Cybersecurity: An Attorney's Ethical Duty

Cybersecurity incidents are on the rise at law firms. Whether aware or not, recent studies show that a high proportion of the largest law firms in the U.S. have experienced a data breach. As custodians of a treasure trove of highly valuable and sensitive information, law firms make prime targets for cyber criminals. With growing awareness of cybersecurity concerns within the legal community, bar associations are issuing guidance for shoring up defenses and meeting professional obligations in dealing with cyberthreats. This program will review attorneys ethical duties with respect to cybersecurity, recent guidelines and practical guidance for meeting these responsibilities and resources for researching further. This program will cover • The current state of law firm cybersecurity, recent incidents and an assessment of common practices • Attorneys ethical obligations for cybersecurity including protecting client data and informing clients if a breach does occur • Practical guidance for planning for and responding to a data breach • Resources for cybersecurity research