Large companies and government officials continue to protect against nefarious cybersecurity attacks and to respond to those cyber incidents that do take place. But what about the less powerful victims who may live or work in the community, like the elderly or small businesses?

To help this at-risk segment of the population, a pro bono legal clinic is scheduled to launch this fall at the University of California, Irvine as part of the university's new Cybersecurity Policy & Research Institute. Known as the Cyber Victims Defense Clinic, it will provide free legal and technical help to those who were victimized by cyberattacks. These may include the elderly and other at-risk groups, and small businesses with limited resources.

The clinic, supported by law firm Gibson Dunn & Crutcher and threat prevention software company Cylance, will be directed by Joshua Jessen, a cybersecurity attorney with Gibson Dunn.