
Recent reports by the American Bar Association (ABA) reveal that roughly 29% of law firms have experienced a data breach. Given the consistent increase in cases and growing sophistication of cyberattacks observed through the years, this number can be expected to go only higher.
For hackers, law firms represent a gold mine of sensitive data, from confidential case files to personal client information like Social Security numbers and bank account details. In such a high-stakes environment, protecting your clients’ data has now become a non-negotiable for legal practitioners who want to keep their practice afloat.
A single breach can lead to millions of dollars in penalties, irreparable damage to client trust, and even disbarment. Today, secure file sharing for law firms is critical to safeguarding sensitive information and maintaining compliance, all while staying ahead in the digital age.
Why Does Security Matter in Legal File Sharing?
A data breach happens when unauthorized parties gain access to sensitive information and compromise its security. In a law firm, data breaches can stem from various sources, such as lost or stolen devices, cyberattacks, and accidental disclosure of sensitive client information.
With how rampant cyberattacks are in the legal sector (with United States-based defense contractors even bearing the brunt of the demand), it seems that more and more hackers are finding all types of confidential law firm data just fascinating. The following is information commonly targeted in cases of law firm data breaches.
- Details about mergers and acquisitions
- Attorney-client privileged information about cases
- Litigation strategies
- Social security numbers
- Driver’s license numbers
- Credit card numbers
- Bank account information
- Street addresses
- Personal telephone numbers
Using a secure portal for sharing documents can help address the growing risk of data breaches in the legal sector. Aside from the evident purpose of defending your own against cybercriminals, safe legal file sharing also allows you to reap several other benefits, detailed below:
Staying compliant with legal and ethical standards
While data breaches are a serious concern in any industry, they carry larger consequences for law firms due to lawyers’ ethical responsibility to protect client confidentiality. ABA Rule 1.6 directs attorneys to take every reasonable step to protect attorney-client privilege, and Formal Opinion 477 encourages the use of encryption to do so.
Even if an attorney’s office compromises a client’s personally identifiable information by accident rather than negligence, reprimands and revoked licenses are an imminent threat. These obligations make robust data security measures not just a best practice, but an absolute necessity.
Protecting client trust
A breach of confidential client information won’t just leave you with dissatisfied clients. You can expect them to take action on grounds of negligence, which can largely affect your overall reputation as a legal practitioner.
A secure attorney file-sharing platform can save you from the trouble of losing clients and even your practice altogether. With the right tool in your arsenal, sensitive client and case data remains confidential, allowing you to retain clients for long-term business relationships.
Maintaining business continuity
Data breaches can easily disrupt business operations and will likely result in significant financial and reputational losses if your firm ever gets targeted by cybercriminals.
Using trusted law firm file-sharing tools can help protect your firm’s ability to operate smoothly and continue delivering value to clients without any risk of cyberattacks.
3 Law Firm File-Sharing Methods to Consider
Depending on your preferences for file sharing, there is some flexibility when it comes to upholding your legal and ethical data security obligations. Communicating with clients via secure portals for sharing documents, sending encrypted email attachments, or sending files through an established file-sharing platform are all acceptable options you can consider.
Like in all matters, though, each approach has pros and cons. To help you decide on a legal file-sharing strategy, we’ve outlined the basics of the most common methods:
Method 1: Secure Client Portal for Document Sharing
The number-one use of client portals is legal file-sharing, but they’re also a digital “one-stop shop” for other critical interactions between attorneys and clients. This comprehensive method of communication does much more than protect client confidentiality.
Pros:
- Client portals provide a centralized hub for communication and file exchange, saving attorneys time digging through email threads for pictures, phone numbers, and questions.
- They also allow clients to upload photographic or video evidence, view case progress, and process invoice payments safely.
- Using a secure client portal for sharing documents reduces the risk of sensitive files being lost or intercepted.
Cons:
- Portals require clients to set up their own accounts and log in with every use, which may be inconvenient for technology-challenged folks.
- Some clients may need assistance navigating the platform, leaving attorneys to act as tech support to help clients access their documents.