Making It Work: The Legal Profession in the Age of COVID-19
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Making It Work: The Legal Profession in the Age of COVID-19

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May 15, 2020 | News

With Return to Offices Still Uncertain, Big Law Shifts From When to How

Law firms are reimagining office life and planning for a slow return. Among the lawyers themselves, attitudes range from impatience to "see you in 2021."
5 minute read
May 11, 2020 | News

'Rolling With the Punches': Litigators Use Creativity to Manage Their Cases Without Jury Trials on Tap

While several major court functions are still shut down, including the filing of new cases, jury trials and unrestricted access to courthouses, attorneys acknowledged that the reopening process is not entirely in the hands of court leaders.
5 minute read
May 05, 2020 | News

From Canceled to 'Business as Usual,' Law Firms Go Their Own Way on Summer Associate Programs

Big Law firms tend to stick with the pack, but Latham & Watkins, Nixon Peabody, Wilson Sonsini and others are charting their own paths on summer programs. 
5 minute read
May 08, 2020 | News

In a First, Indiana Will Hold 1-Day, Online Bar Exam in July

Indiana is now the first state to say it's customizing the bar exam to address the health and safety issues posed by COVID-19.
4 minute read
May 01, 2020 | Podcast

Summer of Our Discontent: Big Law Associate Programs Get Major Overhaul

For those law firms still conducting summer programs amid the coronavirus pandemic, the challenge is to make the experience meaningful.
2 minute read
May 04, 2020

A Few Pauses, and 'Sorry, Chief,' But Supreme Court Pulls Off Historic First

Chief Justice John Roberts Jr. directed the arguments from the U.S. Supreme Court building, which has remained closed to the public for weeks amid the pandemic.
6 minute read
May 01, 2020 | News

Demand for Contract Lawyers Is Rising From COVID-19 Business Disruptions

Currently much of the hiring is for corporate legal departments who need more lawyers to fill specific niches, or because of reduced productivity from COVID-19-related issues. But increased demand from law firms is anticipated for later this year, recruiters say.
4 minute read
May 04, 2020 | News

Cuomo Offers 4-Phase Plan to 'Reopen' NY, With Professional Services in Step 2

Phase two would include the reopening of "professional services," a definition that appears to include law firms and could dictate when attorneys start to return to in-office work. Hank Greenberg, president of the New York State Bar Association, described the announcement as welcome news for law firms.
3 minute read
April 30, 2020 | News

Federal Judicial Clerkship Hiring Process Revamped Due to COVID-19

Law students hoping to land a prestigious federal clerkship typically take last-minute flights to interview with judges in person, but the coronavirus pandemic is forcing the judiciary to rethink how it hires clerks.
6 minute read
April 27, 2020 | News

Judiciary Prepares for Gradual Reopening During COVID-19, but Tells Courts to Heed Local Officials

Guidelines given to federal courts Monday lay out how they might gradually reopen after closing due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
4 minute read
April 29, 2020 | News

Texas Moves Forward With July Bar Exam, Adds September Option

In an order Wednesday, the Texas Supreme Court said the July bar exam will take place as scheduled, under guidance of public health authorities.
4 minute read
May 19, 2020 | News

Michigan Is the Latest to Move July Bar Exam Online

Michigan's pared down online test will consist only of state-specific essay questions.
3 minute read
May 01, 2020 | News

As Texas Reopens, Most Law Firms Stick With Remote Work

One Houston trial firm is moving back into its offices on Monday, but most Texas firms are still in the early stages of planning their eventual return.
6 minute read
April 28, 2020 | News

NY Law Grads Can Do 'Limited' Legal Work Under Supervision, Chief Judge Says

As a result of bar exam delays, recent law graduates will be authorized to engage in the "limited practice of law" under the supervision of a more experienced lawyer.
3 minute read
April 29, 2020 | News

How Can Law Firms Safely Reopen? New York Bar Group to Make Recommendations

The New York State Bar Association's president says law firm lawyers and staff should be among the first allowed to return to their offices.
4 minute read
April 30, 2020 | News

2nd Circuit to Weigh Reopening In-Person Operations in Summer, Katzmann Says

Any determinations about how to proceed would be based on conditions in June, and he would not try to forecast further developments down the line, given how quickly circumstances can change, the chief judge said.
6 minute read
April 28, 2020 | News

Cheers! Law Professor Pairs Wine With Zoom to Bring Students Together

Christopher Buccafusco, director of the Intellectual Property and Information Law Program at Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, has been hosting weekly wine tastings on Zoom where he discusses the law of wine.
3 minute read
April 23, 2020 | Q&A

My Weekday Workout in the COVID-19 Era: DLA Piper's Marc Samuel

"I'm a big believer that you can balance family, friends and outside interests in even the most intense of big law jobs."
3 minute read
April 24, 2020 | Analysis

'That's Not My House!' Legal Tech Eagerly Tackling Zoom Backgrounds

From beach scenes to Prince, legal tech has embraced the Zoom background. Here's some favorites, as well as how to make yours stand out from the crowd.
7 minute read
April 23, 2020 | News

WilmerHale's Matthew Martens on Religious Liberty, More Hours and 'Drowning in Email' During COVID-19

The former SEC litigator discusses Judge Justin Walker's ruling for a Kentucky church's Easter services and what happens when your dog interrupts your Zoom client call.
11 minute read
April 23, 2020 | Analysis

As States Move to Reopen, Law Firms Exercise Caution

Even though most are deemed "essential services," law firms are in no rush to reflood their offices with lawyers and staff.
6 minute read
April 20, 2020 | Commentary

Worried You Look Awful on Zoom?

In this age of remote work and Zoom calls, can lawyers finally rid themselves of the tyranny of appearance?
4 minute read
May 12, 2020 | News

COVID-19 Legal News Roundup

Here is a regularly updated lineup of breaking news and ongoing coverage impacting the profession.
5 minute read
April 21, 2020 | News

As Workforce Scatters, Onus Falls on Practice Group Leaders to Keep Firm Culture Intact

Practice heads are serving as "mini-managing partners" and "front-line lieutenants" as law firms fight to maintain business continuity and ensure cohesion during the COVID-19 pandemic.
5 minute read
April 17, 2020 | News

After 3 Years at a Buddhist Retreat, This Lawyer is Ready to Roll

Anthony "Tony" Recio spent three years and five months with no phone, Internet or television.
7 minute read
April 16, 2020 | Commentary

3M's Ivan Fong From the COVID-19 Bunker: Trump's Tweet, Masks and Bundt Cake

The former GC of Homeland Security under President Barack Obama, Fong is well-versed in the art of crisis. Still, the pandemic presents its own brand of challenges.
8 minute read
April 15, 2020

Be Honest: Who's Litigating in Pajamas?

They used to be in the courthouse. Now, after COVID-19-related closures, they're on their sofa.
6 minute read
April 16, 2020 | Analysis

The Law Firm Disrupted: Our Remote Future

The office won't be off limits forever. But it won't be the same.
6 minute read
April 16, 2020 | Expert Opinion

What To Do About the First-Year Class of 2020?

Hugh A. Simons argues that the incoming first-year associate class for the fall of 2020 should be deferred. He offers historical perspectives from the Great Recession and guidance on when and how to implement these decisions.
10 minute read
April 16, 2020 | News

Chicago Plaintiffs Firm's Donations Help Local Restaurants, Businesses Fighting Virus

Edelson PC, known as a scourge of Silicon Valley, says a business model accustomed to dry spells and windfalls is helping it weather the pandemic and make a difference close to home.
5 minute read
April 15, 2020 | News

Don't Forget About Diversity and Inclusion During COVID-19: A Q&A With NAMWOLF CEO Joel Stern

"When crises hit, diversity and inclusion take a back seat if it is not embedded in the DNA of the corporations or the law firms. It is an easy thing to not focus on when you have 50 other priorities," Joel Stern, CEO of the National Association of Minority & Women Owned Law Firms, said.
7 minute read
May 20, 2020 | News

Summer Associate Programs and COVID-19: How Law Firms Are Responding

A firm-by-firm guide to how Big Law is shifting its summer plans in light of the coronavirus pandemic.
15 minute read
April 13, 2020 | Commentary

So Your Gym's Closed? You Got This, Counselor.

Though your routine may be shot, it's not too late to create a new one.
5 minute read
May 19, 2020

'Quiet. Mom's in Court': Akerman Miami Partner Describes Taking Part in Historic High Court Virtual Hearing

Chief Justice Charles Canady has made a push to restore more court operations during the COVID-19 pandemic and is exploring long-term remote court concepts as part of a task force he created.
4 minute read
April 13, 2020

US Supreme Court Sets Audio Arguments for Select Cases in May

Among the cases the justices said they would hear in May include the dispute over Trump's financial records, an Obamacare case and the controversy over "faithless electors."
4 minute read
April 10, 2020 | Podcast

'Take Heart. Be Strong': David Lat On How COVID-19 Has Changed His Life and the Legal Profession

The Above the Law founder-turned-legal recruiter talks about his brush with death and what he's learned from the ordeal.
1 minute read
April 10, 2020

In-House Hiring Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic: A New Reality

In-house and executive recruiters say the coronavirus has altered the hiring landscape, perhaps forever, but it's not all bad.
7 minute read
April 10, 2020 | Commentary

My 2L (Remote) Life in the Grand Scheme

The desire to blame someone is widespread. Faulting a person or institution is much easier than accepting the tragic reality, much of which is beyond anyone's control.
5 minute read
April 09, 2020 | News

Law School Clinics Across the Country Offer Coronavirus Help

From helping vulnerable clients get out of prison to assisting small business acquire government aid, law students are finding ways to pitch in amid the pandemic.
7 minute read
April 10, 2020 | News

Utah Poised to Let Law Grads Skip the Bar Exam Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

The change would make the state the first to embrace an emergency diploma privilege due to COVID-19, and it could prompt other states to follow suit.
5 minute read
April 09, 2020 | Q&A

My Weekday Workout in the COVID-19 Era: Becker & Poliakoff's Scott Marcus

"Due to the unfortunate reality we are facing, COVID-19 has posed some hurdles to maintaining a group or gym workout routine."
3 minute read
April 08, 2020 | News

With Bar Exam in Limbo, Momentum Builds for Supervised Practice Programs

Permitting law grads to skip the bar exam for full licensure looks increasingly unlikely. At least three jurisdictions have unveiled programs to allow 2020 law graduates to practice under supervision while they wait to take the test.
5 minute read
April 08, 2020 | News

'A Pro Bono Boom': Doctors, Inmates & Immigrants Get Big Law Help as COVID-19 Spreads

Counsel at firms with top-ranked pro bono programs say they're seeing an increase in both the demand for pro bono work during the COVID-19 pandemic, and in attorneys at their firms wanting to offer free legal services.
8 minute read
April 07, 2020 | News

At-Home LSAT Set to Debut Next Month Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

The April LSAT is canceled. But for the first time ever, aspiring lawyers will be able to take the admissions exam at home, on their own computers.
4 minute read
May 18, 2020 | News

What Reopening Law Offices in Milan Looks Like

Social distancing floor markings and lift restrictions are just some of the actions being adopted by Italy's top law firms.
3 minute read
April 07, 2020 | Analysis

COVID-19 Pushed Legal Toward Tech, Remote Work. There May Be No Going Back

Remote work and the move toward more workflow automation could be sticking around as firms continue to cut overhead and bolster efficiency in an increasingly competitive market.
5 minute read
April 07, 2020 | News

1 Family Has 5 Cases of Coronavirus: How a Connecticut Lawyer Is Coping

A Connecticut attorney discusses the impact of COVID-19 on her family.
4 minute read
April 07, 2020 | News

'There Isn't Going To Be a Magic Formula': How One Am Law 200 Firm Is Calibrating Cuts

Sullivan & Worcester managing partner Joel Carpenter said the firm's actions—including temporary pay cuts and some furloughs—is based on a 40% drop in revenue that he hopes won't come to pass.
4 minute read
April 06, 2020 | News

Aiming for 'Some Sense of Certainty,' These Firms Committed to No Layoffs, Pay Cuts

While many firms are keeping their options open, a few have expressly announced that they have no plans to let people go or reduce their pay.
4 minute read
March 31, 2020 | News

As Remote Work Brings Isolation, How Can Firms Keep Lawyers in the Fold?

"The kind of interpersonal communication that people have on a coffee break or in the lunchroom is now gone," said one behavioral scientist who's also a Big Law alum. "Firms are going to have to work to keep their people committed and engaged."
4 minute read
April 06, 2020 | News

New Jersey Will Allow Law Grads to Practice Temporarily Amid COVID-19

The 2020 bar exam, originally scheduled for July, has been postponed until the fall due to the coronavirus pandemic.
4 minute read
April 06, 2020 | Letter to the Editor

The Case for Saving Summer Programs

In response for calls to do away with law firm summer associate programs this year, consultant Grover Cleveland explains why firms should keep them.
4 minute read
April 03, 2020 | Podcast

Zoom GC Aparna Bawa Opens Up About Big Gains and Some Growing Pains

Bawa, who joined the video conferencing company in 2018, shares what it's been like as Zoom has gone from business tool to virtual lifeline and come under scrutiny for security vulnerabilities.
2 minute read
March 27, 2020 | Commentary

How to Practice Law Remotely Without Appearing Remote

Tips and strategies for communicating effectively from your home office during the coronavirus crisis.
7 minute read
April 01, 2020 | Q&A

Here's What Lawyers Need to Know About Student Loan Relief

Derek Brainard, the director of financial education at AccessLex Institute, unpacks the student loan relief provisions within the $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus package and how lawyers borrowers should proceed.
6 minute read
May 15, 2020 | Analysis

Can Firm Tech Help Corporate Legal Bring Employees Back to the Office?

Corporate legal may be more comfortable dealing with flesh and blood attorneys than technology, but as COVID-19 restrictions ease, the rush to prepare for employees' return to the office may favor the speed and cost-effectiveness of a tech assist.
4 minute read
March 19, 2020 | News

'Be Kind' During the Pandemic, and That's an Order

"Be kind to one another in this most stressful of times," U.S. District Judge Amy Totenberg said.
3 minute read
April 01, 2020 | Commentary

From the COVID-19 Bunker: Sullivan & Cromwell's Frank Aquila

Here's the first in a series looking at how big names in the legal world are dealing with the impact of coronavirus—including the impact on their jobs, what's driving them nuts and what they're watching on Netflix.
5 minute read
March 16, 2020 | News

Paul Weiss Mobilizes Army of Lawyers to Help Navigate Coronavirus Relief

Chairman Brad Karp wants "thousands" of lawyers across the U.S. to join what he expects will be an unprecedented effort.
3 minute read
March 25, 2020 | Commentary

To Laterals in the Covid-19 Era: Be Ready for Your Close-Up

Videoconferencing is how some laterals will land at their next job if the coronavirus persists, recruiters predict. Laterals will likely sign on with law firms that they've never set foot in and whose partners they've never met.
4 minute read
March 18, 2020 | Q&A

Homebound by Coronavirus, Lawyer-Parents Bear Extra Burden

For mothers in particular, the demands of remote working can be intense, and the coming weeks will hold lessons for law firms that go beyond the current crisis. 
5 minute read
March 18, 2020 | Commentary

At Least You Can Quit Shaving Your Legs

Working from home means your appearance no longer matters, so you can let your work speak for itself and dispense with the superficialities.
3 minute read
March 20, 2020 | Commentary

How Does He Do It? Kirkland Partner at Home With 11 Kids

Any normal person under similar circumstances would be going bonkers.
3 minute read
March 31, 2020 | News

$5M Coming to Law Students Struggling Financially Amid COVID-19

AccessLex Institute will give every ABA-accredited nonprofit law school $25,000 to distribute to students facing financial hardship.
3 minute read
March 31, 2020 | Commentary

Law Firms Need to Say It's OK to Be Human Right Now

Whether through small gesture or large effort, now is the time to audition for the role of the person we'd want others to say we are.
6 minute read
March 20, 2020 | Podcast

How We're Surviving as a Shut-In Workforce: 'Know Where Your Mute Button Is' and Be Patient

As the country combats the COVID-19 crisis, lawyers are settling into a new work reality. We checked in to see how they're coping.
2 minute read
May 19, 2020 | News

Online LSAT Makes Its Debut—With a Few Glitches

About 10,000 aspiring attorneys are taking the LSAT Flex at home this week, which was developed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
5 minute read
March 19, 2020 | News

With Law Students Jittery, Profs Try to Engage Them Online

From amusing lecture videos to daily video chats with the dean, law schools are scrambling to provide student support and foster interaction amid the quick shift to online classes.
7 minute read
March 27, 2020 | News

Working Through a Crisis at Home: What 5 General Counsel Are Learning

"Having video makes a huge difference and it should be used for a virtual cup of coffee or a substantive meeting," advised Richard Nohe, general counsel for BT Americas Inc. in Dallas.
9 minute read
March 16, 2020 | Commentary

In a Year Full of Worry and Division, How to Protect Your Mental Health

Just as you can do things to safeguard yourself from the coronavirus, you can also takes steps to avoid the mental fallout.
7 minute read
March 21, 2020 | Commentary

Advice to Law Students in the Time of Covid-19: Your Path to Big Law

Law school grads are about to face a very different hiring climate in Big Law than they expected a few months ago. Hugh A. Simons gives insight into what is happening in the minds of those making hiring decisions and what law grads should do to improve their situation.
14 minute read
March 17, 2020 | News

COVID-19, Remote Work and Cybersecurity Threats: 7 Pointers for In-House Counsel

The surge in inexperienced remote workers is creating a host of potential cybersecurity threats that in-house counsel need to quickly address, cybersecurity lawyers said. "Hackers love exploiting weakness and they know the entire world is distracted," said Jena Valdetero, partner at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner.
8 minute read
March 29, 2020 | News

NY State Bar Association, Courts to Launch Pro Bono Network to Help With Pandemic Response

The "pent-up demand" for legal services will be enormous, said Hank Greenberg, president of the NYSBA. Former New York Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman, who is now of counsel at Latham & Watkins, is leading the effort to organize the new network.
3 minute read
March 27, 2020 | News

Law Firm Coalition Launches National Pro Bono Campaign to Support Small Biz

Kirkland & Ellis and others are joining the City Bar Justice Center to roll out a pilot in New York, and the Lawyers for Good Government Foundation will provide national assistance in the effort to guide small business owners on how to access government support.
4 minute read
March 27, 2020

'It's Going to Be Extraordinary': Predictions and Advice From Neil Barofsky for Coronavirus Recovery Oversight

"The potential number of companies or recipients is vast, to put it mildly, which makes certain things more important and certain things very different," Jenner' & Block's Neil Barofsky, former special inspector general under the Troubled Asset Relief Program, says. "It's going to be extraordinarily important what processes and procedures surround the determination of who gets money and who doesn't."
12 minute read
May 18, 2020 | News

Juror Walks Off to Take Phone Call as Texas Tests First Jury Trial Via Zoom

In what may be a first across the United States since the coronavirus pandemic canceled jury trials, Texas judges on Monday invited a jury pool to a court proceeding over video teleconference. Monday's hearing in an insurance dispute was actually a "summary jury trial," which is an alternative dispute resolution process.
4 minute read
May 08, 2020 | Podcast

Hold the Phone! The Supreme Court Is in (Virtual) Session

Wilmer Hale partner David Bowker, whose case was one of the first to proceed by telephone, gives a behind-the-scenes account of preparing for and delivering arguments in the new environment.
2 minute read