In 2024, the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) reported legal services were among the top five industries impacted by data breaches. In the same year, Australia recorded more than 1,100 breach notifications, being a 25% increase on the year before. For family lawyers, where financial and personal details sit at the core of every matter, the stakes are high.

However, firms embracing secure, regulated channels for client data are seeing the opposite effect: stronger client engagement, faster turnaround times and enhanced trust. Open banking, supported by the Consumer Data Right (CDR), gives clients direct control over the financial information they share. By enabling clients to authorise banks to provide data securely to accredited providers like InfoTrack, the process becomes transparent and client-led, reassuring clients that their information is protected at every step.

The “so what” for family lawyers

Why should family lawyers renew their focus on cybersecurity? The stakes are both regulatory and commercial:

Clients are more vigilant: Deloitte’s 2024 Digital Consumer Trends Report found that 7 in 10 Australians expect organisations to protect their data proactively, not reactively.

Compliance is tightening: The OAIC has proposed stronger penalties and faster reporting obligations, which could soon become mandatory for the legal profession.
Trust is the differentiator: In an environment where every firm can offer legal expertise, demonstrating robust cybersecurity is what sets one practice apart from another.

“Clients are more aware than ever of the risks of identity theft and fraud,” says Bree Staines, Family Lawyer at InfoTrack. “When firms can show they take security seriously, it builds confidence and trust, and that is what retains your clients.”

Cybersecurity as a practical advantage

For lawyers, the benefits of strong security affect day-to-day practice. Ways this can occur include:

• Faster client engagement: Firms using secure open banking connections report clients are returning financial documents in hours instead of weeks.
• De-risked processes: Replacing email attachments or Dropbox links with encrypted workflows makes data sharing safer and easier to audit.
• Business development: Lawyers can use secure processes as a competitive advantage, positioning themselves as lower-risk and more client-focused.

How InfoTrack is helping firms get ahead

InfoTrack has partnered with Basiq, an accredited open banking provider, to deliver compliant and secure financial documents. Unlike outdated screen scraping, this system doesn’t use client passwords. Instead, it leverages the Consumer Data Right (CDR) standards, giving clients control over their financial data while ensuring firms meet strict regulatory obligations.

“Our goal is to make security seamless for lawyers,” explains Amanda Ramos, Senior Product Manager at InfoTrack. “By embedding compliance into the workflow, firms reduce risk and increase their competitive advantage. They can deliver faster, smoother client experiences without compromising on trust.”

InfoTrack’s commitment goes further. The company is certified as compliant with ISO/IEC 27001:2022 and ISO 9001:2015, the gold standards in global information security. A defence-in-depth strategy ensures multi-layered controls, continuous monitoring, and regular audits. This gives lawyers confidence that every disclosure is secure, every time.

Looking ahead: the next wave of expectations

As cybersecurity challenges evolve, three forces will shape the future of data security in family law:

1. Expansion of the CDR regime: What began in banking is moving into energy, superannuation, and insurance. For lawyers, this means access to more data sources and higher expectations for secure handling.

2. AI and automation: As firms adopt AI-powered tools, the value of secure, structured data flows will increase. AI is only as trustworthy as the data it’s built on.

3. The split in the market: Firms investing in robust, purpose-built tools will stay ahead. Those relying on free or generic solutions will face mounting risks, both in security and client perception.

Final word

Cybersecurity in family law is central to client trust, regulatory compliance and competitive positioning. Firms adopting secure and compliant technology today will build a clear market advantage tomorrow.

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