAA or GDPR certified?
We make no such certification claims. Read the privacy policy and security page, and decide with your compliance lead whether it suits a given matter.
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