IT and cybersecurity advice for freelance lawyers and sole practitioners

We live in a world of pervasive cyber-attacks, growing data protection regulations and increasing client concern about cybersecurity.

High quality information technology systems are no longer a nice-to-have for the sole practitioner, they have become a critical element of any commercial legal practice.

Moreover, as emerging legal technologies come on stream and are increasingly useful, so-called “tech-stacks” are becoming more prevalent amongst independent lawyers.

Tech-stacks comprise a selection of IT systems and software brought together in combinations to produce efficiencies.

Tech stacks typically include the more traditional collections of word processing software, document management systems and email, through to practice management systems, document automation systems, contract review technologies, anti-malware systems and, more recently, artificial intelligence models.

Tech-savvy lawyers are also starting to integrate their practice software with customer relationship management (CRM) systems, such as HubSpot, which in turn are talking to accounting systems to automate all manner of functions from onboarding to invoicing and from engagement to contract review.

We are just at the beginning of the progress of these technologies, particularly as AI agents start to emerge (autonomous tools empowered by artificial intelligence).

Running a sole practice without a high-quality tech-stack is going to put the sole practitioner at an increasing disadvantage as the years roll by. It’s time to get up to speed in this field before you are left behind.

If you don’t have the basics in place, perhaps start by seeking out providers of practice management systems and document management systems (like Clio) and accounting/book-keeping systems (like Xero). If you can find one of each that you like the look and price of, and that integrate natively, that’s a great start.

Then look around to identify the more advanced technologies that are likely to suit your practice and check what the options are for integrating those advanced systems into your core software (for example, integrating DraftPilot, an AI-driven contract review technology, into MS Word).

Remember, it’s always possible to build custom integrations between software that you particularly like if there is no native integration available, and a whole industry of technologists is available to support such integrations.

There are also a selection of workflow automation technologies that can help you to fill in the gaps between your systems, from heavy duty tools such as BRYTER, to lower budget options like Zapier. These tools enable you to add new functionality as and when you identify a need.

Your core aim should be to produce a stack of technologies that work together seamlessly and that will automate as many as possible of the repetitive tasks and core activities of your practice.

For relatively little expense, you can build a simple but helpful “machine” to support your daily grind.

Next, consider outsourced IT support and a cyber security auditor (we recommend Labyrinth Technology for those in the UK).

Having this level of support overseeing the building and maintenance of your IT systems, testing for vulnerabilities and suggesting upgrades or settings changes on an ongoing basis will make all the difference to the quality and safety of your systems.

Ideally, you will also end up with a certification, even the entry level Cyber Essentials accreditation is a good starting point on your journey towards cybersecurity.

Accreditations provide a useful and regimental framework for pursuing your cyber security activities and provide clients with a much needed sense of comfort that you have the security of their information front of mind.

At the end of this process, you will have developed a high-functioning, time-saving IT system, which is bespoke to your practice, fully supported and cybersecure. This is time and money worth spending.

To learn more about how Clearlake supports independent lawyers and sole practitioners, take a look at the Clearlake careers website.