MailArk
Why law firms need email archiving
For a law firm, emails are not just messages: they are evidence, documentation of negotiations, communications with courts and clients. The loss of a single email can compromise an entire case. In Switzerland, the ten-year retention obligation under Art. 958f CO applies in full to law firm correspondence.
In addition, the new Data Protection Act (nLPD) imposes particularly stringent requirements on law firms: communications contain sensitive personal data that must be protected with appropriate measures.
Specific risks for law firms
Loss of trial evidence
An email that is accidentally deleted or lost due to a technical failure can mean the loss of crucial evidence. In court, the lack of documentation can be interpreted to the detriment of your client. A professional email archive ensures that all communications are stored in an unalterable manner and can always be retrieved.
Breach of professional secrecy
Lawyers' emails contain information covered by professional secrecy. An inadequate archiving system — such as a simple backup on an external drive — exposes the firm to the risk of unauthorised access. MailArk ensures that only authorised persons can access the archive, with strict access controls.
Employees who leave the firm
When a solicitor or employee leaves the firm, their mailbox is often deleted. With an archiving system, all emails relating to cases handled remain accessible to the firm, ensuring continuity in the management of files.
Compliance with the nLPD
From 1 September 2023, the new Data Protection Act requires law firms to store personal data securely, report data breaches and keep a record of processing activities. Penalties can be as high as CHF 250,000 for those responsible.
What MailArk offers law firms
Automatic and comprehensive archiving
MailArk automatically archives all incoming and outgoing emails for each account in the firm. No manual intervention is required: every message is captured and stored before anyone can modify or delete it.
Instant search through years of correspondence
Need to find an email from five years ago relating to a specific case? With MailArk's full-text search, you can find any message in seconds. Search by sender, recipient, subject, content or date.
Legal compliance
With the Professional plan, emails are stored for 10 years, in accordance with Art. 958f CO. With the Business plan, storage is unlimited — ideal for law firms handling long-term cases.
Secure multi-user access
Every solicitor in the firm can access their own archive. The firm owner has full visibility of all accounts. Accesses are tracked and logged.
No IT infrastructure required
MailArk is a 100% cloud-based solution. There is no need to install software, purchase servers or hire IT staff. The firm focuses on legal work, MailArk takes care of archiving.
Recommended plans for law firms
| Plan | Email accounts | Storage | Retention | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Professional | Up to 5 | 10 GB | 10 years | 9 CHF/month |
| Business | Up to 15 | 100 GB | Unlimited | 29 CHF/month |
For firms with 1-5 solicitors, the Professional plan is the ideal choice. For more structured firms with secretaries and trainees, the Business plan offers the space and flexibility you need.
How to get started
Activating MailArk for your law firm takes less than 5 minutes:
- Step 1: Register with MailArk using your chosen plan
- Step 2: Add your firm's email accounts (IMAP)
- Step 3: MailArk immediately starts archiving all emails
You can start with the free plan to try out the service with 1 email account, no credit card required and no commitment.