Real estate law is fast-paced, document-heavy, and highly dependent on electronic communication. Real estate lawyers manage sensitive information daily—from wire instructions and contracts to personal client data and bank account details. Unfortunately, this makes real estate law firms a prime target for cybercriminals.
If you work in real estate law, cybersecurity is not just an IT issue—it’s a critical part of protecting your clients, your transactions, and your reputation.
In this article, we’ll explore why real estate lawyers are uniquely vulnerable to cyber threats and what you can do to stay secure.
Why Real Estate Lawyers Are a Top Target for Cybercriminals
1. Wire Transfers Are High-Value Targets
Real estate transactions frequently involve wire transfers of large sums of money. Hackers know this and will go to great lengths to intercept or reroute these transfers through tactics like email spoofing and business email compromise (BEC).
2. Time-Sensitive Deals Create Urgency
Real estate deals often operate under strict deadlines. Hackers exploit this urgency by crafting phishing emails that demand quick action, increasing the chances that someone will click without thinking.
3. Handling Sensitive Personal and Financial Information
Real estate lawyers routinely collect driver’s licenses, Social Security numbers, banking details, and more—gold mines for identity thieves.
4. Complex Networks of Parties
With buyers, sellers, brokers, title companies, lenders, and attorneys all communicating at once, there are many entry points for cybercriminals to exploit.
Common Cybersecurity Threats for Real Estate Lawyers
Phishing and Spoofing
Fraudsters send fake emails that look like they’re coming from a legitimate party in the transaction (like the lender, title company, or client) to trick you into sending money to the wrong account.
Business Email Compromise (BEC)
Hackers gain access to your email or a third party’s email involved in the transaction. They monitor the conversation and jump in at the perfect time with fraudulent wire instructions.
Ransomware
Real estate files are valuable. Ransomware attacks can lock down your files and demand payment to release them—halting your ability to process deals.
Data Breaches
If your systems are not properly secured, client files, contracts, and confidential information can be stolen and sold on the dark web.
How Real Estate Lawyers Can Strengthen Cybersecurity
1. Implement Wire Transfer Protocols
Always verify wire instructions verbally with a known contact.
Establish multi-step confirmation procedures for all fund transfers.
Educate clients on how you will and will not communicate wire instructions.
2. Use Encrypted Communication Tools
Avoid sending sensitive information via standard email.
Use secure portals or encrypted email services for sharing financial data and contracts.
3. Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Require MFA on all email accounts and software logins.
This adds a critical extra layer of protection, even if credentials are stolen.
4. Train Your Team and Clients
Regularly educate staff on phishing tactics specific to real estate.
Provide resources to clients on how to spot fraudulent emails.
5. Keep Software and Systems Updated
Outdated software is a common entry point for hackers.
Regular updates and patch management can close security gaps.
6. Work With a Cybersecurity-Focused IT Provider
Partner with an IT company that understands the unique risks of real estate law.
They can help with secure backups, proactive monitoring, and incident response planning.
The Bottom Line: Cybersecurity is Client Protection
Real estate lawyers don’t just draft contracts—they protect their clients’ homes, finances, and future investments. In a world where cybercriminals are becoming more sophisticated, having strong cybersecurity is a core part of your legal duty.
By building cybersecurity into your daily processes, you’re not just protecting data—you’re safeguarding trust.
