Cyber security for law firms is a regulatory obligation, not just an IT concern. The SRA expects firms to take reasonable steps to protect client money, confidential information and business systems, and both the SRA and the ICO can take enforcement action after a breach.
This guide covers your obligations, the main threats and the controls that work.
Solicitors handle some of the most sensitive information imaginable, from property transactions and commercial contracts to family matters and criminal defence. If that information falls into the wrong hands, the consequences stretch far beyond financial loss. It can lead to regulatory investigations, damage client confidence and potentially result in enforcement action from the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA).
In its 2022 Risk Outlook report, the SRA reported that 83% of the cybercrimes reported to it in 2021 involved email, and it has consistently identified cyber security as one of the biggest risks facing the legal profession. That alone should be enough for law firms to make cyber security a board-level priority rather than something left solely to the IT department.
Client confidentiality isn’t optional: it’s a regulatory requirement
Every law firm understands their duty of confidentiality. It’s one of the foundations of legal practice.
But what has changed is the way that duty is tested.
Email systems, cloud storage, remote working and digital case management have transformed how firms operate, but they’ve also created more opportunities for cyber criminals to access confidential information. That means protecting client data in a law firm is about making sure that every digital window and door is properly secured.
If client information is exposed through a cyber breach, firms could face investigation by both the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and the SRA. Regulatory fines are only part of the picture. Depending on the circumstances, a failure to adequately safeguard client information could also amount to professional misconduct under the SRA Code of Conduct. The risk is not theoretical: in April 2025 the ICO fined a UK law firm £60,000 after client data stolen in a cyber attack appeared on the dark web.
Put simply, protecting client confidentiality is no longer just an ethical responsibility, it’s a cyber security responsibility too.
What does the SRA expect law firms to do about cyber security?
Many firms assume that because the SRA doesn’t prescribe a specific list of security controls, there’s plenty of room for interpretation.
That’s true, but it also doesn’t remove responsibility.
The SRA Code of Conduct cyber security guidance makes it clear that firms are expected to take reasonable steps to protect client money, confidential information and business systems. What counts as reasonable will naturally depend on the size and complexity of the practice, but regulators increasingly expect firms to demonstrate that they have actively assessed and managed cyber risk.
For many law firms, that means investing in measures such as:
- Regular penetration testing
- Multi-factor authentication
- Staff cyber awareness training
- Security certifications such as Cyber Essentials or ISO 27001
- Robust backup and disaster recovery processes
Strong SRA compliance isn’t about ticking boxes. It’s about proving that you’ve taken sensible, proportionate steps to reduce risk before something goes wrong.
What is business email compromise and Friday Afternoon Fraud?
Successful cyber attacks against UK law firms rose 77% in a year, from 538 to 954, according to analysis by accountancy firm Lubbock Fine. Criminals know that solicitors regularly deal with high-value financial transactions. By compromising an email account, or simply impersonating one, they attempt to persuade staff or clients to transfer money into fraudulent bank accounts.
One of the best-known examples is Friday Afternoon Fraud.
Property completions often take place towards the end of the week, creating pressure to move funds quickly before banks close. Attackers exploit that urgency, sending convincing last-minute emails requesting changes to payment details or creating a false sense of urgency that bypasses normal checks.
It’s a classic social engineering attack, and it continues to catch firms out because it relies on human behaviour rather than technical vulnerabilities.
Fortunately, one simple process remains one of the most effective defences: always verify any change of bank details by calling a trusted contact using a known telephone number, not the one provided in the email.
Ransomware can bring an entire law firm to a standstill
A successful ransomware attack can lock staff out of case management systems, prevent access to client documents, disrupt court deadlines and halt property transactions. Fee earners are left unable to work, clients are left waiting for updates, and the pressure to restore services increases with every passing hour.
Even if backups are available, recovery can take days or weeks depending on the scale of the incident.
This is why cyber security for law firms has shifted from being an operational concern to a business continuity issue. Every hour of downtime affects productivity, client service and ultimately revenue.
Practical steps to improve cyber security in the legal sector
Effective cyber security doesn’t always require huge investment. In many cases, improving everyday processes can significantly reduce risk.
In our testing work we see a lot of the same weaknesses cropping up engagement after engagement, and they often tie right into the five Cyber Essentials controls:
- Firewalls: a remote-access service or management interface left reachable from the internet.
- Secure configuration: default administrative credentials still in place.
- Security update management: an unsupported operating system still running because a legacy practice application depends on it.
- User access control: long term employees with more privileges than they need as there are permissions aren’t reviewed as they move around the business.
- Malware protection: laptops where the endpoint protection agent has quietly stopped reporting and nobody is watching the console.
Some of the most effective measures include:
- Introduce multi-factor authentication across all business systems.
- Provide regular cyber awareness training so staff recognise phishing and social engineering attacks.
- Carry out routine penetration testing to identify weaknesses before attackers do.
- Keep software and operating systems fully patched.
- Test backups regularly to ensure they can be restored quickly.
- Require verbal confirmation of any bank detail changes using an independently verified phone number.
- Review access permissions so staff only have access to information they genuinely need.
Good cyber security for UK legal practices combines technology, policies and staff awareness. One without the others leaves gaps that attackers are quick to exploit.
Strong cyber security is part of modern legal practice
Clients expect their solicitor to protect their interests. Increasingly, that includes protecting their data.
Cyber security is no longer something that sits alongside legal practice: it forms part of it. Firms that take security seriously aren’t simply reducing the risk of attack. They’re protecting client confidentiality, supporting regulatory compliance and safeguarding the reputation they’ve worked hard to build.
Cyber security for law firms: frequently asked questions
Do law firms have to have Cyber Essentials?
No. The SRA does not mandate any specific certification. It does expect firms to take proportionate steps to protect client money and confidential information, and Cyber Essentials is increasingly treated as the baseline by clients, insurers and panel appointments, so many firms certify in order to evidence that baseline.
Do law firms have to report cyber attacks to the SRA?
Successful attacks should be reported to the SRA, including those involving client money or confidential client information, and that applies even where the losses have already been repaid by the firm or its insurer. Where personal data is affected, a reportable breach also needs to go to the ICO, normally within 72 hours.
How often should a law firm carry out penetration testing?
At least annually, and again after any significant change to your systems: a new case management platform, a merger or office move, or new remote access arrangements. Testing once and filing the report does not tell you much about the environment you are running a year later.
Protect your clients, your reputation and your practice
Meeting your professional obligations starts with understanding your cyber risk.
Whether you’re reviewing your current security posture, preparing for compliance requirements or looking to strengthen your firm’s resilience, we’re here to help.
Protect your clients, your reputation and your practice. Contact us today to assess your firm’s security and ensure your business is prepared for the cyber threats facing law firms.