The worldwide outbreak of COVID-19 that shut down countless schools and businesses obviously has people wondering about the impact of the pandemic on various professional services, including legal services. Any crisis on this scale calls for equally large-scale crisis management strategies and tactics. Fortunately, today’s remote communication options have enabled many law firms across the U.S. (including my own Arizona law office) to continue providing comprehensive, secure, high-quality services to clients. This post provides some of my thoughts on how the legal profession is surmounting the current challenges.
Legal Services Aren’t Location Dependent Anymore
Even before COVID-19 made virtual meetings necessary, law firms began freeing themselves from the perceived need to maintain prime, pricey downtown locations — a holdover from the days when attorneys fought for spaces next to courthouses or key government offices. That sort of convenience has been replaced by the newer, considerably greater convenience of electronic filings and phone/video hearings. Since most such communications can be conducted in this manner, Harrison Law personnel might only need to make a physical commute to the courthouse two to four times a month.
This new convenience is why I located my firm in a suburb of the Phoenix Metropolitan area instead of downtown. This freedom not only eliminates troublesome commutes, both for Harrison Law personnel and for my clients, but it also allows us to avoid the higher overhead associated with paying premium downtown rental rates. We can then pass that savings onto our clients by offering lower rates for legal services than a similar downtown firm might be forced to charge.
In addition to communicating with courthouses and government offices remotely, our law office can also conduct client consultations using phone and video conferencing technologies. We have long provided this service for our clients who are located throughout Arizona, the U.S., and also the world, allowing them to receive the full benefits of our services without ever stepping inside our offices.
Remote Work Doesn’t Mean Lowered Standards
The increase in work-from-home situations has prompted some to wonder whether the reliance on virtual employees promotes a looser work ethic or lower standards of quality than the traditional in-house workplace. In our office, we do not expect to conduct all our work remotely. There will always be scenarios in which gathering key personnel together in the same physical space will yield more efficient results. However, we have found that some work-from-home flexibility, including those with school-age children, can prove valuable for personnel dealing with family or travel considerations that require them to follow a different schedule than the standard 8-to-5 office day. All that truly matters to our team, and to our clients, is that Harrison Law continues to deliver our services as effectively and efficiently as possible.
Electronic Security Takes Center Stage
Even though phone and video conferencing has allowed many businesses to carry on in the face of COVID-19, the pandemic has boosted the need to review and upgrade the security of client communications as more private conferences and sensitive documents are transmitted electronically. Fortunately, Harrison Law, PLLC has long been aware of this need and has implemented the necessary standards for optimal data security. The main difference we’re seeing is simply that our clients have become more aware of the need for security — which is why they’re relieved to discover that we already have such safeguards in place.
Video conferencing presents certain challenges on a level beyond the secure sharing of legal documents. For example, the popular video conferencing platform Zoom has certain security vulnerabilities that make it unsuitable for legal conferences. We have prohibited the use of Zoom in favor of other, more secure platforms with similar features and benefits. Harrison Law will continue to use the most secure on-line platforms and cloud-based systems available long after the current health situation has abated.
For some other ideas from Harrison Law on how to manage a crisis click HERE, HERE, and HERE.
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This website and article have been prepared by Harrison Law, PLLC for informational purposes only and does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal or financial advice. The information is not provided in the course of an attorney-client relationship and is not intended to substitute for legal advice from an attorney licensed in your jurisdiction.
