The dynamic actions law firms can take to protect against cyber-attacks
Anne Austin
Director
In recent months, cyber attacks have surged across the UK and Europe, affecting a range of public and private sector organisations, including legal service providers.
The recent attack on the Legal Aid Agency has been a stark reminder of the vulnerability of the legal sector, particularly due to the large swathes of sensitive, personal data and client funds that solicitor firms routinely handle. The Agency has also warned that legal aid providers’ payment information might have been compromised.
Cyber-attacks are indiscriminate and a local high street firm is just as likely to be a victim as a multi-national. With trust and confidentiality forming the foundation of solicitor-client relationships, firms must take visible and measurable steps to protect their information systems, give comfort to clients that their data is in safe hands, and to protect against an attack. Here at Enderley, we offer support in securing accreditations that demonstrate law practice integrity and robust data protection practices to clients and prospective clients alike in the form of Lexcel and the Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS).
Whilst these two accreditations offer structured approaches to achieving this – as well as the other benefits they bring – a quicker win in the meantime include achieving Cyber Essentials certification – this is highly recommended and will soon become compulsory anyway for firms with criminal Legal Aid contracts.
Cyber Essentials accreditation (or equivalent) to become mandatory for some from 1 October 2025
During the procurement process criminal Legal Aid practices that wish to tender for criminal legal aid contracts will have to declare in their Invitation to Tender (ITT), that they hold a current and valid Cyber Essentials certificate.
It would be our advice however that every legal aid firm attains the certification.
The LAA has provided useful guidance for the criminal tender which you can find here:
We can help (and have helped) law firms by putting appropriate policies in place which contribute towards a successful Cyber Essentials assessment.
Immediate steps to take – strengthening cyber-resilience through targeted training
Beyond formal accreditations, solicitor firms can take immediate steps to fortify their cybersecurity by investing in specialised training. Enderley Consulting offers two highly relevant courses: “Tackling Fraud and Corruption” and “Cybercrime and Social Engineering.”
The former educates legal professionals on recognising and mitigating fraud risks, understanding corrupt practices, and implementing effective reporting mechanisms.
The latter focuses on the evolving cyber-threat environment, including social engineering tactics and AI-driven fraud, equipping teams with the skills to identify and respond to sophisticated cyber attacks.
By integrating such training into their compliance strategies, law firms can proactively address vulnerabilities and embody security awareness into their daily practices and culture
Our recommendations
With cyber threats on the rise, solicitor firms must take proactive steps to secure their systems, protect client data, and strengthen public confidence. The fact that a government agency has been vulnerable and fallen victim to a cyber attack should in itself be a wake up call to all legal practices – small or otherwise.
We’d recommend immediate training as your first line of defence.
Investing in robust policies, working with IT and compliance consultants, and regularly training your team are now essential parts of running a modern law firm. We can work with law firms to draft robust policies and procedures, and to train your team on how to apply the procedures effectively.
In the longer term if you need help preparing for Lexcel or CQS we can support you. We offer gap analysis, policy drafting, staff training, and preparing for Cyber Essentials by putting appropriate policies in place.
Please do get in touch to find out more.