Reopening Your Practice Guidebook
from the Indiana State Bar Association

News

• 5/21/2020   Bars share resources for reopening law firms amid COVID-19
• 5/4/2020     Governor's Executive Order 20-10, extending emergency electronic notary to Jun. 15
• 5/4/2020     Supreme Court of Missouri issues operational directives to help courts statewide begin resuming court activities through specified phases
• 4/24/2020   Governor Parson signs Executive Order 20-09 extending state of emergency in Missouri
• 4/22/2020   Missouri Bar members' five free MoBarCLE programs are now ready
• 4/17/2020   Supreme Court of Missouri order re: response to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, extends precautionary measures through May 15
• 4/17/2020   Supreme Court of Missouri order re: Supreme Court criminal rules requiring the defendant's personal appearance during the COVID-19 pandemic
• 4/15/2020   CARES Act townhall 4/16 and new wellness community
• 4/9/2020     MoBarNews: The legal profession and essential worker guidelines
• 4/6/2020     Governor issues executive order authorizing notarization via audio-visual technology, suspends the personal appearance requirement for notarization
• 4/6/2020     Supreme Court of Missouri order re: Signed return receipt of certified or registered mail during the COVID-19 pandemic
• 4/6/2020     Supreme Court of Missouri order re: Adoption of new regulations 18.01(g) and 18.06(e) extending municipal judge continuing education reporting year and reporting deadline during COVID-19 pandemic
• 4/3/2020     Gov. Parson issues statewide “Stay Home Missouri” order Apr. 5 through Apr. 24 to control, contain and combat COVID-19 (See related information under Economic resources below)
• 4/1/2020     MoBarNews: Financial resources and free CLE to help meet economic challenges caused by COVID-19
• 4/1/2020     Supreme Court of Missouri enters April 1, 2020, order regarding COVID-19 pandemic, supersedes March 22 order
• 3/27/2020   Access telehealth services through The Missouri Bar Private Insurance Exchange
• 3/26/2020   MoBarNews: An update on COVID-19 actions
• 3/25/2020   Supreme Court of Missouri enters March 25, 2020, order regarding administering of oaths
• 3/24/2020   MCLE reporting year and reporting deadline extended, Missouri Bar offers online resources to help
• 3/22/2020   Supreme Court of Missouri enters March 22, 2020, order regarding COVID-19 pandemic, supersedes March 16 order
• 3/21/2020   Governor Parson protects Missouri’s most vulnerable citizens and workers impacted by COVID-19
• 3/13/2020   American Bar Association creates pandemic task force
• 3/16/2020   Supreme Court of Missouri enters March 16, 2020, order regarding COVID-19, modifies own operations
• 3/13/2020   Ethical considerations for Missouri lawyers during COVID-19 spread
• Updating     Court & Missouri Bar event notices
• 3/11/2020   MoBarNews: How The Missouri Bar is protecting you in light of COVID-19

Lawyer well-being resources

Lawyers Living Well online community focused on wellness for all Missouri lawyers

Mental health articles:

• American Bar Association - COVID-19 mental health resources for the legal profession during COVID-19
• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention - Taking care of your mental health in the face of uncertainty
• Campaign to Change Direction - Staying mentally healthy during the coronavirus
• CDC - Mental health and coping during COVID-19

Substance use resources:

• Alcoholics Anonymous - Online meetings directory
• In the Rooms - How to sustain recovery in quarantine
• Al Anon - Electronic meetings
• Brian Cuban, author of "The Addicted Lawyer" - Responsible recovery in pandemic times
• SMART Recovery - Online communities

Suicide prevention lifeline - Free, confidential 24/7 support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for oneself and others: 1-800-273-TALK

Missouri Lawyers' Assistance Program:
It’s natural to feel stress, anxiety, grief & worry before, during & after a disaster such as a pandemic. The Missouri Lawyers' Assistance Program  is here to help you take care of your emotional health through free and confidential counseling. Call 24/7 to get help now:

(800) 688-7859

• Coping with anxiety from COVID-19
• Keeping sane while sheltering in place
• Coping with anxiety during the coronavirus pandemic

Practice management resources

Free Programs:

• Webinar - Understanding legal technology competence, hosted by Clio on June 9 at 1:00 PM CST
• Webinar - Communication tools for law firm efficiency , hosted by Clio on June 11 at 1:00 PM CST
• Webinar - Helpful tools for automating your document management , hosted by Clio on June 17 at 1:00 PM CST
• Webinar - Navigating malpractice and security in a new digital age , hosted by Clio on June 24 at 1:00 PM CST
• Webinar -  Embracing technology for long-term success , hosted by Clio on June 30 at 1:00 PM CST
• Webinar Series (non-CLE) - ABA Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice webinar series (through June 30)
• Webinar Series - COVID-19 CLE series, hosted by MoBarCLE (through Sept. 28)
• Webinar - Build a stronger firm through better risk management, hosted by The Bar Plan (through June 30)
• On Demand Program - Level up your firm’s marketing and social media, hosted by Clio
• On Demand Program - Re-thinking your firm during a downturn, hosted by Clio
• On Demand Program - How to build a virtual law firm (and why you should), hosted by Clio
• On Demand Program - Managing client intake virtually, hosted by Clio
• On Demand Program - Executive Order 20-08 | Remote notarization, hosted by MoBarCLE 
• On Demand Program - Attorneys new to working remotely: Things to consider, hosted by MoBarCLE
• On Demand Program - Practicing law in the shadow of COVID-19, hosted by LawPay
• On Demand Program - Ethical considerations for Missouri lawyers practicing during the COVID-19 pandemic: A conversation with the Chief Disciplinary Counsel & Legal Ethics Counsel
• On Demand Series (non-CLE) - ABA Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice webinar series (past webinars now available)
• On Demand Series - COVID-19 CLE series , hosted by MoBarCLE (self-study programs)

American Bar Association:

• Resources for lawyers and law firms responding to a disaster or pandemic
• Short videos on managing your law practice during a pandemic

Electronic notary:

• Missouri Secretary of State's Guidance on Electronic Notary (additional approved audio/visual providers for remote notary added May 5) 
• Governor's Executive Order 20-10, extending emergency electronic notary to Jun. 15
• Governor's Executive Order 20-08
• Free on demand program presented by MoBarCLE

Legal Ethics Counsel:

• LEC Resource Center: Ethical considerations for Missouri lawyers regarding the COVID-19 pandemic
• Legal ethics opinions

Legal Talk Network Podcasts:

• Remote work – Apps, tips, & tricks
• Coronavirus impact on claims and litigation
• CARES Act – Stimulus payments & unemployment benefits
• All podcasts on COVID-19

Member Benefits:

• Clio - How to work from home as a lawyer
• Practice management related member benefits
• COVID-19 resources from member benefit providers
• In need of a virtual receptionist? Check out LexReception, Ruby , and Smith.ai.
• Fastcase COVID-19 resources
• Clio – The complete guide to working remotely as a lawyer
• Clio - CARES Act Support Hotline at 1-888-484-2685 (to help legal professionals better understand and apply for government support and financial aid)
• Thomson Reuters – Practical law global coronavirus toolkit

Legaler offers free video conference plan for 12 months to solo practitioners and firms with less than 10 lawyers

Resources from The Missouri Bar:

• Financial hardship waiver for MoBarCLE-sponsored programs?
• connect.MOBAR is a digital space where Missouri lawyers can virtually interact, exchange files and network. Start engaging today by practice area, settings and more.
• Planning ahead guide for Missouri lawyers - A guide to protect your client’s and survivor’s interests in the event of your disability or death

Virtual Office Security:

• COVID-19 security resource library
• Top tips for working more securely from home
• PC Mag reviews of virtual private networks (VPNs)
• Preventing eavesdropping and protecting privacy on virtual meetings

Economic resources

Business development: 

• Meara Welch Browne, P.C. - Business response in times of crisis
• The Bar Plan – Top 10 business development tips for solo and small firms  
• Missouri Bar Member Benefits -
  • Sign up for LawyerSearch - Find New Clients
  • Missouri Bar Jobs for Lawyers - Find or post a job

Economic impact payments:
IRS - Economic impact payments: What you need to know

Families First Coronavirus Response Act:

• Department of Labor – Families First Coronavirus Response Act
• Missouri Bar - Employer obligations under the Families First Coronavirus Relief Act (FFCRA)

Missouri Stay Home order/Essential workforce: 

• The legal profession and essential worker guidelines (message from Missouri Bar President Tom Bender)
• Stay Home Missouri order
• Federal essential businesses guidelines
  

Missouri Dept. of Economic Development:

• Stay at home order: Business guidance
• Additional guidance
• Stay at home order FAQ for businesses

Practicing law in an uncertain economy:

• The Bar Plan - Practicing law in an uncertain economy
• The Bar Plan - What a pandemic can mean to your law practice

Retirement funds:

• ABA Retirement Funds - COVID-19 and the market impact

Small business assistance:

• Small Business Administration - With $349 billion in emergency small business capital cleared, SBA and Treasury begin unprecedented public-private mobilization effort to distribute funds
• Summary of the CARES Act
• Missouri Lawyers Weekly - Small practices in the pandemic: Borrow to survive
• U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business & Entrepreneurship -  Q & A summary of the Paycheck Protection Act  
• Small Business Administration - SBA disaster loan assistance
• Small Business Administration - Small business guidance & loan resources
• Foley & Lardner LLP - The CARES Act “top 10 takeaways”
• Meara Welch Browne, P.C. - The CARES Act – The CARES Act – business highlights
• Polsinelli - SBA 7(a) loan program and SBA disaster assistance loans comparison
• U.S. Chamber of Commerce - Forgivable loans for payroll and other necessities
• U.S. Chamber of Commerce - SBA disaster relief for coronavirus - long-term, low-interest loans

CARES Act:
Joint Kansas Bar Association and The Missouri Bar Town Hall on COVID-19: How Lawyers Can Use the CARES Act to Help Our Practices, Help Our Clients and Communities During the Pandemic (complete 1-hour webinar)

Student loans:

• U.S. Department of Education - U.S. Department of Education suspends federal student loan payments, waives interest during national emergency
• Forbes - How the CARES Act helps you with your federal student loans
• Saving for College - How the CARES Act helps with your employer-paid student loans

Tax news:

• IRS - Employee retention credit available for businesses financially impacted by COVID-19
• IRS issues warning about coronavirus-related scams
• Treasury and IRS issue guidance on deferring tax payments until July 15
• ABA - COVID-19 tax news and information
• Meara Welch Browne, P.C. - The CARES Act - tax highlights

Other:
Pro bono enrollment fee waiver

Articles

ABA Journal:

• 7 types of tech tools to help lawyers set up virtual offices
• Chief innovation officer talks firm's changing culture amid COVID-19 and best tips for working remotely

Attorney at Work - Continuity of care: Reassuring clients you’re prepared for COVID-19

The Bar Plan:

• Practicing law in an uncertain economy
• What a pandemic can mean to your law practice
• The underinsured lawyer
• Avoiding suits for fees
• A year in risk management
• Defining “of counsel” relationships
• Risk management considerations in “of counsel” relationships
• “Of counsel” across state lines
• Ethics considerations when attorneys work remotely
• When the unthinkable happens: Succession planning

Clio - How to work remotely as a lawyer: A guide

Fast Company - 8 strategies to set up remote work during the coronavirus outbreak

Forbes:

• The leader’s guide to managing COVID-19 panic
• Working from home during the coronavirus pandemic: What you need to know

Harvard Business Review:

• What are companies’ legal obligations around coronavirus?
• How to avoid shaking hands

inPractice - Working and meeting in the age of social distancing 

LawPay - Working remotely: 5 tips for law firm success

LexBlog - Preparing for the unknown – disaster preparedness and business continuity planning for law firms

Smokeball - Working remotely: A practical guide for small law firms

Government and health care resources

The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has opened a statewide public hotline for anyone who has questions about the coronavirus, or COVID-19. It is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can reach the hotline at 877-435-8411. 

Federal Resources:

• President’s Coronavirus Guidelines for America, 30 Days to Slow the Spread
• View guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding the novel coronavirus
• CDC – Resources for businesses and employers 
• CDC – How to prepare for COVID-19
• U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security – Defending against COVID-19 cyber scams
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
• U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission 

Missouri Bar Private Insurance Exchange:

• COVID-19 Updates
• Complimentary telehealth plan available to all members
• Grace period extension policy

Law student resources

During these unprecedented times amid COVID-19, the Missouri Bar YLS is dedicated to help young lawyers and law students navigate through this. Below is a list of resources available to help you. 

MOLAP:
As always, the Missouri Lawyers' Assistance Program  is FREE for law students and young lawyers and is here to help you take care of your emotional health through confidential counseling. Call 24/7 to get help now: (800) 688-7859

Online Resources:

• Virtual resources for graduating law students - Summer 2020 (ABA Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs)
• How to find a work from home lawyer job (Clio)
• Coronavirus resources and information for law students (ABA)
• Student remote learning toolkit (Articulate 360)
• Coronavirus survival guide (National Jurist - Spring 2020)