KEEPING YOUR FIRM GOING IN THE CORONAVIRUS CRISIS (6) : THE POSTS SO FAR
Things are moving so quickly at the moment that it is difficult to get time to recap. This is a good time to remind people of the posts on this blog under the heading Keeping your firm going in the…
THE (NOT SO) LONELY LITIGATOR’S CLUB 6: JONATHAN EXALL
I have been looking for the experiences of newly qualified litigators, these have been difficult to find. Eventually I found one newly qualified lawyer I could “persuade”. Working as a solicitor at Chadwick Lawrence in Leeds – Jonathan Exall Where…
THE (NOT SO) LONELY LITIGATOR’S CLUB 5: GILL EDWARDS
The newest recruit to the club is Gill Edwards a Partner acting for claimants in the clinical negligence department of Potter Rees Dolan, currently working from home in Mobberley with a partner, two teenagers and a dog. 1 Where are…
THE INNS OF COURT COLLEGE OF ADVOCACY: PRINCIPLES FOR REMOTE ADVOCACY
In an extremely short amount of time the Inns of Court College of Advocacy has produced a remarkable guide “Principles for Remote Advocacy”. The document has entered the public domain today, with no restrictions on its use, it is available…
MESSAGE FOR CIRCUIT AND DISTRICT JUDGES FROM THE LORD CHIEF JUSTICE, MASTER OF THE ROLLS AND PRESIDENT OF THE FAMILY DIVISION
The Lord Chief Justice, Master of the Rolls and President of the Family Division have sent out a message to civil and family judges. This has been made generally available. I provide here highlights of the message, particularly relating to…
COVID-19 and Remote Court Arrangements: 30 tips for dealing with Virtual Hearings: GUEST POST FROM ANDREW KING
I am grateful to Andrew King from Lennons solicitors for allowing me to reproduce his article on dealing with virtual hearings. This was based on Andrew’s experience of being involved in a three day remote trial. As you can see…
THE (NOT SO) LONELY LITIGATOR’S CLUB (4): ELIZABETH THOMAS
Elizabeth Thomas knows a thing or too about “remote” working and was the ideal candidate to be the next member of our club. Elizabeth is a Partner in Healthcare Litigation at Hempsons (London) but has been working from home for…
THE (NOT SO) LONELY LITIGATOR’S CLUB (3): LUCY MILLS
The next to join our club is Senior Associate at Stewarts Law Lucy Mills. Lucy is working from home, in a desk on a landing, with two boys aged 3 and 5 in the house. Like so many people she…
THE (NOT SO) LONELY LITIGATOR’S CLUB (2): NIGEL POOLE QC
Second up in this series is Nigel Poole QC who is balancing the job of carrying on working alongside being Head of Kings Chambers. Nigel’s view of the importance of social interaction in the workplace is important, it balances the…
THE (NOT SO) LONELY LITIGATOR’S CLUB (1): HILARY WETHERELL
I have meant, for some time, to start a series looking at how litigators up and down the country are dealing with working in social isolation. Hopefully shared experiences and advice will mean that we are not so lonely. I’m…
CONSTRUING THE CORONAVIRUS REGULATIONS: THE “RESCUE CULTURE”
The fact that the judgment in Carluccio’s Ltd, Re Insolvency Act 1986 [2020] EWHC 886 (Ch) was delivered on the morning of a bank holiday says a lot in itself. Mr Justice Snowden was called upon to construe aspects of…
KEEPING YOUR LAW FIRM GOING DURING THE CORONAVIRUS CRISIS (5): DEALING WITH CLIENTS
Dealing with clients is a central part of the lawyer’s job. Here we look at guidance on helping and communicating with clients throughout the coronavirus outbreak. GUIDANCE FOR LAWYERS An article from the Legal Executive Institute, ‘COVID-19 Challenges: Keeping Law Firms Going…
KEEPING YOUR LAW FIRM GOING DURING THE CORONAVIRUS CRISIS (4): SITES THAT HELP
In the fourth in this series we look at general guides and resources from around the world available to help law firms survive the profound difficulties posed by coronavirus. LexisNexis offers a free Coronavirus Resource Kit to help prepare your…
KEEPING YOUR LAW FIRM GOING DURING THE CORONAVIRUS CRISIS (3): CASH FLOW
In the third in this series we look at the help and guidance in relation to cashflow. This is a important topic for every law firm and chambers. It is also a subject on which some lawyers may have to…
WORKING FROM HOME WITH KIDS: GUIDANCE FROM THE NICE PEOPLE ON TWITTER AND USEFUL LINKS
Not only are many people having to adapt to working from home and the kids are there too. This obviously creates many problems. I asked if anyone on Twitter had any tips and got some helpful replies. I have put…
CIVIL LAWYERS: SPEND A BIT OF TIME THINKING ABOUT EMPLOYMENT LAWYERS: A USEFUL SERIES FROM KINGS CHAMBERS
The vast majority of working lawyers are finding things difficult at the moment. Spare a thought, however, for employment lawyers. They are having to deal with legal concepts that simply didn’t exist a fortnight ago, a whole new set of…
KEEPING YOUR LAW FIRM GOING DURING THE CORONAVIRUS CRISIS (2): HOW DO YOU KEEP ON EMPLOYING PEOPLE?
In the second in this series we look at help and guidance available in relation to employing people throughout the difficult coronavirus period. Firstly looking at general guidance and then at specific advice for law firms. GENERAL GUIDANCE What…
KEEPING YOUR LAW FIRM GOING DURING THE CORONAVIRUS CRISIS (1) MANAGING REMOTE WORKING
This series is looking at guides and links to help law firms stay in business during the coronavirus crisis. I am looking at guidance from around the world. Here we look at guides to manage remote working. GUIDANCE FOR LAW…
COURT OF APPEAL HEAR CASE BY VIDEOCONFERENCING
Fairly soon, I am sure, the holding of hearings remotely will become such a commonplace that they will pass without comment. In the interim, however, it is worthwhile noting that the Court of Appeal heard an appeal on the 26th…
THE ROYAL COURTS OF JUSTICE FEES OFFICE CLOSED: EMAIL ADDRESSES TO CONTACT
A HCMTS notice states that the RCJ Fees Office is closed. It gives appropriate email addresses. The Royal Courts of Justice Fees Office will close to the public until further notice (1 April 2020). Court users are advised to contact…
WEBINAR ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND PERSONAL INJURY LAWYERS 31st MARCH 2020: NOW WITH SPECIAL CORONAVIRUS SECTION
The long-planned webinar tomorrow on Social Media and the Personal Injury Lawyer is still going ahead *. This will now include a lengthy session on useful social media links and helpful sites for lawyers during the coronavirus crisis. THE…
REMOTE HEARING IN THE COURT OF PROTECTION: 17 PARTICIPANTS, 11 WITNESSES AND TWO JOURNALISTS: LESSONS TO BE LEARNT
I am grateful to Dr Penny Cooper for pointing out to me that the decision of Mr Justice Mostyn in A Clinical Commissioning Group v AF & Ors [2020] EWCOP 16 involved a hearing remotely. It contains an important comment…
CIVIL LITIGATION AND COVID-19: GUIDANCE from 2TG
2TG have kindly sent me a link to their guidance “Civil Litigation in the time of Covid-19: Everything you need to know and consider”. The link is available here. (I have no difficulty in putting up guidance from any …
GUIDANCE IN DEVON AND CORNWALL: VACATION OF COURT HEARINGS AND RE-LISTING
The President of Plymouth Law Society has sent out the following guidance. COVID-19 – URGENT – CIVIL COURT HEARINGS TO BE VACATED – HHJ GORE QC Dear Member If you are a Civil Court user please read the notice below from…
REMOTE HEARING – WENT AHEAD AND WORKED
In Jalla & Ors v Royal Dutch Shell Plc & Ors [2020] EWHC 738 (TCC) Mr Justice Stuart-Smith gave judgment in a hearing that was conducted remotely. This demonstrates that, with considerable effort, remote hearings can work in complex hearings….
Video: Creating and using electronic hearing bundles: St Philips Chambers
St Philips Chambers have kindly sent me a link to their video “Creating and using electronic hearing bundles” available here. https://youtu.be/WmUDC3i9aTw The video explains how to create and use an electronic trial or hearing bundle using Adobe Acrobat Pro…. Enjoying…
Contingency planning – courts and tribunals: Statement from the Lord Chief Justice and President of Tribunals
“Contingency planning – courts and tribunals 1. The COVID-19 pandemic and the rapid spread of the virus around the country presents an unprecedented challenge to all those involved in the administration of justice. 2. It is vital to maintain a…
TWITTER SOURCED ADVICE: “LOW TECH” IDEAS FOR WORKING AT HOME
Again I have used the media of Twitter to get “low tech” advice for working at home. Your ironing board has more uses than one. Emma Bower (@EmmaMcBower) I’d say keeping a normal routine of getting up, washed, dressed and…
USEFUL LINKS: SUPPORT FOR INDIVIDUALS (WELLBEING AND HEALTH)
Continuing with the series on useful links, here we look at links to help with health and wellbeing. MENTAL HEALTH SAMH is Scotland’s national mental health charity and has been around since 1923. They have a page dedicated…
USEFUL LINKS: FINANCIAL HELP FOR INDIVIDUALS DURING THE CORONAVIRUS CRISIS
Here we look at useful links for financial advice for individuals. MoneySavingExpert has a guide to financial help and rights during the coronavirus outbreak. This is said to be constantly updated and if you have a question that is not covered,…
USEFUL LINKS: SUPPORT FOR LAWYERS DURING THE CORONAVIRUS CRISIS (BECAUSE LAWYERS ARE PEOPLE TOO…)
The third in the series on useful links. Here we look at help and guidance for lawyers. GENERAL GUIDANCE The Law Society offers advice and updates on Coronavirus for the legal profession, including advice for: employers firm owners, managing partners and…
WORKING FROM HOME: USEFUL ADVICE: ERGONOMICS, PERIPHERALS AND MUCH MORE
I have a thread running on Twitter at the moment on “low-tech” advice about working from home. This will appear on this blog soon (and all I can say at present is that ironing boards are featuring a lot). I…
USEFUL LINKS: SUPPORT FOR BUSINESSES DURING THE CORONAVIRUS CRISIS
Continuing with the series on useful links, her are links to useful links for businesses. The British Chambers of Commerce has a Coronavirus Hub. This provides information based on official guidance from the UK government and it is amended as and…
AN OPEN LETTER TO THE CIVIL PROCEDURE RULE COMMITTEE: DO SOMETHING AND DO IT NOW – FOR THE SAKE OF THE COUNTRY
Earlier today I tweeted “Anyone want to join me in an “open letter” to the Civil Procedure Rule Committee (& anyone else who will listen). We need guidance NOW to allow the parties to agree open-ended extensions of time. This…
MODEL: AGREED PROCEDURAL TEMPLATE FOR JOINT SETTLEMENT MEETINGS HELD REMOTELY
39 Essex Chambers have sent me a model Agreed Procedural Template for Joint Settlement Meetings held remotely and kindly said I can share it. This is available on their website – here. “The parties to a remote JSM agree…
THE EXPLANATORY NOTES TO THE CORONAVIRUS BILL: LIVE LINKS IN COURT PROCEEDINGS
The explanatory notes to the Coronavirus Bill have a detailed explanation of the plans for the expansion of live links in court proceedings, particularly criminal proceedings. Clause 51 and Schedule 22 Expansion of availability of live links in criminal proceedings…
LAW SOCIETY ADVICE ON CORONAVIRUS: WORKING FROM HOME POLICY: “YOU WILL BE AT RISK OF FACING A STRONG LEGAL CLAIM”
The Law Society has a specific advice page on Coronavirus available here. There have been comments this morning about some firms insisting staff attend work. It is worthwhile reading the Law Society advice. “If you refuse to allow…
EBUNDLING: VERY USEFUL STEP BY STEP GUIDE
James M Turner QC has prepared an EBundling Guide to help advocates and other deal with the issue of preparing bundles. This is a task we may all have to come to terms with in the very near future. The…
WORKING FROM HOME – WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS (1): GUIDANCE FROM THE NICE PEOPLE ON TWITTER
Once resource we can freely use is help from friends and colleagues on social media. I asked the good people of Twitter to give advice about working from home. Here are some of the replies (I may have missed some…
WEBCAST GUIDES TO ONLINE COMMUNICATIONS AND HEARINGS – FROM ISHAN KOLHATKAR
I made Ishan Kolhatkar Civil Litigation Brief “Lawyer of the Year” last year for the wonderful work he did on the Billable Hour cookbook. Ish is a man of many talents. He has now sent me links to the webcasts…
“CONSIDER THE BACKDROP”: “ADVOCATES NEED NOT RISE” – GUIDANCE FROM THE CRIMINAL APPEALS CRIMINAL DIVISION
My favourite wording in any guidance given so far. Someone has suggested this, or similar, to give the appropriately authentic backdrop. THE GUIDANCE “The Vice-President of the CACD has provided the following guidance for hearings in the CACD during the…
PROTOCOL REGARDING REMOTE HEARINGS: OFFICIAL GUIDANCE
This Protocol was issued on the 20th March. Civil-court-guidance-on-how-to-conduct-remote-hearings CIVIL JUSTICE IN ENGLAND and WALES PROTOCOL REGARDING REMOTE HEARINGS 20 March 2020: for publication Introduction to this Protocol 1. The current pandemic necessitates the use of remote hearings where… Enjoying…
CORONAVIRUS RESOURCE: A USEFUL SITE
I am always looking for useful links for lawyers and others during the Coronavirus crisis. Can I draw people’s attention to Coronavirus Resources This is aimed at giving help with technology. It includes sections on: Remote, flexible and online work….
SPECIFIC GUIDANCE FOR FAMILY COURTS IN DORSET
HHJ Dancey, the Designated Family Judge for Dorset, has sent out a Local Practice Guidance on COVID-19. I am grateful to barrister Amanda Bancroft for sending it to me. It provides a template for working and supplements the President’s national…
THE KINGS CHAMBERS SITE: CORONAVIRUS: GUIDANCE FOR LAWYERS AND BUSINESSES: YOU CAN NOW SUBSCRIBE
I am, for the second time, promoting the site Coronavirus: Guidance for Lawyers and Businesses. This is a site that draws across the whole range of talent, and practice areas, of my chambers and provides detailed up to date advice…
UPDATE ON COVID-19 AND THE COURTS: GUIDANCE FROM THE LORD CHIEF JUSTICE
The Lord Chief Justice has today issued guidance today which makes it clear that remote hearings are now the default position. “The default position now in all jurisdictions must be that hearings should be conducted with one, more than one…
CIVIL PROCEDURE AND THE CORONAVIRUS: PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS IN AN UNCERTAIN TIME: WEBINAR 25th MARCH 2020
On the 25th March 2020 at 1.00 pm I am giving a webinar on civil procedure and coronavirus, dealing with the best means of coping with procedural and other issues arising from COVID-19. This is aimed primarily at personal injury…
KINGS CHAMBERS: NEW SITE ON THE LEGAL AND COMMERCIAL EFFECTS OF COVID-19
Kings Chambers have started a new site ” CORONAVIRUS: GUIDANCE FOR LAWYERS AND BUSINESSES” THE AIM OF THE SITE The aim of the site is to draw across the whole range of expertise in chambers to help lawyers and…
CORONAVIRUS UPDATE FROM THE LORD CHIEF JUSTICE: THE WHEELS OF JUSTICE SHOULD NOT GRIND TO A HALT
The update, issued yesterday is available here. KEY POINTS “It is not realistic to suppose that it will be business as usual in any jurisdiction, but it is of vital importance that the administration of justice does not grind to…
WORKING REMOTELY: USEFUL GUIDANCE
I have, ironically, been planning to write on remote working for some time. The post was going to be in the “well being” series and, among other things, deal with issues like social isolation when working from home. Now, of…
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