KEEPING YOUR LAW FIRM GOING IN THE CORONAVIRUS CRISIS (8) ADVICE FROM AUSTRALIA THAT MAY BOWL YOU OVER

I have spent part of lockdown watching “The Test” – a series about Australia’s cricket team.  I have been rooting for the Aussies all the way (except when they played England of course). With the degree of planning and preparation put into planning a match I was sure that lawyers in Australia would have useful guidance of universal interest.

Guidance from Australia

Lawyers Weekly reports on the steps being taken by ‘BigLaw‘ and SME Law firms across Australia to both protect employees and ensure client services delivery does not experience interruptions. It also looks at how ‘NewLaw’ workplaces are adapting during the outbreak.

Lawyers Weekly further discusses measures implemented by Australian firms to deal with the outbreak in ‘BigLaw firm cuts partner draws by 20%, asks staff to move to 80% work and pay’ and also ‘Another global firm freezes pay rises, cuts pay for partners’.

The Law Society of New South Wales gives practical solutions to practising in a coronavirus world. Here, FAQs are answered such as ‘How do I manage remote working and remote supervision?’ and ‘How can I continue to ensure I am communicating effectively with my staff, my clients and the Courts?’.

The Law Society of New South Wales also gives tips for managing self-care when working from home.

Law Institute Victoria has resources and guides to contingency planning for firms.

Queensland Law Society has an article ‘Wellbeing: Creating new habits in times of disruption’.

Leap has compiled a list of tips to help law firms prepare staff and remain productive.