Many organizations in the United States are faced with a cybersecurity challenge. Cyber risks are a severe threat to U.S. Law firms as they deal with compassionate information about clients and have access to confidential documents.

Hackers and cyber-risks constantly threaten law firms in today’s digitally-dominated world.

As owners of sensitive data, these firms must ensure that they don’t fall prey to cybercriminals looking to exploit vulnerabilities to gain access to valuable information. Data breaches can have devastating consequences, from damage to reputation and legal liability to financial penalties and losses.

This guide provides a comprehensive overview of all the information a law office needs about cyber threats and how to implement a robust cybersecurity plan.

Law firms can improve their security and confidentiality by being aware of potential threats and understanding the elements of an excellent cyber strategy.

What are the top cybersecurity risks for a U.S.-based law firm?

All law firms need to be aware of a few cybersecurity risks. These include:

Data Breach: Cybercriminals are looking for valuable information about clients. A 2020 Report revealed that phishing attacks were responsible for 96% of data breaches in legal firms. The ABA survey also found that 88% of law firms had a phishing attack in 2020.

Ransomware is increasingly targeting law firms. According to the ABA survey, 22% of law offices reported being ransomware victims in 2020. According to Coveware, the average ransom has steadily increased by 43% between 2019 and 2020.

Insider Threats – The threat of insider threats in law firms is significant. According to the ABA survey, 17% of law firms experienced an internal data leak in 2020. A report from Crowd Research Partners also found that 74% of organizations, including law offices, are concerned about insider threats.

Third-Party risks: Law firms work with contractors and external vendors who can introduce cybersecurity vulnerabilities. According to the ABA survey, 35% of law offices experienced a security breach in 2020 that was caused by a vendor.

Why are U.S. Law firms at Risk?

Cybercriminals are attracted to law firms because of several factors. This is primarily due to:

Client data that is valuable: Law firms deal with a large amount of sensitive information about clients, such as financial records, intellectual properties, personal data, and confidential legal communications. Cybercriminals are attracted to this wealth of data, which they can use to steal identities, gain financial advantage, or gain a competitive edge.

IT resources are limited: Many law offices, particularly smaller ones, have a lower IT budget and fewer IT resources than larger organizations. It can lead to outdated software, security measures, and less sophisticated cybersecurity infrastructure.

Cybercriminals perceive that law firms have lower security than other industries, such as healthcare or finance. In many cases, they are right.

Human Factor: The human element is a significant vulnerability. Employees of law firms, such as attorneys and support staff, may fall victim unintentionally to phishing and other social engineering techniques or accidentally expose sensitive information. Simple human mistakes, such as responding to a fraudulent email or clicking on a malicious email, can result in an extremely damaging data breach.

Risks from third parties: Many law firms use vendors to process information. These vendors have access to the firm’s data or systems, and this increases the risk of a security breach if the vendor’s security measures are insufficient.

What are the cybersecurity obligations of a law office?

To protect their client’s data and ensure the integrity of operations, U.S. Law firms are required to meet several cybersecurity obligations.

There are certain cybersecurity obligations that all U.S.-based law firms must meet, even though the specifics may vary depending on state laws and regulations:

Protecting confidentiality is a legal firm’s fundamental responsibility. They must take reasonable steps to prevent unauthorized access, disclosure, or handling of client data. It includes the use of encryption, access controls, and securing electronic systems.

Planning for incident response: To effectively mitigate and address cybersecurity incidents, law firms should have a plan in place. Establishing protocols for detecting data breaches and other security breaches, responding, and recovering is important. It may be necessary to notify affected clients as well as the appropriate authorities.

Legal ethics rules such as those set forth by the American Bar Association impose a responsibility on attorneys to protect information about clients. This duty includes taking reasonable measures to ensure the security of electronic communications, maintaining competence in technology issues, and maintaining clients’ confidence.

Due diligence on third parties: When using contractors, third-party vendors, or cloud service providers, law firms should use due diligence. It is important to assess their security measures, contractual obligations, and data handling policies in order to protect client information.