A virtual interview is conducted in the context of a legal matter, for example, using online forms, thus enabling rapid and large-scale information capture from distributed recipients. A user can define questions and virtual interviews once, and use them again and again; can define an approved set of questions to insure consistency of interview practice; and can de facto improve the consistency and credibility of information gathering in legal matters. Users can pre-establish action items that are automatically created upon receiving specific responses to virtual interviews. Interview response may be managed by exception, i.e. exception alerting, and tools are provided to view exceptional cases for follow-up action. For example, alerts can be issued on the basis of such factors as: if any one responded that they had data at home, send an alert to the attorney and an action item to do an appropriate collection; and if anyone responds that they know others in scope, initiate an action item assigned to paralegal to add identified individuals to scope. A user can conduct many interviews systematically to determine where all key facts related to the matter are located; to update information in a highly distributed way for effective legal management; and to manage responses efficiently.