Schwartz & Ponterio, PLLC holds lawyers responsible for legal malpractice.

Keeping confidential legal documents safe 

On Behalf of | Mar 13, 2023 | Legal Malpractice

If you are going through any type of legal case, then there is going to be a lot of paperwork. You may have copies of these documents, and it is your responsibility to keep them safe. However, for documents in your attorney’s possession, the responsibility falls with them. 

What should your attorney do to ensure that your personal information is protected and why is this so important? 

Keeping files on-site 

All of the information that your attorney has access to in relation to your case could be vital. If it falls into the wrong hands, then your case and safety could be compromised. Generally, there is no need for an attorney to take your documents away from the workplace – unless they need them for a court hearing. 

In the event that your attorney has to work at home or off the clock, they should not jeopardize your confidentiality by leaving documents open for anyone to access. 

Limiting access 

Most attorney offices comprise numerous staff. Not all of these people will be directly involved in your case or need access to your files. If files are in a digital format, then they should be password protected. Failure to secure online legal documents can result in them being seen by prying eyes or even sent to the wrong people by mistake. 

Digital and hard copy files must be safely secured. If they must be transferred, then this should be done sensitively. 

If your private information has been shared by your attorney, inadvertently or not, then this could be an indication of legal malpractice. Seek some further guidance to find out if this is the case.   

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