Email remains the primary communication tool for attorneys, and it carries enormous responsibility. Every day, lawyers send and receive confidential documents, settlement proposals, draft agreements, and communications that directly influence the outcome of a case. Because of this, email is one of the easiest and most appealing points of entry for cybercriminals who want access to client information or firm finances. A single compromised account can expose sensitive material, lead to fraudulent wire transfers, and trigger ethical issues or malpractice claims. In other words, email security is not a technical detail. It is a critical part of protecting your practice.
Many law firms still operate with outdated habits. Passwords are reused across platforms, staff members click links from unknown senders, and attorneys working on the road log into firm email from unsecured networks. These small choices create major vulnerabilities. Multi factor authentication is an essential starting point, since it makes it much harder for an attacker to break into an account even if they have the password. Encryption adds another layer, especially for communications that contain personal data or financial instructions. Attorneys should also adopt a practice of verifying any unusual requests by phone, because many successful scams begin with an innocent looking email that appears to come from a colleague or client.
Education remains one of the most important defenses. Everyone within a firm should know what a suspicious message looks like and how to report it. Regular reminders and brief training sessions help keep good habits in place. Review your email retention policies as well, since old messages often contain years of sensitive information that no longer needs to be stored.
At First Indemnity, we have seen how strong email security significantly reduces the likelihood of a malpractice claim. Firms that invest in training and technology experience fewer disputes and recover faster from unexpected incidents. We work closely with attorneys to help them build safer systems and design insurance coverage that reflects the risks of today’s digital environment.