All organizations – particularly those that outsource crucial business operations to third-party technology businesses and SaaS companies – must ensure that their data is handled properly, protecting customers from data theft, extortion, and malware attacks. Service Organization Control 2 (SOC 2) provides a framework to help stakeholders ensure that vendors protect the interests of the company they serve and the personal data of vulnerable clients.

With so much technology at our fingertips, individuals are inundated with information in the form of email, text messages, news alerts and social media notifications. As a business, it can be difficult to cut through all of the “digital noise” and connect with people; branded touchpoints are more important than ever.

With cybersecurity threats on the rise, it is imperative that firms proactively improve internal and external security protocols. Keeping confidential information and sensitive client data secure means extending such protocols to each software vendor.

Due to current events, remote work has now become routine. In this new environment, many law firms have not adequately considered how to attract and retain their clients. One issue that should be of concern to every practice is cybersecurity—law firms are second only to financial institutions in being targeted for attack.

Our first discussion about disasters covered types of disasters and some basics needed to properly address a disruption in normal activities, including how to build a robust team. We subsequently outlined how to make use of staging areas, alternative facilities, and working from home in the second article.

Our first discussion about disasters addressed several types of disasters and some basics needed to properly address disruption in normal activities. Please reference part one to learn more about disaster types and how to build a robust team.

As lawyers, we have an ethical duty to ensure privacy for client communications. Technology hasn’t changed this, but there have been recent questions as to what steps lawyers should be expected to take to protect electronic communications. To address these issues, the American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility recently released Formal Opinion 477, an update to Formal Opinion 99-413, which discusses how changes in technology use coincide with Rule 1.6 concerning client confidences.

Here at Zola, we can understand why so many legal practice management programs make grand claims of being fully integrated, all-in-one solutions. Software with capabilities to meet all your law practice management needs in one user-friendly interface is appealing. The fact of the matter is that these claims are often misleading. You end up stuck with practice management software that relies on third-party applications and integrations to meet many of your key needs. The bottom line is - you can’t be an all-in-one practice management solution if you are relying on third party applications for important functions such as email, accounting, and document management.

Does your firm rely on a bookkeeping service to manage your books? Have you experienced data syncing issues or do you have concerns that your provider doesn’t have sufficient experience to manage your books in compliance with your state bar’s client trust (IOLTA) rules and regulations? If so, then it’s time to take your firm’s legal billing and legal accounting into your own hands.