How the Law Society of Ireland streamlined data protection by 70%

How the Law Society now manages privacy with ease with DataGuard

For over 270 years, the Law Society of Ireland has represented and supported solicitors across the country, ensuring high professional standards for its 13,000 members. As data protection became an increasingly critical aspect of legal compliance, the organization needed a structured and scalable privacy program to manage its responsibilities effectively.

When Boris Selak took on the role of Data Protection Officer (DPO), he faced a critical challenge—transforming a fragmented, spreadsheet-based system into a structured, efficient privacy program. With scattered data inventories and no streamlined compliance process, it was clear that a scalable solution was needed.

That’s where DataGuard came in.

Challenge 

A privacy team in need of structure 

With just one DPO and a part-time assistant, the Law Society faced several challenges, including: 

• Lack of a structured privacy program: The Law Society had no formal privacy program, relying on Excel spreadsheets with unstructured data inventories. Without a centralized system, tracking ROPA, assessments, and compliance tasks was inefficient and time-consuming. 

• Limited resources and inefficient compliance workflows: With only one DPO and a part-time assistant, managing compliance was a challenge. Privacy assessments required multiple emails, calls, and meetings, making processes slow and resource-heavy. 

• Scalability concerns and lack of transparency: With no centralized platform, it was difficult to map data processes, assign compliance tasks, and track risks across departments. 

• Managing records of processing activities (ROPA) effectively: With no dedicated platform, maintaining an accurate, up-to-date ROPA was a complex, manual process—requiring time-consuming data gathering and frequent updates. 

Solution

To move from manual processes to a structured privacy program, Boris needed a practical, scalable, and easy-to-use solution. After evaluating three different privacy tools, he chose DataGuard. 

He adopted the platform as the foundation for the Law Society’s privacy program, leveraging its capabilities to structure and streamline compliance. Key benefits included: 

• Live ROPA management: Rather than juggling “millions of files,” updates to processing activities could be managed in real-time with ease 

• Centralized assessments: Sending out assessments became a structured, automated process, cutting down time spent on manual outreach 

• Automation and time savings: By eliminating countless emails and phone calls, compliance meetings were reduced from three-hour deep dives to focused one-hour discussions 

• Unlimited user access: Allowing different teams to participate in data protection efforts without added licensing costs 

• Continuous improvements with no hidden costs: DataGuard provided ongoing feature updates at no extra charge, ensuring the platform evolves alongside privacy regulations and customer needs 

• Customer-driven development: Feedback isn’t just collected—it’s acted upon. DataGuard’s co-development approach ensures that customer insights directly shape platform enhancements 

DataGuard’s platform and this collaborative approach ensured that the Law Society transitioned to a fully structured, audit-ready privacy program—one that not only meets compliance needs but also enables Boris to focus on strategic initiatives and employee training. 

Results

With DataGuard’s platform, the Law Society of Ireland streamlined its privacy program into a structured, audit-ready system. The results were tangible: 

Key achievements: 

• A fully structured and scalable privacy program 
• 50+ processes mapped, ensuring full visibility into data flows 
• 70% of manual workload eliminated, freeing up time for strategy and training 
• Reduced meeting times from 3 hours to 1 hour because of streamlined privacy assessments 

Dataguard's privacy platform helped the Law Society of Ireland transform its privacy operations—eliminating 70% of manual work and creating a structured, audit-ready privacy program. Instead of relying on spreadsheets and time-consuming email chains, they can now manage compliance efficiently, tracking ROPA and running assessments seamlessly—all in one place. 

By automating key processes and centralizing assessments, the Law Society has freed up time for strategic initiatives and employee training. Meetings that once lasted three hours now take just one, and compliance reviews that previously required multiple back-and-forths are now 50% completed before discussions even begin. 

DataGuard’s platform stands out for its commitment to co-development. The approach to customer-driven innovation means that the platform doesn’t just provide static solutions—it grows alongside its users. Features evolve, ensuring that privacy teams like the Law Society always have the tools they need to stay ahead. 

Looking ahead: a foundation for the future of privacy 

With DataGuard’s platform, the Law Society of Ireland has built a structured, scalable, and audit-ready privacy program—but the collaboration goes beyond software. Together, they launched Ireland’s first “Empowering Privacy” event, creating a platform for knowledge-sharing, AI governance discussions, and networking. What started as a small gathering quickly became a high-impact industry forum, bringing together 100+ privacy professionals at Meta’s Dublin offices. 

For the Law Society, privacy isn’t just about compliance—it’s about safeguarding people’s rights. As AI governance and evolving regulations introduce new challenges, they see DataGuard as a key partner in navigating these complexities. 

Looking ahead, Boris values DataGuard’s continuous innovation and customer-driven development, ensuring the platform evolves without hidden costs and adapts to new regulatory requirements. 

With a structured, automated privacy program in place, the Law Society’s DPO can focus on strategy, education, and driving privacy excellence. And with DataGuard’s platform evolving alongside its users, privacy management will only become more efficient and effective.