If you asked everyone in your firm whether they can recognize a phishing email, you’d probably hear a confident yes from just about everyone.
They might tell you they know to avoid emails with bad grammar or unfamiliar senders, or they’ll proudly say they’d never click on a sketchy link.
But here’s the reality: most of them are wrong.
And that false confidence is exactly what puts your firm at risk.
A recent KnowBe4 study found that while 92% of employees say they’re confident in spotting phishing attempts, more than half failed to do so when tested.
That gap between confidence and actual ability is quietly exposing firms like yours to threats that slip right through the front door.
Let’s take a closer look at why this happens, what’s changed about phishing, and what your firm can do to close the gap.
Phishing Is No Longer Obvious
Phishing emails used to be easy to spot. Misspelled words. Broken formatting. A Nigerian prince that needs your help.
Not anymore.
Cybercriminals have stepped up their game. Today’s phishing attempts are polished, professional, and often customized. They use real names, spoof familiar services, and arrive during high-pressure times when your staff is already juggling deadlines.
Common tactics include:
- Spoofed emails that look like they’re from Microsoft, DocuSign, or even a known client
- Fake password alerts or requests to verify your account
- Messages from “senior partners” asking for wire transfers or documents
- Well-timed attacks that arrive late on a Friday or during a busy trial week
Phishing scams today often use social engineering and even AI-generated content to mimic tone and structure. To the untrained eye, they pass as legitimate, especially when the recipient isn’t expecting a trap.
Confidence Creates Complacency
The problem isn’t just the emails. It’s the fact that employees think they know what to look for.
That’s the danger of overconfidence. If someone believes they can spot every threat, they’ll let their guard down. They’ll be less cautious. They’ll skip training because they “already know this stuff.”
And that’s when a single click can trigger a ransomware infection, a data breach, or a compromised client file.
For law firms, this isn’t just an inconvenience. It can be a serious liability. Think about the confidentiality issues. The compliance fallout. The conversations you’d need to have with your clients.
The gap between what your team thinks they know and what they actually do know is your hidden vulnerability.
What You Can Do About It
There is a positive side though. You can do something about it, and you don’t need to overhaul your entire operation or turn your staff into cybersecurity experts. You just need to give them the tools, training, and support to spot these attacks before they cause damage.
Here’s how:
Run Ongoing Phishing Tests
Simulated phishing emails are the best way to help your team see their blind spots. These aren’t meant to “catch” people doing something wrong. They’re a safe way to learn and improve before a real threat lands.
Make Security Training Short and Regular
Skip the long annual trainings. Those don’t work effectively. Instead, deliver quick lessons throughout the year that focus on real-world examples. Keep it relevant and digestible so the content actually sticks.
Add Safeguards Behind the Scenes
Even with the best training, someone will eventually click. That’s why you need technical protections like advanced email filtering, attachment scanning, and isolation of unknown links.
Use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
MFA should be standard across all firm systems, especially email and document access. If login credentials are ever compromised, MFA is your safety net.
Encourage Quick Reporting
Make it easy and non-punitive for employees to report suspicious emails. Create a clear, firm-wide process. The sooner someone speaks up, the faster IT can respond.
Final Thoughts
The most dangerous cybersecurity threats are the ones you don’t see coming. Phishing attacks thrive on that kind of blind spot. If your team is overly confident, your risk increases. And for law firms, the stakes are higher than just downtime.
At Xentric Solutions, we work with firms like yours to build real security awareness, not just check-the-box compliance. Through phishing simulations, employee training, and the right technical defenses, we help turn your team from your biggest risk into your first line of defense.
Are you sure your employees could spot a phishing email today? Or are you just hoping they can?