A cyber lawyer is a legal expert who specialises in internet law. Because online threats are getting increasingly common, lawyers need training and digital understanding to combat crimes that arise on the network, such as malware, viruses, scams or phishing. Cyberlaw is a field with lots of opportunities and can be a good choice for freelancers. What do cyber lawyers or lawyers specialised in digital law do?
What is a Cyber Lawyer?
A cyber lawyer, or cybersecurity lawyer, is a professional trained to solve conflicts related to cybercrime – an act that happens a lot today due to the technological revolution.
An expert in this field must provide solutions to all scams, attacks and theft of information that occur on digital platforms.
Issues like the lack of regulation on the Internet, copyright, the theft of information by ransomware, what to do when information published on a website is on servers in a third country, and how to configure a connected car system are things that a cyber lawyer has to deal with.
A traditional lawyer studies the laws, norms and principles that govern a society. A cyber lawyer, on the other hand, contemplates characteristics different from those mentioned above because their work is connected to cyberspace, i.e. the Internet.
Changes in the digital world are happening too fast and legislation is unable to keep up. A cyber lawyer career is thus booming due to the increased use of digital platforms. Users and companies face a greater number of problems that often occur due to the inappropriate use of digital resources.
Examples of cybercrime that cyber lawyers deal with:
Lawyers specialising in digital law can work on any number of cybercrimes. We’ve listed a few examples here and mentioned how cybersecurity lawyers are needed when:
#1 Cyberbullying
Example: A person using social networks to make death threats to another person or group of people.
The example mentioned above is considered cyberbullying. The affected party can request the advice of a cyber lawyer to establish a serious complaint, as is usual with common threats.
#2 Phishing
Example: A user receives an email from attackers posing as a technical support team. They request the user to maybe install an update with a hidden malware or download ransomware, instead accessing their personal information.
The victim then goes to a professional expert in cyberlaw to request advice and report the crime.
#3 Identity Theft
Example: A person notices that their bank account security has been breached and that their funds (or part of them) are no longer available. This person has been the victim of identity theft, or their personal data has been used in criminal activity.
The affected person therefore requests the services of a cyber lawyer to receive help and find a solution to the problem.
#4 Online scam
Example: An individual enters a digital platform or receives a spam email, either with a reward or an offer on a certain product or service. Consequently, due to how tempting it is, they decide to buy it and do not receive what was promised.
In cases like these, cyber lawyers must meditate and file a complaint according to the regulations where the crime occurred and find a solution for the victim.
#5 Digital contracts
Example: A company needs to draw up a digital employment contract between the IT company and a freelance developer to define a web development service for 6 months.
To do this, the organisation must request the advice of an internet law expert to ensure that all the information in the contract complies with current legal regulations.
#6 Right to be forgotten
Example: A web page of a certain user that promoted infidelity between married users suffers an attack by cybercriminals. In this way, they managed to extract personal information from thousands of participants.
Consequently, those affected go to a cyber lawyer to request the right to be forgotten on the internet and eliminate traces of their personal data on the page.
What is the role of a Cyber lawyer?
A cyber lawyer understands and handles the laws associated with information protection, data privacy, cybersecurity, and computer crime. They are up-to-date on regulations and know the most common conflicts and threats in cyberspace all around the world.
Professionals in this field are in charge of managing security incidents within organisations, such as cyberattacks, information theft or data breaches. They do this by conducting a legal impact assessment, notifying law enforcement agencies and victims, and assisting cyber forensic experts.
A cyber law expert also writes policies and contracts associated with cybersecurity and information protection, such as confidentiality agreements, fair use policies, software licence agreements, and online services.
These lawyers are in charge of verifying that documents comply with the laws and that they protect the assets of their clients. In addition, they represent clients in legal proceedings associated with cybersecurity, whether they are claims for data theft, online intellectual property, or disputes in cyberspace.
A cyber lawyer also makes legal risk assessments related to cybersecurity and the protection of information. They identify legal weaknesses and notify clients of the steps they need to follow to reduce said risks.
They advise their clients on the protection of intellectual property in digital media and collaborate with them on the registration and protection of copyrights on the Internet, online patents, trademarks, etc.
This professional profile has an important role in raising awareness associated with cybersecurity and information protection issues. Professionals in this field provide constant training to clients on how to improve their digital security practices, legal responsibilities and internal policies associated with data protection.
Both cybersecurity and digital law are constantly evolving. Therefore, the specific functions of a cyber lawyer can change according to changes in the laws and the needs of a person or company.
What are the responsibilities of a cyber lawyer?
- Provide clients with legal advice on cybersecurity issues
- Protect the digital rights of customers such as intellectual property, privacy, information security, etc.
- Manage any incident associated with digital security
- Create contracts and policies related to cybersecurity and data protection
- Verify that legal documents comply with current legal regulations
- Legally represent clients in cybercrime cases
- Evaluate risks associated with cybersecurity and information protection
- Advise clients on intellectual property protection
- Ensure that customers comply with current regulations related to the use of the Internet
- Identify and avoid cyber risks such as cyberattacks, data security breaches, etc.
- Educate and raise awareness among users and companies on cybersecurity and data protection issues
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Skills needed to work as a Cyber Lawyer
A cyber lawyer must have legal knowledge in law as well as knowledge associated with cybersecurity and computing. This is because all the conflicts that they will have to solve will be on the internet.
They must have knowledge of regulations related to privacy, intellectual property, and cybercrime.
They must also know how to use remote work tools such as Zoom, Slack, Discord, Meet, and must have excellent proficiency with Microsoft Office tools such as Excel, Word and PowerPoint.
Cyber lawyers must be able to digitalise all their work so that their clients can easily access it from the network. They must also know how to organise and interpret data from the legal world.
Lawyers in this field need to understand technology as they often come in contact with experts from other disciplines, such as an IT Architect or a Digital Product Manager. They have to understand technological concepts such as computer security, cryptography or networks.
Regarding soft skills, a cyber lawyer should have strong communication skills and must be able to work well in a team. They must also have strong negotiation skills, since these will depend on whether the disputes can be resolved without the need to undertake lengthy and expensive legal actions.
In addition, they need to develop skills such as empathy, effective listening and sensitivity.
Skills of a cyber lawyer
- Legal knowledge especially when it comes to technology
- Understanding of technological concepts such as computer security, cryptography, privacy and data protection, intellectual property, cookies, etc.
- Ability to stay up-to-date on new regulations and new crimes in cyberspace
- Knowledge of cybersecurity and best practices to protect information and systems
- Experience and knowledge of remote work tools such as Zoom, Discord, Meet, Slack, etc.
- Ability to interpret data within the legal world
- Ability to work in a team and be multidisciplinary
- Strong communication skills
- Ability to negotiate and reach agreements
- Strong analysis capacity to identify legal implications and associated risks
- Willingness to learn and adapt in a constantly changing environment
What training do I need to work as a Cyber Lawyer?
To work as a Cyber lawyer, you must start by first obtaining a law degree, then specialising through a master’s degree (MLS) in cyberlaw.
Cyber lawyers need to be aware of the legal implications of cyberspace and blockchains, big data and AI.
There are also different courses on cyber law that you can take to increase your knowledge:
- Cloud Computing Law: Data Protection and Cybersecurity
- Cybersecurity Compliance Framework & System Administration
- Cybersecurity Law & Policy
- Cloud Computing Law Specialization
Each of the certifications shown above is an opportunity to learn more about cyberlaw and find a job faster.
Not every lawyer working in ‘traditional’ areas such as family or property law understands the value of cyberlaw and cyber lawyers. However, the field of Internet law, or cyberlaw, is a new and complex place that needs this professional.
What is the salary of a cyber lawyer?
A cyber lawyer earns approximately $125,000 every year on average in the US. Salaries in the field of cyberlaw can range from $90,000 on the lower end to $160,000 on the higher end.
It must be considered that the salary of a cyber lawyer will depend on the country, company, or specific candidate’s experience.
In the UK, cyber lawyers can earn around £55,000 – £85,000 whereas in Germany, a cyber law expert can earn about €5,000 per month, which is about €60,000 per year.
In Spain, the salary of a cyber lawyer ranges between €30,000 and €55,000 per year.
How much do cyber lawyers make?
| US | $90,000 – $160,000 |
| UK | £55,000 – £85,000 |
| Germany | Approx €60,000 per year |
| Spain | €30,000 – €55,000 |
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