To help law practices protect their clients’ data and meet their legal and ethical obligations, the following tables set out minimum cybersecurity expectations. They also list examples of unacceptable cybersecurity practices that we consider capable of amounting to unsatisfactory professional conduct (UPC) or professional misconduct (PM).
Law practice principals should use the tables below as a guide to the basic system and behavioural controls you need to implement. This includes the critical system controls without which your practice is most vulnerable. If there are any critical controls that you are yet to implement, these should be your highest priority.
System controls and behavioural controls are two types of cybersecurity measures to protect information systems and data:
- System controls encompass the technical safeguards implemented within an organisation's information systems to protect against external threats and vulnerabilities.
- Behavioural controls focus on influencing and regulating human behaviour to minimise security risks.
Both types of controls work together to protect your law practice from any potential security threats. Many of them will be straightforward for individuals to implement (e.g. turning on automatic software updates). However, you also need to consider whether your practice requires additional security measures, based on its size and capability, the type of work you perform, and the nature and location of your clients.
If you require support or guidance to understand and implement these controls, or to determine which additional controls are right for your practice, we recommend engaging an IT security consultant. Your professional association may also be able to assist you. Community legal centres can contact the Federation of Community Legal Centres for further support.
