By Kerabelle IT & Management Group · Last updated
What makes IT for a law firm different from a generic small business?
Most managed IT providers sell the same stack to every client. A law firm has specific requirements a generic package does not cover:
- Client confidentiality and legal professional privilege apply to almost everything stored on the network, not just a subset of "sensitive" files
- Access needs to be controlled by matter and by role, so a conflict of interest cannot leak through shared drive permissions
- Document management systems (practice management software, PDF/document comparison tools) need to be supported, not just generic office software
- Downtime during a filing deadline or a hearing is not an inconvenience, it is a professional risk
- Client personal data handled in case files falls under GDPR, on top of normal confidentiality obligations
What should a law firm ask for in an IT support agreement?
- Defined recovery time for case-critical systems, not just a general SLA tier
- Documented access control by matter, with a clear process for revoking access when a conflict is identified
- Backup and disaster recovery tested with a real restore, specifically for the document management system, not just file servers
- Secure remote access for lawyers working from court, home or client sites, without routing privileged documents through consumer file-sharing tools
- A named point of contact who understands the practice management software in use, not a generic helpdesk queue
How does this fit with GDPR and client confidentiality obligations?
Client files routinely contain personal data, financial records and privileged communications. Treat the technical side of that obligation as seriously as the professional one: know where data is stored, who can access it, how it is backed up, and how a breach would be detected and reported. This is general guidance, not legal advice on your specific regulatory obligations as a law firm.