Editor's note: This is part of an ongoing series that looks at how New Jersey State Bar Association members' work lives have changed since Governor Phil Murphy issued a stay-at-home order due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Way We Work Now: A quiet office is the 'calm before the storm'

The phones haven't been ringing much over the last two months at Ostrowitz & Ostrowitz in Manalapan. Ever since the coronavirus pandemic struck and the governor issued a stay-at-home order, business has fallen at the small firm, which does commercial litigation representing banks and credit unions.

The office hum, a kind of pulse that used to run in the background, was also silenced. Alan R. Ostrowitz, a member of the New Jersey State Bar Association's Solo and Small-Firm Section, said it's rare to encounter others working in the building, other than his wife and partner, Martha, and his daughter, who assists in the office. A third partner and another clerical worker are working from home.

Ostrowitz tried working from home, but "everything took so much longer. There's a lag getting into our system. We don't work off the cloud because of security reasons, because we represent banks. We have everything stored at our office."

Now, because of social distancing, he doesn't even see the Fed Ex delivery person and mail carrier, who no longer request a signature before leaving packages at the front desk.

"It's kind of lonely. It's not like you can't get your work done; there's not much to do. It's so dead," Ostrowitz said.

But that lull is what he calls "the calm before the storm." The firm also handles bankruptcies and foreclosures.

"As the economy gets bad, unfortunately, our business gets better. It's the sad fact of life."