A storefront in Brooklyn on Monday. New York state remains under sweeping lockdown measures spurred by the coronavirus pandemic. Photo: John Minchillo/AP

Manufacturing and construction operations would be the first industries to be put back into business under a reopening plan outlined by Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Sunday. The legal profession, particularly in New York City, would have to wait for a while until freely using offices for services defined as "nonessential."

New York state remains under sweeping lockdown measures spurred by the coronavirus pandemic, which has infected at least 291,000 people statewide.

The measures, which are aimed at reducing the in-person interactions that spread the virus, sharply curtail gatherings and require nonessential workers to stay home. The measures are in place until mid May through an executive order. 

At a coronavirus briefing Sunday, Cuomo traced details of the state's plan to reopen New York's paralyzed economy, saying the first phase would include reopening manufacturing and construction operations that are low risk.

More businesses would open in the second phase, but those reopening decisions will be based on how essential the business is and the infection risk associated with operating the business, he said.

The legal industry's adaptation to working from home and virtual courts has eased some of the strictures wrought by Cuomo's "New York on Pause" order, but it is also anticipating benefits if reopening can widen.

Hank Greenberg, president of the New York State Bar Association, said the reopening period carries "enormous" importance to the legal profession statewide.

Many lawyers have transitioned to virtual operations, he said, but the benefits office operations are unavoidable. In-person interactions make it easier to empathically listen to a distressed client, he said, and brainstorming ideas and collaboration is more effective in a physical law office.

"The perfect truth is [that] practicing law is a team effort in many cases," he said.

He anticipated that commercial lawyers are going to be immersed in a raft of issues from their clients, including human resources, public health and liability topics.

The reopening plan could have widespread impacts for when—and in what ways—law firms and attorneys across New York return to in-office work.

According to guidance from the state government, legal service providers are considered essential businesses, but only if their work is tied to specific topics like supporting a criminal defendant in a court proceeding. It also includes supporting the essential functions of "health care providers, utilities, state and local governments, the federal government" and other businesses that have been deemed essential.

Even as the state looks ahead to opening businesses, the state's court system is angling toward expanding its virtual operations, instead of emphasizing the widespread reopening of physical courthouse operations.

Chief Judge Janet DiFiore said Monday in video speech that they are working to improve the temporary virtual operations.

DiFiore reported that 168 court staff and judges have tested positive for the new coronavirus. A court spokesman said judges made up 17 of those positive COVID-19 cases.

And New York's Chief Administrative Judge Lawrence Marks said Wednesday that there have been no conversations around the widespread opening of courthouses.

State officials said a two-week period between the phases can be expected in order to monitor the effects. The reopening plan is also set to leave out attractions and openings that would draw a large number of people.

Despite plans of restarting the economy, Cuomo on Monday cautioned that a bungled reopening plan could cause the infection rate to turn upward once again.

"There is no light switch where you flick a switch and everybody goes back to doing what they're doing," he said Monday. "We have to take these circumstances into consideration. We have to learn the lessons."

READ MORE:

'A Very Different Court System': Marks Says There's No Timeline for Lifting Ban on New 'Nonessential' Lawsuits in NY

'Herculean Effort': DiFiore Hails Results of NY's Expanded Virtual Court Operations

Seven Northeast Governors Rollout Working Group for Reopening of Economy