Pavlicek to speak about privacy at SC Bar’s annual tech conference

COLUMBIA, SC – Willie Sutton robbed banks because that’s where the money is. Today’s cyber criminals go after businesses because that’s where the data is.

That means law firms are enticing targets for data thieves. There’s lots of sensitive, valuable data that at times isn’t well protected.

Burnette Shutt & McDaniel lawyer Jax Pavlicek will tell law firms how they can protect themselves during a Sept. 15 talk during an SC Bar technology seminar.

A quarter of law firms report security issues

If your firm has had a breach, you’re not alone. According to a 2016 survey by the American Bar Association, more than 25 percent of more than 500 lawyers surveyed admitted that they’ve had a problem.

The problems with data breaches go beyond embarrassment. There’s also downtime as the firm recovers plus lost billable hours. Hiring experts to fix problems can be costly. Lawsuits also are possible. Ethical considerations come into play, too.

Pavlicek was in from the ground up as Burnette Shutt & McDaniel created protocols for protecting client data. The new firml carefully selected software with an eye toward both security and efficiency. The firm created policies that account for modern realities such as social media.

Pavlicek, who holds a CIPP/US designation from the International Association of Privacy Professionals, works regularly with clients on those issues and more. She advises them on best practices for preventing breaches. She also helps guide them through recovery if a breach occurs.

Pavlicek also leads training sessions for lawyers and staff on a range of privacy issues, including social media policies.

Her SC Bar program is part of the day-long LMP-TECH Conference. Attendees learn about law firm management in the cyber age and hear about cutting-edge technology.

Registration is open, with early-bird pricing through Sept. 2. Lawyers can earn six CLE credits during the day-long seminar.

With offices in Columbia’s historic Vista District, Burnette Shutt & McDaniel’s attorneys practice employment law, environmental law and government law. They also represent clients in all levels of state and federal courts in South Carolina.