What happens if your legal case management system goes dark an hour before a major court filing? What if your office loses internet access mid-deposition, or, worse, your cloud storage is compromised in a ransomware attack?
Just 29% of law firms say they’ve experienced a security breach, according to the 2023 ABA Tech Survey. But that number might be misleading. Many firms don’t know what qualifies as a breach, or they don’t report it. Still, it’s a warning sign: too many firms operate without a clear continuity or disaster recovery strategy in place.
Cyber threats are ramping up, the weather is growing more erratic, and your clients expect you to be ready for all of it. This guide breaks down what law firms need to know and do to stay resilient when the unexpected hits.
Business continuity is about keeping your firm running smoothly when disruptions occur. Disaster recovery focuses on getting your systems and data back online once the dust settles.
For law firms, the stakes are unusually high. You’re dealing with client trust, confidential records, and immovable court deadlines. One ransomware attack or email compromise can delay work and result in malpractice risk, lost revenue, or permanent damage to your reputation.
In Q2 of 2025, the average ransomware payment hit $1.13 million, according to Coveware’s latest report. That’s not counting downtime or recovery costs. Law firms are increasingly the targets of sophisticated phishing and social engineering tactics.
It’s not just about protecting your servers anymore. It’s about protecting your ecosystem.
A strong BC/DR plan is less about paperwork and more about readiness. You need a clear, actionable strategy for how your firm responds to various disruptions, whether technical, physical, or human.
You can’t protect everything equally. Instead, map out which systems your firm absolutely needs to function. These might include:
For each, define two key metrics:
Backups fail all the time, not because they didn’t exist, but because no one tested the restore.
Follow the 3-2-1-1-0 rule:
Don’t forget about cloud platforms. Many law firms run everything on Microsoft 365, but that doesn’t mean your data is protected forever. If your account is compromised or files are deleted, built-in retention isn’t enough. That’s why firms are increasingly turning to Microsoft 365 as a business-continuity tool, supplementing it with third-party backup to meet legal standards and client expectations.
Recovery isn’t just about flipping a switch. If you’re dealing with ransomware or data theft, you’ll need a legal hold process, a forensic investigation, and likely some form of client communication.
Don’t wait to wing it. Build templates for the following:
Define who acts, what the thresholds are, and how the response dovetails with recovery. Remember to preserve logs and artifacts for compliance and insurance.
You’ve probably heard the phrase “shared responsibility.” It applies here.
Your cloud vendor, eDiscovery platform, and IT provider have access to your data or systems. Demand written security guarantees. At minimum:
One way to stay ahead of the curve is to embrace a defense-in-depth cybersecurity strategy, where overlapping controls across endpoints, identity, network, and data provide layered protection, even when vendors slip up.
Don’t separate your security from your compliance. These worlds overlap, especially when clients ask for audit evidence or insurers want to validate controls before paying a claim.
The most resilient firms integrate security and compliance in disaster recovery planning from day one. That means aligning policies, documenting test results, and ensuring every tool you rely on meets client and ethical standards.
You don’t need a complex simulation to start testing your plan.
Moreover, build in contingencies for the physical world, such as power outages, office closures, and regional events. Make sure attorneys can access the systems they need from secure remote locations if your building is offline.
Most firms don’t realize how vulnerable they are until something breaks. But by then, it’s too late to build a plan.
You don’t need a massive overhaul to get started. Begin with a short list that answers the following questions:
Build from there.
We’ve helped law firms recover from ransomware, design vendor-resilient systems, and move from outdated servers to secure cloud workflows. At Vudu Consulting, we help legal teams build business continuity and disaster recovery strategies that hold up when tested.
If you’re not sure your firm is ready, contact us to get started. We’ll help you map out your next move, whether it’s a fresh DR plan or just a smarter backup strategy.
