Word of the Week: “Phishing” 🎣 in the Legal Profession - What Every Lawyer Needs to Know in 2025 🛡️

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Lawyers Battle phishing on a daily basis.

Phishing is one of the most persistent and dangerous cyber threats facing law firms today. Phishing is a form of computer and internet fraud in which criminals use fake emails, websites, or messages to trick recipients into revealing sensitive information such as passwords, bank details, or client data. For lawyers and legal professionals, the stakes are especially high: law firms hold vast amounts of confidential client information, making them prime targets for cybercriminals. The American Bar Association (ABA) Model Rules for Professional Conduct, particularly Rule 1.6 (Confidentiality of Information) and Rule 1.1 (Competence), require lawyers to protect client data and maintain competence in technology relevant to their practice.

How Phishing Targets Law Firms

Phishing attacks against law firms have become more sophisticated in 2025. Criminals now use generative AI to craft emails that closely mimic real communications from clients, colleagues, or even senior partners. These messages often create a sense of urgency, pressuring recipients to act quickly—such as transferring funds, sharing login credentials, or downloading malicious attachments. Business Email Compromise (BEC) scams are particularly damaging, as attackers impersonate managing partners or clients to divert wire transfers or request sensitive documents.

Impersonation: The Hidden Dangers in Your Inbox

Attackers often use email spoofing to manipulate the display name and email address, making a message appear to come from someone you trust. The display name (the name that appears in your inbox) can be set to any familiar contact, but the actual email address may be subtly altered or completely fake. For example, a scammer might use “john.smith@lawfirm.com”or “John Smith of ….” as the display name, but the underlying address could be “jjohn.smith@lawf1rm.com” or “john..john.smith@lawfirm.co@lawfirm.co.” These changes are often just a single character off, designed to trick you into replying or clicking a malicious link.

Lawyers should always examine the full email address, not just the display name, before responding or acting on any request. On many smartphones and email clients, only the display name is shown by default, so you may need to click or tap to reveal the actual sender’s email address. If the message requests sensitive information, money transfers, or urgent action, verify the request through a separate communication channel, such as a phone call using a known number—not one provided in the suspicious email. This vigilance aligns with ABA Model Rule 1.1, which requires lawyers to maintain competence, including understanding risks associated with technology.

Recent Phishing Incidents Involving Lawyers

Phishing Email Threatens Law Firm Cybersecurity Defense

What Lawyers Should Watch For

  • Impersonation: Always check the sender’s full email address, not just the display name. Watch for addresses that are off by one or more characters.

  • Urgency and Pressure: Be cautious of emails that demand immediate action, especially those involving money or confidential data.

  • Suspicious Links or Attachments: Hover over links to check their true destination, and never open unexpected attachments.

  • Unusual Requests: Be wary of requests outside normal procedures, such as buying gift cards or changing payment instructions.

Prevention and Best Practices

  • Employee Training: Regular cybersecurity awareness training is crucial. Staff should be able to recognize phishing attempts and know how to report them. This supports ABA Model Rule 5.3 (Responsibilities Regarding Nonlawyer Assistance).

  • Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): MFA adds an extra layer of security, making it harder for attackers to access accounts even if credentials are compromised.

  • Incident Response Plan: Every law firm should have a clear plan for responding to phishing incidents, including communication protocols and legal obligations for breach notification.

  • Client Education: Educate clients about phishing risks and encourage them to verify any unusual requests that appear to come from your firm.

Professional Responsibility and Phishing

lawyers need to be proactive Against Cybersecurity Threats in 2025!

The ABA Model Rules make clear that lawyers must take reasonable steps to prevent unauthorized access to client information (Rule 1.6(c)). Lawyers must also keep abreast of changes in technology and its associated risks (Rule 1.1, Comment 8). Failing to implement basic cybersecurity measures, such as phishing awareness and email verification, may expose lawyers to disciplinary action and civil liability.

Final Thoughts

Phishing is not just an IT problem—it’s a business risk that can compromise client trust, cause financial loss, and result in legal liability. By staying vigilant, investing in training, and adopting robust security measures, lawyers can protect themselves, their clients, and their reputations in an increasingly digital world. Compliance with the ABA Model Rules is not optional—it's essential for ethical and effective law practice.

📖 Word(s) of the Week (Woow): "Service as a Service" (SaaS) & "Hardware as a Service" (HaaS)!

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SaaS vs. HaaS: What Law Firms Need to Know About Service as a Service and Hardware as a Service in 2025 ⚖️💻

Exploring SaaS vs. HaaS in Legal Tech!

Legal practices are rapidly embracing cloud-based solutions, and two models stand out: Software as a Service (SaaS) and Hardware as a Service (HaaS). Understanding these models is essential for law firms seeking efficiency, security, and cost-effectiveness in 2025.

What is SaaS?
SaaS is a cloud-based software delivery model. Instead of buying software outright and installing it on each device, law firms subscribe to web-hosted applications. This means no more managing physical servers or complex installations. Leading SaaS providers handle updates, security, and maintenance, freeing attorneys to focus on clients and cases.

Benefits of SaaS for Law Firms:

  • Centralized, secure document management—enabling paperless workflows and real-time collaboration.

  • Cost savings by eliminating expensive hardware and IT support. Firms pay only for what they use and can scale up or down as needed.

  • Remote access to case files, calendars, and billing from anywhere, supporting hybrid and remote work environments.

  • Automatic updates and improved security, with providers responsible for compliance and data protection.

  • Specialized legal features, such as document automation, calendaring, and legal billing, tailored for law practices.

Legal Considerations for SaaS:
SaaS agreements replace traditional software licenses. They must clearly define service levels, data privacy, and compliance with regulations. SaaS lawyers play a crucial role in drafting contracts, protecting intellectual property, and ensuring regulatory compliance across jurisdictions.

What is HaaS?
HaaS provides physical hardware—like computers, servers, or networking equipment—on a subscription basis. Law firms avoid large upfront purchases and instead pay a monthly fee for access, support, and maintenance. HaaS often includes installation, configuration, troubleshooting, and ongoing monitoring.

Benefits of HaaS for Law Firms:

Knowing your SAAS and Haas agreement terms is essential to maintaining client confidentiality and security

  • Predictable budgeting with no surprise hardware expenses.

  • Up-to-date equipment and proactive maintenance, reducing downtime.

  • Comprehensive support agreements, including warranties and rapid response times.

  • Enhanced security and compliance, as providers manage device updates and data protection.

Legal Considerations for HaaS:
HaaS contracts should specify the scope of services, pricing, service-level agreements (SLAs), liability, data privacy, and dispute resolution. Clear terms protect both the law firm and the provider, ensuring accountability and compliance with industry standards.

Challenges Law Firms Face in Using SaaS and HaaS

Law firms adopting SaaS and HaaS face several notable challenges:

  • Security Vulnerabilities: SaaS platforms can be susceptible to misconfigured access controls, inadequate monitoring, and insufficient threat detection. These weaknesses make law firms prime targets for cyberattacks, such as unauthorized access and data breaches, as seen in high-profile incidents involving major firms.

  • Data Breaches and Compliance Risks: Sensitive client data stored in SaaS environments is at risk if proper security measures are not in place. Breaches can expose confidential information, leading to regulatory penalties, reputational damage, and class action lawsuits if firms fail to notify affected parties promptly.

  • Integration Challenges: As law firms rely on multiple SaaS vendors, integrating various software platforms can become complex. Poor integration may disrupt workflows and reduce efficiency, especially if systems do not communicate seamlessly.

  • Shared Responsibility Confusion: SaaS providers typically secure the platform, but law firms are responsible for data security and access controls. Many firms mistakenly believe vendor security alone is sufficient, which can leave critical data exposed.

  • Reliable and consistent internet access: Reliable and consistent internet access is essential for law firms using SaaS and HaaS, as these cloud-based solutions require an active connection to access software, documents, and case management tools; any internet outage or slow connectivity can disrupt workflows, limit access to critical information, and impact client service. (What if you are on travel and the airplane, hotel, or location does have (reliable) internet connection - how do you get your work done?)

  • Business Email Compromise (BEC): SaaS ecosystems increase the risk of BEC attacks. Compromised email accounts can be exploited for fraud, impersonation, and data theft, often going undetected for extended periods.

  • Data Classification and Visibility Issues: Rapid adoption of SaaS can lead to scattered data across multiple platforms. Without a formal data classification strategy, firms may lose track of where sensitive information resides, complicating compliance and incident response.

  • Legal and Contractual Complexities: SaaS contracts involve nuanced licensing agreements, third-party vendor relationships, and service level commitments. Discrepancies between vendor terms and client expectations can result in disputes and legal challenges.

  • Dependency on Providers: Both SaaS and HaaS models make firms dependent on external vendors for uptime, support, and updates. Service disruptions or vendor instability can directly impact firm operations.

  • Hardware Lifecycle Management: With HaaS, firms avoid upfront hardware costs but must rely on the provider for timely upgrades, maintenance, and support. Poor vendor performance can lead to outdated equipment, downtime, or security gaps.

  • Cost Over Time: While SaaS and HaaS reduce initial capital expenditures, ongoing subscription fees may add up, potentially exceeding the cost of traditional ownership in the long term if not carefully managed.

Lawyers need to know the pros and cons in using saas and haas products!

While SaaS and HaaS offer significant advantages, law firms must address these risks through robust security practices, careful contract negotiation, and ongoing vendor management to protect sensitive data and maintain operational integrity. This may be easier for large law firms but difficult if not nearly impossible for mid- to small- to solo-size law practices.

Why Law Firms Should Care
Both SaaS and HaaS offer flexibility, scalability, and security that traditional IT models cannot match. By leveraging these services, law firms can modernize operations, improve client service, and reduce risk. The right contracts and due diligence are critical to ensure business continuity and compliance in a rapidly evolving legal tech landscape.