A method performed by a network device, the method comprising: receiving , by the network device, a request for a lawful intercept, "LI", session, where the LI session is associated with a particular priority of a set of priority levels; determining , by the network device, whether a maximum quantity of LI sessions has been initiated by the network device; initiating , by the network device, a new LI session based on the request, when the maximum quantity of LI sessions has not been initiated; determining , by the network device, whether at least one LI session exists that is associated with a lower priority than the particular priority, when the maximum quantity of LI sessions has been initiated; selecting a set of existing LI sessions associated with a lowest priority, when the at least one LI session associated with a lower priority exists; determining whether there exists at least one LI session with an invalid target in the selected set of existing LI sessions, wherein an invalid target is a target that can no longer be identified; If there exists at least one LI session with an invalid target: selecting the at least one LI session with the invalid target as a particular LI session; terminating , by the network device, the particular LI session associated with the lowest priority; initiating , by the network device, a new LI session based on the received request, in response to terminating the particular LI session associated with the lowest priority; and dropping , by the network device, the received request without initiating a new LI session, when the at least one LI session associated with the lower priority does not exist. receiving , by the network device, a request for a lawful intercept, "LI", session, where the LI session is associated with a particular priority of a set of priority levels; determining , by the network device, whether a maximum quantity of LI sessions has been initiated by the network device; initiating , by the network device, a new LI session based on the request, when the maximum quantity of LI sessions has not been initiated; determining , by the network device, whether at least one LI session exists that is associated with a lower priority than the particular priority, when the maximum quantity of LI sessions has been initiated; selecting a set of existing LI sessions associated with a lowest priority, when the at least one LI session associated with a lower priority exists; determining whether there exists at least one LI session with an invalid target in the selected set of existing LI sessions, wherein an invalid target is a target that can no longer be identified; If there exists at least one LI session with an invalid target: selecting the at least one LI session with the invalid target as a particular LI session; terminating , by the network device, the particular LI session associated with the lowest priority; initiating , by the network device, a new LI session based on the received request, in response to terminating the particular LI session associated with the lowest priority; and dropping , by the network device, the received request without initiating a new LI session, when the at least one LI session associated with the lower priority does not exist. selecting the at least one LI session with the invalid target as a particular LI session; terminating , by the network device, the particular LI session associated with the lowest priority; initiating , by the network device, a new LI session based on the received request, in response to terminating the particular LI session associated with the lowest priority; and dropping , by the network device, the received request without initiating a new LI session, when the at least one LI session associated with the lower priority does not exist. <EOS>