Are Your Legal Tech Providers SOC 2 Compliant? They Should Be.

Beyond buzzwords: SOC 2 Type II is the gold standard for legal tech security.

3
 min. read
March 4, 2025
Are Your Legal Tech Providers SOC 2 Compliant? They Should Be.

In today's digital age, law firms rely heavily on technology to manage sensitive client data, streamline operations, and ensure efficient communication. As a result, the security of legal tech providers is paramount. While many providers claim to prioritize security, how can law firms truly verify their commitment? One crucial indicator is SOC 2 Type II compliance.   

What is SOC 2?

SOC 2, or System and Organization Controls 2, is a widely recognized auditing standard developed by the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA). It evaluates a service organization's controls related to security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy. Essentially, it's a report card demonstrating a provider's commitment to data security and operational excellence.   

There are two types of SOC 2 reports:

Type I: Assesses the design of controls at a specific point in time. It's a snapshot of what the provider intends to do.   

Type II: Evaluates the effectiveness of controls over a period of time, typically 6 to 12 months. It's a demonstration of what the provider actually does in practice.   

CaseMark is SOC 2, Type II compliant. We stand behind our commitment to security and privacy. 

Why is SOC 2 Type II Important for Legal Tech Providers?

For law firms, choosing a legal tech provider with SOC 2 Type II compliance is critical for several reasons:

1. Data Protection: Law firms handle highly sensitive and confidential information, making them prime targets for cyberattacks. SOC 2 Type II ensures that a provider has robust security measures in place to protect client data from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, or modification. This includes physical security, logical access controls, encryption, and incident response procedures.   

2. Client Trust: Demonstrating a commitment to data security is essential for building and maintaining client trust. SOC 2 Type II compliance signals to clients that the provider takes data protection seriously and has undergone rigorous independent scrutiny. This can be a significant differentiator in a competitive market.   

3. Regulatory Compliance: Law firms are subject to various regulations regarding data privacy and security, such as HIPAA, GDPR, and state-specific requirements. Choosing a SOC 2 Type II compliant provider can help law firms meet their own compliance obligations by ensuring that their technology partners adhere to industry best practices.   

4. Vendor Due Diligence: Increasingly, clients are requiring law firms to conduct thorough due diligence on their vendors, including legal tech providers. SOC 2 Type II reports provide independent validation of a provider's security posture, making it easier for law firms to fulfill their due diligence requirements.   

5. Incident Response and Recovery: Despite the best security measures, data breaches can still occur. SOC 2 Type II evaluates a provider's incident response plan, ensuring they have procedures in place to detect, contain, and remediate security incidents effectively. It also assesses their disaster recovery plan, ensuring business continuity in the event of a disruption.   

A Commitment to Security and Compliance

In the crowded legal tech market, CaseMark stands out with its unwavering commitment to security and compliance. CaseMark has achieved SOC 2 Type II compliance, demonstrating its dedication to protecting sensitive client data.   

Here's what sets CaseMark apart:

Transparency: CaseMark publicly tracks 155 controls in real time. We are committed to being accountable for ongoing security and privacy compliance.

Independent Attestation: CaseMark's SOC 2 Type II compliance has been verified by reputable, independent auditors, providing unbiased assurance of their security controls.

Full-Spectrum Security: CaseMark employs a comprehensive approach to security, including intrusion detection and prevention systems, third-party penetration testing, and an incident response plan vetted by independent cybersecurity experts.   

Data Redundancy and Disaster Recovery: CaseMark utilizes frequent backups and replication across multiple, geographically dispersed data centers, ensuring data availability and business continuity in the event of a disaster.

Focus on Internal Controls: Unlike providers who rely solely on the SOC 2 compliance of their data centers, CaseMark's SOC 2 Type II certification validates their own internal processes and controls, providing an extra layer of assurance.

Choosing a SOC 2 Compliant Provider

When evaluating legal tech providers, law firms should prioritize SOC 2 Type II compliance. Don't just take a provider's word for it – ask for a copy of their SOC 2 Type II report. Review the report carefully to understand the scope of the audit and the controls that were tested. View their Trust Center. Ask if they publicly post their systems status

By choosing a SOC 2 Type II compliant provider like CaseMark, law firms can confidently leverage technology to enhance their practices while ensuring the highest levels of data security and client trust.

Disclaimer: This blog post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.

Are Your Legal Tech Providers SOC 2 Compliant? They Should Be.

Beyond buzzwords: SOC 2 Type II is the gold standard for legal tech security.

3
 min. read
March 4, 2025
Are Your Legal Tech Providers SOC 2 Compliant? They Should Be.

In today's digital age, law firms rely heavily on technology to manage sensitive client data, streamline operations, and ensure efficient communication. As a result, the security of legal tech providers is paramount. While many providers claim to prioritize security, how can law firms truly verify their commitment? One crucial indicator is SOC 2 Type II compliance.   

What is SOC 2?

SOC 2, or System and Organization Controls 2, is a widely recognized auditing standard developed by the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA). It evaluates a service organization's controls related to security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy. Essentially, it's a report card demonstrating a provider's commitment to data security and operational excellence.   

There are two types of SOC 2 reports:

Type I: Assesses the design of controls at a specific point in time. It's a snapshot of what the provider intends to do.   

Type II: Evaluates the effectiveness of controls over a period of time, typically 6 to 12 months. It's a demonstration of what the provider actually does in practice.   

CaseMark is SOC 2, Type II compliant. We stand behind our commitment to security and privacy. 

Why is SOC 2 Type II Important for Legal Tech Providers?

For law firms, choosing a legal tech provider with SOC 2 Type II compliance is critical for several reasons:

1. Data Protection: Law firms handle highly sensitive and confidential information, making them prime targets for cyberattacks. SOC 2 Type II ensures that a provider has robust security measures in place to protect client data from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, or modification. This includes physical security, logical access controls, encryption, and incident response procedures.   

2. Client Trust: Demonstrating a commitment to data security is essential for building and maintaining client trust. SOC 2 Type II compliance signals to clients that the provider takes data protection seriously and has undergone rigorous independent scrutiny. This can be a significant differentiator in a competitive market.   

3. Regulatory Compliance: Law firms are subject to various regulations regarding data privacy and security, such as HIPAA, GDPR, and state-specific requirements. Choosing a SOC 2 Type II compliant provider can help law firms meet their own compliance obligations by ensuring that their technology partners adhere to industry best practices.   

4. Vendor Due Diligence: Increasingly, clients are requiring law firms to conduct thorough due diligence on their vendors, including legal tech providers. SOC 2 Type II reports provide independent validation of a provider's security posture, making it easier for law firms to fulfill their due diligence requirements.   

5. Incident Response and Recovery: Despite the best security measures, data breaches can still occur. SOC 2 Type II evaluates a provider's incident response plan, ensuring they have procedures in place to detect, contain, and remediate security incidents effectively. It also assesses their disaster recovery plan, ensuring business continuity in the event of a disruption.   

A Commitment to Security and Compliance

In the crowded legal tech market, CaseMark stands out with its unwavering commitment to security and compliance. CaseMark has achieved SOC 2 Type II compliance, demonstrating its dedication to protecting sensitive client data.   

Here's what sets CaseMark apart:

Transparency: CaseMark publicly tracks 155 controls in real time. We are committed to being accountable for ongoing security and privacy compliance.

Independent Attestation: CaseMark's SOC 2 Type II compliance has been verified by reputable, independent auditors, providing unbiased assurance of their security controls.

Full-Spectrum Security: CaseMark employs a comprehensive approach to security, including intrusion detection and prevention systems, third-party penetration testing, and an incident response plan vetted by independent cybersecurity experts.   

Data Redundancy and Disaster Recovery: CaseMark utilizes frequent backups and replication across multiple, geographically dispersed data centers, ensuring data availability and business continuity in the event of a disaster.

Focus on Internal Controls: Unlike providers who rely solely on the SOC 2 compliance of their data centers, CaseMark's SOC 2 Type II certification validates their own internal processes and controls, providing an extra layer of assurance.

Choosing a SOC 2 Compliant Provider

When evaluating legal tech providers, law firms should prioritize SOC 2 Type II compliance. Don't just take a provider's word for it – ask for a copy of their SOC 2 Type II report. Review the report carefully to understand the scope of the audit and the controls that were tested. View their Trust Center. Ask if they publicly post their systems status

By choosing a SOC 2 Type II compliant provider like CaseMark, law firms can confidently leverage technology to enhance their practices while ensuring the highest levels of data security and client trust.

Disclaimer: This blog post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.

Summary Type
Best for Case Types
Primary Purpose
Complexity Handling
Production Time
Best for Team Members
Key Information Highlighted
Narrative
General; personal injury
Initial review; client communication
Low to Medium
Medium
All; Clients
Overall story
Page Line
Complex litigation
Detailed analysis; trial prep
High
Low
Attorneys
Specific testimony details
Topical
Multi-faceted cases
Case strategy; trial prep
High
Medium
Attorneys; Paralegals
Theme-based information
Q&A
Witness credibility cases
Cross-examination prep
Medium
High
Attorneys
Context of statements
Chronological
Timeline-critical cases
Establishing sequence of events
Medium
High
All
Event timeline
Highlight and extract
All
Quick reference; key points
Low to Medium
High
Senior Attorneys
Critical statements
Comparative
Multi-witness cases
Consistency check
High
Low
Attorneys; Paralegals
Discrepancies; Agreements
Annotated
Complex legal issues
Training; in-depth analysis
High
Low
Junior Associates; Paralegals
Legal implications
Visual
Jury presentations
Client / jury communication
Low to Medium
Medium
All; Clients; Jury
Visual representation of key points
Summary Grid
Multi-witness; fact-heavy cases
Organized reference
High
Medium
All
Categorized information