Cybersecurity for lawyers: Managing AI-era cyberthreats

Security in a lawyer's day-to-day life has taken on a new meaning. With the emerging threats to data privacy and AI-driven attacks, cybersecurity for lawyers is more relevant than ever.

This article looks at current online threats facing Canadian lawyers, law firms, and in-house legal departments. It also outlines how legal professionals can protect themselves in the digital space.

What is cybersecurity for lawyers and law firms in Canada?

While generative AI is now making its way into the legal practice and has been helping everyone in many ways, it has also brought in a new kind of threat: AI-driven cyberattacks. These are not just a risk for large businesses, but also for lawyers in any setting.

To address rising cyberthreats, lawyers and firms of different sizes and practice areas are encouraged to strengthen their cybersecurity defences.

Watch this video to see how AI is being weaponized by hackers and criminals to do scams and other forms of online fraud:

Check out our article to learn about the pros and cons of using AI in the legal profession and other related topics.

Why cybersecurity matters for lawyers

If you think you or your firm is immune to cyberattacks, or that cyberthreats are not yet a major issue, think again. Here are a few reasons why cybersecurity for matters for lawyers:

• law firms are highly vulnerable to cyberattacks: because of the sensitive information they handle every day, firms are increasingly being targeted in cyberattacks through phishing scams and deepfakes
• possible liability for data privacy violation: beyond case‑related data, law firms handle large volumes of sensitive client information, which is a goldmine for hackers and scammers
• to protect the firm's reputation: beyond fines and litigation risks, law firms face public scrutiny and reputational damage, which can drive away current and future clients.

What are the common AI-driven cyberthreats against Canadian lawyers?

Before AI became huge, lawyers and firms were already exposed to cyberthreats through different mediums. Criminals have targeted people through direct messages, social media accounts, and the usual text messaging scams that many of us already know.

AI has made cyberthreats and scams more sophisticated, making it harder to see what is real and what is not. As AI develops in the coming years, lawyers will need to understand AI‑driven threats and adopt stronger cybersecurity practices.

Below are some common cyberthreats that lawyers and legal staff should watch for. We also outline measures to improve cybersecurity for lawyers and law firms.

Social engineering attacks

This type of AI-driven cyberthreat happens when a person, such as an employee at a law firm or in a legal department, is manipulated to serve the purposes of the criminal.

It can lead the manipulated person to:

• share confidential info (e.g., passwords, client information)
• click an external link containing malware or other computer viruses
• give money to the criminal, either unwillingly or unconsciously

These attacks can occur through phishing scams and the use of deepfakes that exploit the target's trust or fear.

Phishing scams

Over the years, we've already learned how to distinguish fake emails from genuine ones; from wrong grammar, use of excessive urgency, or simply looking at who the sender is. But now, AI is used by criminals to improve all these lapses, resulting in phishing scams that seem like real, genuine messages.

Here is an example of a phishing scam that looks like a legitimate email using AI:

When successful, phishing scams can result in data breaches or a hacked system, where cybercriminals access sensitive, confidential, or private information.

Use of deepfakes

For law firms and legal teams, deepfakes can be used to generate videos or voice messages that imitate someone, such as the managing partner, to defraud other members of the firm. It can also be used to scam clients, making it look like it was the lawyer asking for money or important information.

This video shows how deepfakes can be used to scam law firms and their staff, and how to protect against them:

Hear more insights from our CL Talk podcast, which features industry leaders discussing the risks of using AI in the legal profession.

Malware and viruses

With generative AI, people with little or no coding skills can create malware and viruses that compromise the systems of lawyers and firms. This makes large‑scale malware attacks more common, often targeting many victims at once.

Spreading malware and viruses are also closely tied to phishing scams. For instance, ransomware can be embedded on a link in a phishing email, and when clicked, it allows hackers to deny users access to their own files, unless a ransom is paid.

What are the ways to implement cybersecurity for lawyers in Canada?

Using antivirus software is the most basic form of cyber protection. Today, law firms and legal teams also need to upgrade their systems to maintain strong cybersecurity.

We discuss below some methods you can use in your legal practice. If you want to read more, you can also check out our Practice Management page.

Human defences vs. AI‑driven threats

Human judgment is the first line of defence against online scams and fraud. People in the firm are still the best defence against AI‑driven attacks. Here are some tips that your law firm can do to equip its staff in battling AI-driven cyberattacks:

• conduct regular cybersecurity training: whether staff handle sensitive information or not, everyone should join cybersecurity training sessions, especially since firm systems are interconnected and breaches can spread from one person's computer to another
• implement cybersecurity policies: policies only work when they are built into the firm's internal systems. Firms should choose a third‑party cybersecurity provider that understands how the firm operates and what its security needs are."
• limit access to critical files: only staff directly involved in a matter should access sensitive or confidential information; firms should limit each employee's system access and privileges to the degree necessary for their role
• screen applicants for cyber risk: since some cyberattacks involve insiders, firms can screen applicants based on their cybersecurity background and test their knowledge of basic cyber hygiene.

Using AI-detection tools

While AI seems to have introduced additional problems when it comes to cybersecurity for lawyers, AI has also produced tools we can use on the defensive side, including AI detection tools.

Here are some ways AI-detecting tools help improve cybersecurity for lawyers:

• filter spam and phishing emails: good AI-detection tools can perform email filtering, which can flag possible spams, scams, and other phishing emails, and alert users on the nature of these emails
• deepfake detection tool: another AI-detection tool is specific to identifying deepfakes and synthetic content; this tool can work as a browser extension, mobile app, or be installed in the firm's security systems

Doing backups of all critical files

Let's face it: creating backups of all the firm's critical files is tiresome and often neglected even if it is firm policy. However, the high risk of cyberattacks and breaches push practitioners and firms to:

• backup all critical files (if not all of them) at least once a month
• store the backup in a secure offline and online location
• consider making hard copies of critical files that are physically stored in the firm
• ensure that backups are encrypted and are not easily accessed by anyone

Other cybersecurity strategies for lawyers

Here are other strategies that you or your firm can do to improve the cybersecurity in your legal practice:

• implementing data encryption (e.g., cloud, email, or laptop encryption)
• installing authentication methods for all firm employees
• dividing the firm's network into several, but smaller, segments
• consider getting additional cyber insurance coverage, on top of any mandatory cybersecurity insurance requirements
• consulting with a cybersecurity professional to conduct a risk assessment
• set up software firewalls and other classic cybersecurity measures

Bookmark our Practice Areas page for more articles on cybersecurity for lawyers and law firms, and don't forget all the additional legal insights available to you on CL+!