Top 5 cybersecurity tips for the legal sector in the UK

Law firms are a prime target for cybercriminals due to the vast amounts of confidential client data they handle. A 2023 report by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) found that 75% of UK law firms had experienced some form of cyber attack in the past year. With increasingly sophisticated threats such as phishing, ransomware, and insider breaches, ensuring strong cybersecurity measures is no longer optional—it is essential.

Unlike other industries, legal professionals deal with highly sensitive personal, financial, and corporate information, making them an attractive target for cybercriminals. A single data breach can result in legal liability, loss of client trust, and regulatory penalties. GDPR violations alone can lead to fines of up to £17.5 million or 4% of a firm's annual turnover, whichever is higher.

The legal sector is subject to strict regulations, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the SRA Code of Conduct. Failing to implement robust cybersecurity practices can lead to data breaches, reputational damage, regulatory fines, and loss of client trust. Below, we outline five key cybersecurity tips tailored to UK law firms to help them protect sensitive client information, stay compliant, and reduce cyber risks.

1. Implement strong access controls and secure authentication

Legal professionals handle highly sensitive documents, including contracts, financial records, and case files. If these fall into the wrong hands, the consequences can be severe. One of the most effective ways to prevent unauthorised access is by implementing strict access controls and multi-factor authentication (MFA).

Best practices include:

• Using role-based access control (RBAC) to ensure employees only have access to the data necessary for their roles.
• Enforcing multi-factor authentication (MFA) on all login portals, emails, and cloud applications to add an extra layer of security.
• Regularly reviewing and updating user permissions, ensuring former employees or external contractors no longer have access to sensitive systems.

Why access control is crucial

Many insider threats come from employees or third parties who still have access to systems long after they leave a firm. If access permissions are not revoked promptly, ex-employees, former clients, or third-party vendors could still view or even manipulate sensitive legal documents.

Firms should consider adopting identity and access management (IAM) solutions to monitor user activity and automate access control policies. These tools ensure that only authorised personnel have access to sensitive case files and reduce the risk of data leaks.

Without strong access controls, law firms risk internal data leaks, credential theft, and external cyber attacks. Learn more about preventing unauthorised access in our guide to common cyber attack prevention.

2. Encrypt and secure client communications

Law firms frequently communicate sensitive client information via email, file-sharing platforms, and messaging applications. Unsecured communication channels can lead to data interception, phishing scams, and unauthorised access by cybercriminals.

To enhance security, legal firms should:

• Use end-to-end encryption for emails and messaging platforms to prevent unauthorised interception.
• Secure legal documents with encrypted file-sharing services instead of sending sensitive files as email attachments.
• Implement email authentication protocols such as SPF, DKIM, and DMARC to prevent phishing and email spoofing.

Securing communications with clients and third parties

Legal professionals often work with external consultants, expert witnesses, and financial advisors, which increases the risk of data leakage if communications are not properly secured. Ensuring that these third parties also follow encryption protocols and secure collaboration tools is vital.

By securing communications, law firms can prevent cybercriminals from intercepting or exploiting sensitive data exchanges. To further enhance security, firms should consider a penetration test to identify vulnerabilities in their systems. Learn more about our penetration testing services.

3. Protect against ransomware and malware threats

Ransomware is one of the most damaging cyber threats facing the legal industry today. In a ransomware attack, cybercriminals encrypt a law firm's data and demand a ransom for its release, often threatening to leak confidential client records if payment is not made.

Advanced ransomware protection strategies

Beyond basic antivirus and firewall protections, law firms should also consider implementing:

• Zero-trust security models that require continuous verification before granting access to systems.
• Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) tools that monitor and log network activity to detect suspicious behaviour in real time.
• Deception technology, which sets up fake systems to lure and identify attackers before they can breach actual networks.

Legal firms must have an incident response plan in place to respond to ransomware attacks swiftly. Learn how to protect your firm from ransomware in our guide on cybersecurity incident response services.

4. Ensure compliance with data protection regulations

To understand how your law firm can improve compliance and risk management, visit our page on cybersecurity compliance and risk management services.

5. Train employees on cybersecurity best practices

Law firms should conduct training sessions at least twice a year, ensuring employees stay updated on evolving cyber threats. Read more about improving employee security awareness in our article on cybersecurity habits for employees.

Building a security-first culture in the legal sector

Cyber threats are constantly evolving, and law firms remain a lucrative target for cybercriminals due to the vast amounts of sensitive data they handle. A single cyber attack can result in financial losses, regulatory penalties, reputational damage, and a loss of client trust. Firms that fail to prioritise cybersecurity risk severe consequences, including GDPR fines and legal malpractice claims.

By implementing robust access controls, securing client communications, protecting against ransomware, ensuring regulatory compliance, and regularly training employees, law firms can significantly strengthen their cyber defences. Cybersecurity is not a one-time fix—it requires ongoing effort, continuous monitoring, and a proactive approach to mitigate risks. Firms that foster a security-first culture will be better equipped to prevent data breaches, maintain compliance, and protect their reputation in an increasingly digital world.