Legal sector urged to prioritise stronger cyber resilience and verified security standards
Law firms have been urged to strengthen their cybersecurity measures and align with the Government’s latest national cyber resilience strategy as threats targeting the legal sector continue to increase. X-Press Legal Services said the Government’s latest cyber defence measures should act as a clear warning for legal practices handling sensitive client information, particularly within high-risk sectors such as conveyancing and property transactions.
The call follows the Government’s announcement of further investment aimed at improving national cyber resilience and supporting growth within the UK cyber industry. The proposals form part of the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill currently progressing through Parliament following the King’s Speech.
According to X-Press Legal Services, the Government’s renewed focus on cyber resilience, digital skills and technological innovation comes at a critical moment for law firms increasingly targeted by cyber criminals. The company said legal practices should ensure robust and independently verified cybersecurity standards are implemented across both their own operations and wider supply chains.
Christian Lister said the Government’s continued investment in cyber security was particularly significant for the legal profession because of the volume of sensitive personal and financial data managed by firms. “Law firms are increasingly targeted by cyber criminals, meaning strong, consistent standards across all partners in the conveyancing process are essential,” he said.
X-Press Legal Services recently secured Cyber Essentials Plus accreditation for the fifth consecutive year. The company said the certification demonstrated its ongoing commitment to protecting the data of more than 500 law firms across England and Wales.
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) continues to recommend Cyber Essentials Plus certification as a recognised benchmark for effective cyber risk management within legal practice. The Government is also encouraging businesses to sign its Cyber Resilience Pledge as part of wider efforts to improve organisational preparedness against cyber attacks.
Lister said cybersecurity should no longer be viewed solely as an IT issue within legal businesses. “Cyber security is not just an IT issue for law firms, it is a fundamental part of client care, risk management and regulatory compliance,” he said.
The company stated that its broader 2026 strategic focus, described as “AI: Actual Intelligence”, is intended to balance technological innovation with human expertise and regulatory safeguards. X-Press said rapid advances in technology and Artificial Intelligence offered significant opportunities for legal services but also introduced new operational and compliance risks that firms must manage carefully.
“Innovation must always be underpinned by rigorous security and informed professional judgement,” Lister added. The conveyancing sector has faced increasing scrutiny over cybersecurity in recent years because of the large volumes of financial transactions and client data involved in property transactions.
X-Press Legal Services, which operates across 27 offices in England and Wales, provides conveyancing searches, compliance tools, insurance products and related services to legal practices nationwide. The company said maintaining strong cyber standards across the legal supply chain remained essential to protecting both firms and consumers from escalating cyber threats.