The early months of the year often feel like a reset for a law office. New matters are opening, calendars are filling up again, and administrative work—from financial reporting to employee paperwork—is in full swing. But from a cybersecurity standpoint, this period can also be one of the most active times for phishing attacks.
For law offices in particular, the risk is significant. Firms handle sensitive financial and personal information every day, and during tax season that flow of information only increases. Payroll records, employee identification data, vendor payments, and financial documents are all moving through email and office systems. Cybercriminals know this—and they design their phishing attempts to take advantage of it.
Understanding why this period is attractive to attackers is the first step toward protecting your firm. The next step is making sure your office has the right habits and safeguards in place.
During tax season, offices tend to operate under tighter deadlines and heavier workloads. Staff members are answering questions about W-2s, communicating with accountants, handling payroll adjustments, and preparing financial documents. In that environment, an email that appears to come from a payroll service, financial institution, or senior partner may not raise immediate suspicion.
Phishing messages are often written to mirror exactly what your staff expects to see. An email might request a “payroll correction,” provide an “updated tax document,” or warn that immediate action is needed to avoid a penalty. When a message aligns perfectly with the work your team is already doing, it becomes easier for someone to click a link or open an attachment without pausing to question it.
For a law office manager, the good news is that reducing this risk doesn’t require advanced technical expertise. What matters most is setting expectations and reinforcing a few basic habits throughout the office.
Start with awareness. A brief reminder to your staff that phishing attempts increase during tax season can go a long way. When people know attackers are actively trying to exploit this period, they are far more likely to slow down and review suspicious emails carefully.
Encouraging a “pause before you act” culture is especially important. If an email asks for sensitive information, requests changes to payment details, or includes unexpected tax or payroll documents, employees should verify the request through another channel. A quick phone call or message to a known contact can prevent a costly mistake.
Internal procedures can also help protect the firm. If a single person handles payroll or financial transfers, that role can become an attractive target for attackers. Adding a verification step—such as requiring a second approval before payment details are changed or documents are sent—creates a simple but effective safeguard.
Technical protections should also be part of the equation. Make sure the firm’s software updates are current, antivirus tools are running, and multi-factor authentication is enabled wherever possible, particularly for email and financial systems. Many phishing attacks succeed when someone gains access to an email account and then uses it to target other people within the organization. Extra login security can stop that chain reaction before it begins.
Equally important is making sure employees know how to report a suspected phishing attempt. Staff members should feel comfortable raising concerns if something looks suspicious—or if they realize they may have clicked a questionable link. The sooner a problem is reported, the easier it is to contain. Removing any sense of embarrassment around reporting mistakes helps ensure issues are addressed quickly.
For law office managers, this time of year is also a useful checkpoint. The heightened flow of financial information serves as a reminder that the firm handles valuable data throughout the year. Reviewing security procedures, refreshing staff awareness, and tightening internal controls now can prevent much larger problems later.
Cybercriminals rely on urgency, distraction, and routine to succeed. In a busy law office, those conditions can appear easily. By encouraging careful habits and putting practical safeguards in place, you can reduce the firm’s exposure to phishing attacks—not just during tax season, but every day the office is open.