Liverpool Law Society is aware of the recent Legal Aid Agency data breach and subsequently the LAA portal being taken off line. A Joint V statement on the issue will be published shortly.
We have received an update from the Law Society (below). More information will follow when we have a more thorough understanding of the impact on contracted firms.
The Law Society’s update
There has been a confirmed cyber security incident at the Legal Aid Agency (LAA) that has resulted in a significant data breach.
The Law Society is engaging with the LAA to understand the full impact and ensure appropriate support for solicitors, law firms and their clients who may have been affected.
As the data controller, the LAA is responsible for informing individuals whose personal data may have been affected by the breach. The LAA has notified them through their public statement. Firms do not need to take any additional action.
If your members’ clients’ personal data may have been affected, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has guidance on how to respond to a data breach.
The Law Society has information on what we know, what legal providers should do and the impact on legal aid providerson our website, which will be updated with further guidance as soon as moreinformation becomes available.
We have also highlighted the issue in a recent press release.