From the President, 0621 WYBJ, Vol. 44 No. 3. 8
| Position | Vol. 44 3 Pg. 8 |
The Practice of Law in a Global Pandemic
Billie LM Addleman
Hirst Applegate, LLP Cheyenne, Wyoming
In April, the Wyoming State Bar Board of Officers & Commissioners met in Thermopolis for the first time in person in seven months. We are optimistic we will meet again in person in June for our biannual strategic planning session. We have come a long way in the last 15 months.
The global pandemic altered just about every aspect of our society, including the practice of law. While we continue to open back up and return to "normal," many things will be permanently transformed. This edition of the Wyoming Lawyer is focused on the practice of law during the global pandemic. Here are a few of my observations and takeaways on that topic.
The Unknown We held attorney and partners meetings on Zoom. Our summer law clerks worked remotely, with limited time in the actual office. Virtual platforms allowed law clerks and new associates to more easily attend depositions, mediations and hearings. One of my partners, sensitive to her older clients’ vulnerabilities, held signings in the local park.
In the spring of 2020, we really did not know what to expect with COVID, the severity, the duration, and the economic and legal impact. Courts shut down. Trials were moved. Schedules were vacated. No one knew what was go- _ ing to happen, when courts would reopen, when trials might resume. More importantly, we were uncertain what this pandemic would bring and worried for the health of ourselves and others. The unknown was probably the most challenging. The need for legal services and attorneys continued, but many of these services had to be provided in new ways.
In my practice, the calls and need for counsel continued. That wasn't the same for others.The uncertainty caused stress and anxiety among many practitioners. One of the sadder, but amusing, anecdotes came from an old military friend on the impact the shutdown had on his criminal defense and DUI defense practice in Texas. He shared, tongue in cheek, "when your business depends on people making bad decisions, your practice suffers when they are no longer allowed to make bad decisions." His tone then took a turn, when he shared, "Billie, I have no more overhead to cut." Fortunately, he, like others, was able to weather the storm until restrictions started to lift.
In our...
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