The browser hack every lawyer should know

Plus: FBI issues warning to firms | Sourcing stock photos

Raise The Bar

12 Jun 2025 • 7 min read

Whether you’re worried about hackers, headlines or headshots, this issue of Raise the Bar has got you covered. ICYMI (like almost everyone), we’ve got a link to the FBI warning about cyber attacks on law firms. And you won’t want to miss our Q&A with a communications professional who helps law firms navigate crises.

We’ll also show you how the RECAP browser extension can save you time and money on PACER, dive into the surprisingly relevant world of espionage podcasts and settle a heated debate over whether your website should feature AI-generated avatars or just the actual humans who work there.

Ouch! ChatGPT’s coming in hot with its roast of a bunch of different legal practice areas.

Open the pod bay doors, HAL. How do you regulate AI or hold it accountable when even its creators don’t understand how it works?

Ye olde precedent. The Supreme Court Historical Society has the inside scoop on 19th-century appellate court reporting.

Margaritaville meltdown. Jimmy Buffett’s wife claims his estate is wastin’ away under current management.

Never really OOO? You’re not the only one bringing work along on your summer vacation.

Making your case in the court of public opinion

Marty Bricketto worked at several daily newspapers before covering the courts with Law360, where he eventually oversaw the publication’s legal industry and legal ethics coverage. Today, he’s an account director at Kessler PR Group, a Chambers-ranked crisis communications and public relations firm. Raise the Bar picked his brain for some tips on how to raise your firm’s profile with journalists… and avoid their attention when you don’t want it.

Lawyers love words—but legal writing and media messaging are totally different animals. Where do lawyers get tripped up?
Attorneys sometimes think a press statement like "These claims are baseless, and we will vigorously contest them through all appropriate legal channels” is sufficient. It’s not. Sure, it’s better than the cardinal sin of “no comment,” but it’s still a missed opportunity.

Every legal filing in a major case should be considered a possible media event, and there are attorneys who are great at crafting a complaint or a motion that clearly has a wider audience in mind. It’s something we have consulted on as well. But even in those instances, attorneys should understand that the press might need a “cheat sheet” that breaks down key parts of the filing.

What’s your advice to lawyers who want to get a story out there or be quoted as a source?
This is going to seem self-serving, but it’s hard to understate the value that public relations professionals provide in making sure you are properly represented in the media.

Beyond that, good old-fashioned relationship building goes a long way. Did you enjoy an article someone wrote? Let them know! That simple outreach could lead to a conversation on background or off the record and maybe put you top of mind when a reporter writes an analysis or trend piece that aligns with your expertise.

If you get the chance to speak with a reporter as an expert source, have something meaningful to say. Think about what would be valuable and interesting from a reader’s perspective. Stay on topic and avoid rambling. If you're a good interview, chances are you'll be contacted again when a reporter needs insight on another relevant subject.

What separates the firms that come out stronger from the ones that flounder when a crisis hits and you are getting the sort of media attention you don’t want?
Attorneys shouldn’t run at the mouth when bad news happens, but that doesn’t mean burying your head in the sand and letting misinformation fester. Communications firms like mine are here to help determine where the line is and what messaging works.

The firms that endure take the bull by the horns, clearly communicating to their personnel, clients, and the public how the situation is being addressed and what to expect moving forward. If you do so strategically, yet with as much blunt honesty as possible, you’ll likely get coverage that reflects that.

FBI says law firms should be on high alert

In case you missed it (like most people did since it was released the Friday before Memorial Day weekend), the FBI has issued a new warning on cyber criminals targeting law firms.

The so-called “Silent Ransom Group” has been targeting firms since Spring 2023, but the group’s new tactics are proving hard to defend against. Instead of hacking their way in, these criminals are gaining access to sensitive client information—which they then threaten to expose if a firm will not pay a ransom—through social engineering. The FBI warns that the group often sends phishing emails that imitate legitimate subscription services. These messages contain no malware or links, allowing them to evade standard email filters. Victims are tricked into calling a customer service number and then coaxed into installing remote access tools, unwittingly granting Silent Ransom full control of their devices.

More recently, the group has escalated to “vishing” attacks, where they impersonate the firm’s IT staff and use real-time phone conversations to establish remote sessions, making the attacks even harder to detect.

Why this matters: The FBI doesn’t issue these alerts just for fun. If the agency is saying firms should be on the lookout, it’s time to beef up your defenses and train yourself and your staff to spot this sort of suspicious activity. (FBI)

Reaping the benefits of RECAP

We’ve all been warned about the dangers of installing browser extensions, but there’s one out there that attorneys shouldn’t live without. RECAP, developed by the Free Law Project, can save your firm money while also making the law a little more open. RECAP works by uploading any PACER documents you access to a free public archive and checking that archive before you’re charged to download the same file again. If someone else has already pulled it, you get it for free.

Beyond cost savings, RECAP also supports legal transparency. When your firm uses RECAP, you’re contributing to a growing public library of court filings that journalists, academics, pro se litigants and other lawyers rely on. (You can search the RECAP archive without logging into PACER.) It’s one of the few ways you can give back to the profession with zero time commitment and no risk to clients.

Why this matters: For law firms focused on efficiency, client value and the long-term health of the legal system, RECAP is an easy yes. It's free, works in the background and pays dividends over time. (Free Law Project)

Undercover info

While not a traditional legal podcast, "SpyCast," from the International Spy Museum, is an interesting listen that often touches on the law. In the archive you’ll find episodes on:

The Rosenbergs: It’s been over 70 years since the Rosenbergs were executed for espionage, but their case is still being dissected in Episode 160.

The Robert Hanssen Case: Details on the prosecution of the FBI agent convicted of passing secrets to Russia.

A Day in the Life of a Spy Lawyer: In this episode, attorney Mark Zaid talks about what it is like to represent current and former members of the intelligence community.

Why this matters: Spycast is a fun listen that often explores compelling ethical questions while discussing the ways spycraft impacts our daily lives. The legal-focused issues go in-depth in a way that you don’t hear on most other podcasts. (SpyCast)

Are AI images better than traditional stock photos or pics from your firm photoshoot?

The appeal of AI-generated images is undeniable: they’re fast, cheap and endlessly customizable. But AI art can fall flat if you are trying to appeal to clients who are judging the humans who work at your firm as much as your ability to do the work that needs to be done.

According to legal marketing consultant Karin Conroy, there are pros and cons to both types of images. Smart firms are embracing a hybrid approach—using real photography to build trust, but sprinkling in some AI-generated visuals to communicate abstract legal concepts or add visual flair to blog posts.

Why this matters: For a profession built on your reputation and relationships, replacing every picture on the firm website with something that is machine-made is risky. But if you are trying to come up with a picture to help illustrate an abstract legal concept, Conroy includes a list of AI image tools you may want to try out. (Attorney At Work)

Thank you for reading Raise The Bar.

Every Thursday, you'll hear from our team about the most pressing issues facing legal practices today. We'll also try to include some quick-hit reads that touch on interesting cases and precedents being set worldwide.

Have anything you'd like us to cover? Send an email raisethebar@mynewsletter.co

Raise the Bar is curated and written by Emily Kelchen and edited by Bianca Prieto.