1. A method in a computer system for retrieving data from one of multiple copies of the data, the method comprising: receiving, from a requesting computer, a request identifying at least one data object to be accessed; identifying multiple copies of the data object that satisfy the request from the requesting computer; for each identified copy, determining an availability of the copy relative to other identified copies, wherein determining the availability at least includes determining an approximate time required to access the identified copy; selecting an identified copy to use for accessing the identified at least one data object, wherein the selecting is based at least in part on the determined availability of the identified copies; and accessing the identified at least one data object using the selected copy, and wherein determining the availability includes determining a purpose of the retrieval request, wherein the determined purpose is for a legal discovery request.