COVID-19 Legal News Roundup: July 2nd Edition

July 2, 2020

By Alan Kilpatrick, Reference Librarian

The COVID-19 pandemic, and its impact on the practice of law, is changing rapidly. We want to help you stay up to date with the latest news.

Each week I aggregate the leading legal headlines on COVID-19 on the topics that matter to you:   

Access to Justice

• National pro bono initiative responds to Canadians hit hard by pandemic legal problems | John Schofield, The Lawyer’s Daily (June 30)
• Quality of legal advice for suspects “faltering under lockdown” | Neil Rose, Legal Futures (June 30)
• Why you should care about access to justice | Beverley McLachlin, Toronto Star (June 29)

The Courts

• Pandemic promises lasting legacy of improvements for N.W.T. justice system, says minister | John Schofield, The Lawyer’s Daily (June 30)
• Richard Susskind in Conversation – remote courts need a Royal Commission level of investigation | Roger Smith, LawTechA2j.org (July 2)
• Video could depict ‘new normal’ once courthouses open next week | Anita Balakrishnan, Law Times (July 1)

Legal Innovation

• Covid-19 has showcased lawyers’ adaptability | Dan Bindman, Legal Futures (July 2)
• Making the Case for Tech Adoption In The Age Of COVID-19 | Ken Crutchfield, Above the Law (June 30)
• Thinking beyond the courts | Kim Covert, CBA National Magazine (June 29)

Legal Practice

• Bencher suggests LSO fee refunds for hardest-hit lawyers and paralegals | Michael Lesage, Law Times (July 2)
• Law under lockdown: enduring the challenges of Covid-19 | Milad Shojaei, Above the Law (June 26)
• States Should Permanently Change Legal Practice Rules Due To COVID-19 | Jordan Rothman, Above the Law (July 1)

Remote Working

• Remote hearings, examination of witnesses: Best practices | Barb Cotton & Christine Silverberg, The Lawyer’s Daily (June 30)
• Tips for safe, legal videoconferencing | Ronald Toledano, The Lawyer’s Daily (June 30)
• Where do you Zoom? | Chris Graham, The Lawyer’s Daily (June 26)

Students & Articling

• Another Law School to Host Fall 2020 Classes Online Without Reducing Tuition | Staci Zaretsky, Above the Law (July 2)
• Online invigilators will be watching Bar students’ every move | Neil Rose, Legal Futures (June 30)
• Time for LSO to formalize its relationship with students | Morgan Watkins, The Lawyer’s Daily (June 30)

Wellness

• COVID-19 hasn’t stopped this lawyer from advocating for wellness and recovery | Stephanie Francis Ward, ABA Journal (June 29) Podcast
• Despite changes, lawyers’ mental health crisis is getting worse | Anita Balakrishnan, Law Times (June 29)
• The Trauma Informed Lawyer – a conversation with Myrna McCallum | Allison Wolf, Attorney with a Life (June 30) Podcast