(713) 965-7200 Why Law Firm IT Support Is Different From General IT and Why It Matters
Your law firm is as good as its reputation. That reputation is totally dependent on the level of trust and confidentiality you have with your clients. But when could trust and confidentiality become an issue?
When you integrate modern technologies into your work systems, you are exposing yourself to potential breaches. On the one hand, these integrated technologies improve your firm’s workflows, speed up manual processes, and lighten workloads. On the other hand, they expose your law firm to more cyber risks.
In 2023, 25% of law firms in the United States experienced cyber attacks. In the UK, 60% of law firms experienced legal breaches caused by insiders. In 2024, data breaches cost a whopping $4.88 million per breach. Every year, there are rising incidents of cyberattacks on law firms.
Your law firm could become the next statistic unless you decide to take matters into your own hands with specialized law firm IT, which is different from general IT.
Law Firm IT Vs. General IT: What’s the Difference?
Law firm IT is different from general IT in many ways. Law firm IT is designed to address the unique needs of a law firm, including the high level of compliance, the need for specialized legal software, and the use of IT systems that meet strict regulatory compliance.
For a Texas law firm, law firm IT is what you need to go beyond mere data storage. It has an IT system that guarantees uptime for critical operations, such as ongoing trials. It is about safeguarding your client’s trust.
On the other hand, general IT is less sophisticated. It doesn’t come with security protocols, specialized expertise, or a tailored solution that a firm needs to manage and store sensitive client information. General IT also lacks the specializations needed to meet ethical obligations expected of the legal profession, as well as the high-stakes demands that define the legal sector.
Why Specialized Law Firm IT Matters
On the most basic level, specialized law firm IT matters because a law firm has unique needs. Law firm IT also matters because of the following reasons:
Data Security and Confidentiality Needs
Your law firm will occasionally handle highly sensitive information, such as a client’s personal details, case specifics for a high-profile case, and legal strategies that it intends to use to win the case for these clients. If your firm lacks specialized IT support, a competitor could easily gain access to that information and use it against you.
Law firm IT matters because it will be the means to implement advanced security measures, such as multi-layer firewalls, encryption, and continuous monitoring to keep client information away from the hands of cybercriminals.
In mid-2023, the State Bar of Texas got first-hand experience of a ransomware attack instigated by the INC group, a new but very dangerous cybercrime syndicate. The breach resulted in compromised social security numbers, leaked financial data, and sensitive information belonging to employees and attorneys.
Texas law firms learned from this one incident that the legal profession is always in the crosshairs with modern cyber risks, and the claims are real and not hypothetical. Law firm IT comes with additional benefits, like:
- Multifactor authentication
- Endpoint protection
- 24/7 threat monitoring
- Secure cloud environments
- Ongoing cybersecurity awareness, because the biggest vulnerability in a law firm lies not in firewalls but in the abilities of its human resources.
Compliance Needs
Law firms operate in an industry that is among the most heavily regulated. Your law firm must always meet these compliance standards, without which you risk hefty penalties on top of losing clients due to a bad reputation.
Law firm IT matters because only then can your law firm meet these compliance and data privacy standards and avoid legal penalties. Your clients will also trust you more when they know that their private information will remain safe and secure.
Specialized Legal Software
In the age of technology, a law firm does not need to rely on manual systems for its case management needs. You can find case management software in the market, such as PCLaw or Clio. Law firm IT ensures that these systems run smoothly, especially because they must be integrated into the firm’s systems.
Ethical Obligations
Ethics is what defines the behavioral standards expected of every law firm. Your law firm must adhere to the highest level of ethics in order to build a good reputation. An IT system that is designed specially for the firm is the surest way to fulfill these ethical obligations, first by safeguarding all communications and later with client information.
That specialized IT system comes with secure software and a reliable IT team. That also means that your law firm must choose a software that fits the needs of your company, a privilege that is absent in general IT.
Reliability and Uptime
Court processes are timed. A lawyer understands that their work is time-sensitive. There’s no excuse at all for a lawyer to miss out on a court session or lack all the information needed during an ongoing court case. Law firm IT will see to it that the firm has a robust disaster recovery, reliable infrastructure, and high availability.
In summary, law firm IT matters because:
- Without specialized IT, your law firm is vulnerable to cyber threats, security breaches, and the potential to mishandle client data.
- An effective IT system in the firm protects you from potential legal issues that arise from failing to meet compliance and regulatory standards.
- A reliable IT structure in your firm is essential for uninterrupted client service, especially during ongoing court cases.
- Finally, IT solutions are what you need to remain competitive and effective, especially when handling complex cases.
Digital Crisis: Your Trusted Partner in Protecting Your Law Firm
What happened to the State Bar of Texas can happen to any legal organization that does not have a modern cybersecurity partner. You don’t have to become a statistic. Digital Crisis is here to offer what you need to have a robust law firm IT that will resolve issues related to confidentiality, compliance, and uptime during trials. Contact us today and have one of our experts review your IT needs.
