By Julie Bays, OBA Management Assistance Program Director

School is ending, summer schedules are changing and many lawyers will soon be working from places that are not their law offices. That may mean checking email from a hotel room, reviewing a document at a ball tournament, answering a client from the lake house or joining a quick Zoom call while traveling.

That flexibility is one of the great benefits of modern law practice. But client confidentiality does not take a summer break.

A recent Tech-Savvy Lawyer article, “Summer Vacation Cybersecurity for Lawyers,” suggests a practical pre-trip checklist for lawyers, including backing up devices, applying updates, confirming encryption and removing non-essential client data before traveling.

This does not need to become a complicated technology project. A few basic habits can reduce risk:

Before working away from the office, update your laptop and phone, turn on multifactor authentication for email and cloud services, use a mobile hotspot or trusted VPN instead of open public Wi-Fi and avoid downloading client documents to personal or shared devices. Lock your screen when you step away. Take confidential calls in private. Be careful about reviewing client information where others can see your screen.

Lawyers should also consider whether they really need to take every file with them. A better approach is to access only the information you need, when you need it, through secure systems. Less client data on a traveling device usually means less risk if that device is lost, stolen or accessed by someone else.

If you are traveling abroad, take extra care with client information. Bring only the devices and files you need, assume public networks are not secure and be mindful that border inspections, theft and different privacy rules may create added risk.

There is also a client-service side to this issue. Before leaving town, lawyers should make sure someone knows how to handle urgent matters, court deadlines and client communications. A good out-of-office message, a backup contact and a clear plan for true emergencies can help lawyers enjoy some time away while still protecting clients.

Enjoy the trip. Watch the game. Visit the lake. But before logging in from vacation Wi-Fi, take a moment to protect the client information traveling with you. Or better yet, leave the work devices at the office and take a real vacation.