MRC Portal: Secure Case File Access, Anytime, Anywhere
Heidi Davatgar
MRC Portal: Secure Case File Access, Anytime, Anywhere
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The MRC Portal is a secure, cloud-based storage platform that gives UK legal teams instant access to completed case files from any device, at any time. Every file MRC prepares for you, including paginated medical records, indexes, chronologies, memos, and schedules, is delivered to a clearly labelled folder in your firm's own workspace. In short, it replaces chasing emails and waiting on discs with one secure, controlled place for every case.
For solicitors handling clinical negligence and personal injury work, case files contain special-category medical data. That raises the stakes on how records are stored, shared, and accessed. The MRC Portal is built to keep that access simple for your team and tightly controlled for information governance. This article explains what the Portal does, how it keeps records secure, and how it fits alongside MRC Pagination and MRC Radiology.
Last reviewed: August 2026.
Key takeaways
- The MRC Portal is secure, cloud-based storage for your completed case files, accessible 24/7 from desktop, laptop, tablet, or mobile.
- Records are hosted in UK-based data centres, with encryption in transit and at rest.
- Access is by encrypted link with a separate password, restricted to approved parties, and links can be set to expire in line with your firm's policies.
- Full audit trails record who accessed what and when, supporting your information governance obligations.
- Files from MRC Pagination and MRC Radiology are delivered straight to the Portal, ready to review, download, and share.
What is the MRC Portal?
The MRC Portal is a secure, cloud-based document storage platform for completed medico-legal case files. It gives your firm a single, controlled workspace where every set of records MRC prepares is stored, organised, and ready to access.
When a case is complete, MRC uploads all the relevant files, including paginated medical records, the index, the clinical chronology, expert memos, and schedules, into your firm's workspace. Each case sits in its own clearly labelled folder, so your team can find the right file without hunting through inboxes or shared drives. From there you can review documents online, download them, update them, and manage sharing, all from one place.
How does the MRC Portal keep case files secure?
The MRC Portal protects case files through UK-based hosting, strong encryption, and tightly controlled access. Records are held in UK-based data centres, encrypted both in transit and at rest, and reached only through a secure link paired with a separate password, never through email attachments or generic cloud links.
Access is restricted to approved parties, and every action is captured in a full audit trail, so you can see who opened, downloaded, or shared a file and when. Links can be set to expire in line with your firm's own retention and information governance policies, which matters when files contain special-category medical data under the UK GDPR. The result is secure access that supports your compliance position rather than complicating it. MRC handles case data under GDPR-compliant data processing arrangements.
Why does secure case-file access matter for law firms?
Medical records are among the most sensitive data a law firm holds. Under the UK GDPR, health information is special-category data, which carries a higher bar for security, access control, and accountability. Emailing records or dropping them into a generic cloud folder makes that bar hard to meet.
Common working patterns make the risk sharper. Records are shared with barristers, medical experts, and insurers. Fee earners work remotely and across devices. Files need to be retained for years and then disposed of on schedule. Each of these is easier to manage from a controlled portal with expiring links and audit trails than from scattered email threads. Centralised, access-controlled storage reduces the chance of records reaching the wrong recipient and gives you a clear record of who saw what, which is exactly what an information governance review looks for.
Secure portal vs email and generic cloud sharing
| MRC Portal | Email / generic cloud links | |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting | UK-based data centres | Often unknown or outside the UK |
| Access control | Encrypted link plus separate password, approved parties only | Anyone with the link or forwarded email |
| Link expiry | Can be set to expire per firm policy | Rarely expires; hard to revoke |
| Audit trail | Full log of access and activity | Little or no visibility |
| Organisation | One labelled folder per case | Files spread across inboxes and drives |
| Encryption | In transit and at rest | Variable, often none at rest |
What can you do inside the MRC Portal?
The Portal is built for day-to-day case management, not just storage. You can review files online, download them, create and manage secure sharing links, update documents, and track activity, all without emailing anyone.
Because it works across desktop, laptop, tablet, and mobile, your team can work the same way whether they are in the office, at home, or preparing for a hearing. That supports paperless, remote working and reduces the admin and physical storage that paper bundles and disc archives create. Sharing a pre-organised set with an expert or barrister becomes a controlled action with a link and a password, rather than a large attachment sent into an inbox.
How does the MRC Portal work with MRC Pagination and MRC Radiology?
The Portal is where the rest of MRC's work is delivered. When MRC Pagination completes a court-compliant bundle, the paginated records, index, chronology, memos, and schedules are uploaded straight to your workspace, ready to review and share.
MRC Radiology uses the same secure Portal to deliver imaging. It converts encrypted discs, DICOM files, and mismatched scans into an accessible, streamlined format you can view, share, and download alongside the written records. And where a case begins with MRC Screening, the same secure handling applies from the first review. Across all of these, MRC is AI-driven and clinically led: the AI sorts, structures, and surfaces the records, and MRC's clinicians bring the context, judgement, and accuracy. You can read more about the platform itself on the MRC Portal page.
In summary
The MRC Portal turns completed case files into secure, organised, always-available records. It gives your firm UK-based hosting, encryption in transit and at rest, password-protected access with expiring links, and full audit trails, so sensitive medical records are easy for your team to reach and hard for anyone else to. It also removes the admin of chasing emails, waiting on discs, and storing paper.
To see how the MRC Portal could work for your firm, or to talk through a completed case, get in touch. Website: mrcgroup.uk. Phone: 0161 928 1636. Email: info@mrcgroup.uk.
Frequently asked questions
Where is my case data stored?
Your case data is stored in UK-based data centres. Records are encrypted in transit and at rest, and access is controlled through secure links and separate passwords, so your firm keeps clear oversight of where medical records sit and who can reach them.
How is access to the MRC Portal controlled?
Access is by encrypted link with a separate password, restricted to approved parties. Links can be set to expire in line with your firm's policies, and full audit trails record who accessed each file and when, so you retain a clear governance record.
Can I share files with barristers, experts, or insurers?
Yes. The Portal includes secure sharing tools, so you can create and manage links for third parties such as medical experts, barristers, and insurers, rather than sending large email attachments. You stay in control of who has access and for how long.
What files are delivered to the Portal?
Completed case files are delivered to the Portal, including paginated medical records, the index, clinical chronology, memos, and schedules from MRC Pagination, and radiology sets from MRC Radiology. Each case is placed in its own clearly labelled folder.
Does the MRC Portal support remote and paperless working?
Yes. You can access the Portal 24/7 from desktop, laptop, tablet, or mobile, which supports remote working and paperless case management. It also reduces the admin and physical storage that paper bundles and disc archives create.
Is the MRC Portal compliant with data protection rules?
MRC handles case data under GDPR-compliant data processing arrangements, with UK-based hosting, encryption, access controls, and audit trails. Because medical records are special-category data under the UK GDPR, these controls are designed to support your firm's information governance obligations.
