Law firm employee offboarding checklist

Small law firms hold sensitive client data across several systems: practice management, billing, document storage, e-filing and email. When an attorney or staff member leaves, every one of those needs to be closed, and client files need a clear owner. Check your state bar’s rules for anything specific to departing attorneys and client notification.

Track it in Handover

Systems

  • Turn off their email and sign them out of every session.
  • Remove their practice management and billing accounts, and reassign their open matters.
  • Remove access to document storage and shared drives.
  • Remove them from any shared court e-filing or research accounts the firm pays for.

Client work

  • Reassign their open matters and deadlines.
  • Make sure every client file they worked on has a new responsible person.
  • Forward or monitor their email so client messages aren’t missed.

Shared access and property

  • Change shared passwords and office door or alarm codes they knew.
  • Collect laptops, phones, keys and badges.
  • Record what was removed and collected, with dates.

Questions

Why does offboarding matter more at a law firm?

Because the data is confidential client information. A former employee with a working login is a risk to clients, not just to the firm.

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