Appendix G. Strategies and suggestions for zoom and remote hearings in the wake of the covid-19 pandemic

• Pages: 625-628
• Author: Jonathan Dichter

APPENDIX G:

STRATEGIES AND

SUGGESTIONS FOR ZOOM

AND REMOTE HEARINGS

G-1

APPENDIX G

STRATEGIES AND SUGGESTIONS FOR

ZOOM AND REMOTE HEARINGS IN THE

WAKE OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

No one could have predicted what 2020 and 2021 held for the legal system. Many law ofces moved to working

remotely for 18 months or more. Some attorneys shut down their businesses entirely and retired early. Young

colleagues struggled to launch their careers.

Our entire method of practice is still evolving because of the pandemic. Remote appearances or Zoom hearings

have become the norm in many places. (Although many platforms are in use nationwide, I’ll refer to Zoom as it’s

easy to type.) Some courts have decided that Zoom hearings are here to stay, at least in some capacity.

In many ways, our business models and practice methods have changed forever. But is that a good thing? It can

be a great thing if you’re willing to evolve with the practice.

I’ll discuss some practice tips for dealing with clients, staff and employees, and the court, as well as providing some

strategies for success in “ZoomCourt.” Here are the top eight practice tips I have for our new way of doing things.

1. Embrace Technology in Your Firm

You may think you are technologically advanced and you may well be, but don’t stop evolving. Consider what

you could be doing better now. Do you have a free Zoom account? Consider upgrading it for more exibility like

the ability to record Zoom meetings with clients or colleagues.

Do you have a dedicated CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system? If not, now’s the time to get one.

Things are becoming more and more digital and keeping track on a yellow pad just isn’t going to cut it anymore.

How about inter-ofce communication with your team? Slack is the way to go.

Document signing and electronic management? There are hosts of options.

Here’s how we sign up a new client. The prospective client calls. We set up a consultation with an attorney

through Zoom. In that consultation, if needed, we share our screen and show the prospective client the same charts

and documents we would if we were meeting in person. When a client retains us—which may be during the rst

consultation or later—we generate the fee agreement while screen sharing so the client can follow along. A few

clicks and it’s in the client’s email box and returned to us in minutes. We accept payment electronically through

LawPay. The client never had to leave home and neither did we.

Technology gives us the promise of fast, efcient, and easy communication. Embrace it.