As the summer sun heats up, so do the unique challenges of managing a law firm. While the courts may slow down and staff take well-earned vacations, the work behind the scenes never stops. So, from your friends at Innovative, here are five things to keep on your radar this summer to help keep your firm running smoothly and securely.
- IT Security: Summer Is Prime Time for Cyber Threats
With more staff working remotely or taking time off, summer is a peak season for phishing attacks and data breaches. Hackers know that firms may be operating with skeleton crews or distracted teams.
What to Do:
- Schedule a mid-year cybersecurity refresher training
- Review asset inventory, security updates, patch levels
- Ensure multi-factor authentication (MFA) is enabled on all systems
- Review and update your incident response plan
- Filing Deadlines Don’t Take Vacations
Even if your attorneys are out of office, court deadlines and compliance requirements continue. Summer complacency can lead to missed filings or penalties.
What to Do:
- Use a shared calendar or case management system to track critical deadlines
- Assign backup staff to monitor and handle filings when primary contacts are away
- Set automated reminders for recurring tasks
- Staff Complacency & Vacation Overlap
With multiple team members out on vacation, productivity can dip and morale can shift. It’s easy for things to fall through the cracks.
What to Do:
- Stagger vacation schedules to ensure adequate coverage.
- Hold weekly check-ins to keep everyone aligned and accountable.
- Encourage a “summer project” mindset—use the quieter months to tackle internal improvements or training.
- Office Maintenance, Equipment Checks & Software Updates
Summer is a great time to do a little housekeeping—literally and digitally. From HVAC systems to outdated printers, and of course that little Windows 10 update happening in October, now’s the time to take stock!
What to Do:
- Schedule preventative maintenance for HVAC, servers, and other critical systems.
- Declutter shared drives and archive old case files.
- Review your office supply inventory and restock before the fall rush
Here’s what we know – summer can be a deceptively busy time for law firm operations. But, with a little strategic planning, you can keep your office running like a well-oiled machine—no matter how hot it get outside! Stay cool, don’t forget the sunscreen, and remember we got your back!
