The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound effect on the way we all live and work. In this week's blog, our lawyers share some of the challenges – and rewards – of conducting a law practice virtually and working from home. For part 2, "Support from a Distance", featuring the perspective of our law clerks and support staff, click here.
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Strange times indeed. I spend most of the
day on my computer, or on the phone, or on Zoom, and it all passes
by almost too quickly. I look up and it's like 6 pm, and I am
usually, oddly, kind of exhausted. I am on my own at my place, so I
need to discipline myself to take regular breaks, eat somewhat
healthily, and get some exercise. That is not so different from my
regular routine at the office, but doing it is not as easy as it
sounds when you are home on your own!
I also play the role of "Uber eats driver" at lunch time
on many days (sometimes on my bike). My adult boys all decide what
will be picked up for lunch, and I go get it and bring it to them
(implementing the appropriate safeguards and distancing). That gets
me out and gives me the chance to see them - from at least two
meters away (6' 6 ", which is much longer than a normal
hockey stick btw).
I miss the collegiality and bonding of the office, but we are doing
quite well with our twice-weekly get together on Zoom (one at
cocktail hour on Thursday). I can't wait to be together again
in our great new offices when this is all behind us.
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It is amazing how we all have a more thoughtful approach to communication during this pandemic, even with those we are adverse to. In my practice, most people I talk to every day, other than our clients, are adverse in interest to us. However, lawyers on my litigation files or regulators at the MFDA, IIROC and the OSC begin and end most correspondence and telephone calls with a personal touch or salutation. My e-mails, which usually ended with "best regards" now have a "stay well" added.
If I had done that before the pandemic, I'm sure it would have seemed out of place. Further, while it isn't always easy to keep background noise down during conference calls, that no longer matters. While speaking to clients or opposing counsel, if my dog barks, who cares! Be well and stay safe!
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There are some very thick silver linings to
this difficult pandemic. One of my favourite things about
practicing in this new world: the many more moments of genuine
connection between counsel, regardless of the firece advocacy our
practices require. On conference calls, counsel (usually) take the
time to carefully check that all are well, asking with genuine
concern about elderly parents (scary) or homeschooling/childcare
(painful). I've seen a massive increase in our sense of
community and togetherness. Kudos to us! We're taking civility
to a whole new level. Now if only I could figure out how to fix the
lighting in my home office so that I don't look like I'm
telling a ghost story on video calls...
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Even before the current crisis, virtual and
digital law practice was a feature of life at BBS. Recently, we
conducted a paperless, large-scale trial on the Ontario Superior
Court of Justice's Commercial List. Armed with tablets and
laptops that connect to our secure cloud, I have experienced no
disruptions in our practice. If anything, the now exclusive virtual
and digital nature of the practice makes everything more direct and
efficient. If there is one thing I lament, it is the loss of
daily in-person interactions with our colleagues and clients, who
always provide insightful analysis on an issue within a file or a
moment of levity in an otherwise charged day. I look forward to the
day when our offices are fully open again, moving forward with the
tangible solutions and digital tools that help us to better serve
our clients, and the richness of our collegial experience.
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Here at BBS, we are so fortunate to have a
state-of-the-art virtual desktop platform that allows us to access
all of our files from home. This has allowed me to stay on top
of matters and client communications as seamlessly as if I were at
the office. In terms of how things have changed, these days, most
phone calls – whether with a client or opposing counsel
– usually begin with an update on how each other is doing and
coping with the COVID-19 situation. The fact that we are all going
through this challenging time together has created this new sense
of solidarity and common ground, even among other parties or
counsel who have opposing interests to our clients. I'm also
still getting used to not being able to print everything!
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The transition to working remotely has been
seamless for the most part. Our firm has a great staff, and a
helpful IT infrastructure. When it comes to drafting things like
pleadings, memos, or e-mails, I'm actually finding that the
solitude of working from home allows me to be more focused and
efficient. I'm also doing a lot more pushups than I was doing
at the office, so there are definitely some advantages!
There are, of course, some challenges as well. Communicating with
other lawyers at BBS now requires an e-mail or a phone call, rather
than just walking down the hall to a nearby office. I am also
figuring out new things every day, like the logistics of getting an
affidavit sworn, getting a document filed electronically with the
court, or scheduling examinations for discovery with the
uncertainty of what social distancing may look like three months
from now. I also have a roommate (a.k.a. a girlfriend) who is also
working from home. We have had to be mindful of one another and
remember to maintain privacy and confidentiality where it's
needed.
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The way BBS is handling this unprecedented
pandemic has really driven home how grateful I am to be a part of
this team. Unlike some of my fellow articling students, I was not
forced to commute downtown for weeks after closure orders went out.
Once the government started closing things down, the entire office
shifted to a work-from-home model.
Working from home has definitely been an adjustment. I never
expected my articling to include hands on lessons on how to work
remotely in the middle of a global pandemic. BBS has provided me a
masterclass in how to adjust to anything the world can throw at you
while still serving your clients' needs. Thanks to our virtual
desktop system I was able to hit the ground running with minimal
issues. My biggest work problem these days is missing the
convenience of my second monitor. I may get assignments and
projects exclusively through e-mail now, but whomever is sending
work my way is always willing to have a call to talk it
through.
Originally published 14 April, 2020
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
