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WHAT WE'RE WATCHING

COURT SAFETY – In response to the coronavirus outbreak, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit is taking some precautions. Alaina Lancaster reports that the court is rescheduling two high-profile cases in Las Vegas, and relocating panel arguments initially scheduled for the court's Seattle courthouse to Pasadena, California.  The communications administrator for the Office of the Circuit Executive also said they will allow increased use of telephones and videoconferencing during the coronavirus emergency. The move comes as the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut issued an order barring people who visited certain foreign countries and communities in New York from their courthouses. New York state courthouses, as well as the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York also joined other federal courts in New York in moving to restrict anyone exhibiting flu-like symptoms from their premises.

RED CARD? – The U.S. Soccer Federation is bringing aboard Latham & Watkins to help respond to class action claims made by female U.S. soccer players alleging gender discrimination. David Thomas reports that the organization came under fire after its lawyers at Seyfarth Shaw argued in a federal court brief that the U.S. Women's National Team has less "skill" than the men's team. It's not known whether the federation is sticking with Seyfarth Shaw or replacing the firm entirely, but federation president Carlos Cordeiro issued a statement apologizing for the court brief and said the group is "making immediate changes."

PARDON ME – Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler filed a lawsuit on behalf of the watchdog group American Oversight alleging that an informal task force advising President Trump on presidential pardons is running afoul of the law. Jacqueline Thomsen reports that the lawsuit claims the group violated the Federal Advisory Committee Act because it did not file a charter and did not share its meetings and documents with the public. In February, President Trump granted a number of pardons, including to former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, businessman Michael Milken and former San Francisco 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo. 

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EDITOR'S PICKS

What Can Be Learned From 'Virtual' Firms as Coronavirus Necessitates Remote Work?

ABA Loosens Reins on Online Legal Education Amid Coronavirus Spread

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WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING

BRAZIL – Providing legal advice can certainly come with its fair share of risks. Amy Guthrie reports that the São Paulo branch of the Brazilian Bar Association forced a group of U.S-based attorneys to cancel a seminar they planned to hold in the city on U.S. law. The São Paulo branch noted that the seminar ran afoul of a rule mandating non-Brazilians providing legal advice register as foreign legal advisors, the violation of which can come with fines and even incarceration. The cancellation comes just a few months after the Brazilian Bar Association announced it will look more closely at how foreign law firms are conducting themselves in the country. 

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WHAT YOU SAID

"For me personally, there are no obstacles or challenges, since I've been teaching a course online for five years. My fellow professors, though, are a little anxious."

|— W. John Thomas, the only professor at Quinnipiac University School of Law who teaches an online course. However, that will soon change as Quinnipiac, and Yale Law School, join a growing number of their counterparts in requiring online classes due to coronavirus concerns. Thomas said some professors may find it a challenge to teach online as it doesn't allow for instant student feedback, and requires the use of online discussion forums for student participation.  

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