Law firms and the shift to remote working
Many large law firms, including the Magic Circle, quickly instructed lawyers and staff to work from home. International firms already had infrastructure in place to support remote working, including secure document access and video‑conferencing. Some tasks, such as printing and preparing court bundles, still required physical presence, but firms aimed to minimise this to protect support staff.
Smaller firms faced greater challenges. Without established remote‑working systems, they were forced to invest rapidly in technology to ensure continuity and safety.
The situation was particularly difficult for barristers. As self‑employed practitioners, many lacked access to statutory sick pay and other protections available to employees.
Despite the disruption, the crisis highlighted potential long‑term benefits. If firms could operate remotely with minimal interruption, it would become harder to justify refusing flexible working arrangements in the future. Even lawyers who preferred office‑based work might reconsider habits, such as reliance on in‑person meetings or excessive printing.
Economic uncertainty
The global economy deteriorated at a speed not seen since the 2008 financial crisis. Although the causes differed, the early uncertainty affected legal practice. Corporate lawyers faced postponed deals and reduced transactional activity. Conversely, disputes lawyers anticipated increased work as businesses breached contracts they could no longer fulfil.
While a recession is damaging for all sectors, law firms are generally more resilient than many other businesses.
The courts
Although courts across Europe began closing, including the European Court of Human Rights, the English courts initially remained open. The annual ceremony for new QCs proceeded as planned.
The government was reluctant to close courts entirely. Shutting civil courts risked severe commercial consequences, while closing criminal courts carried significant personal and constitutional implications. Courts explored ways to conduct urgent matters remotely.
There was precedent for remote participation. Courts already used video‑conferencing for vulnerable or overseas witnesses, and procedural hearings were often conducted by telephone. International arbitration provided further examples of fully remote hearings.
Whether full trials, particularly jury trials, could be conducted remotely remained uncertain. On the same day, Scottish courts announced that no new jury trials would begin until further notice. The crisis created momentum for modernising court technology and expanding remote access to justice.
Politics
Parliament remained open, although the public was barred from the estate. Emergency legislation was being prepared to address the outbreak, including powers to restrict mass gatherings and release financial support for individuals and businesses. The guidance for over‑70s to self‑isolate applied to MPs, including the then Leader of the Opposition, Jeremy Corbyn.
Brexit, previously dominating political discourse, faded from public attention. Although the Prime Minister had insisted that the transition period would not be extended beyond December 2020, the circumstances raised questions about whether this position could be maintained.
Local elections, including the London mayoral election, were postponed. The Labour leadership contest continued, as it did not require public gatherings.
Legal recruitment
As firms focused on transitioning to remote working, recruitment processes were temporarily disrupted. Interviews and assessment centres were postponed while firms explored remote alternatives.
TSL encouraged students not to panic. Although the legal sector would be affected, it remained more stable than many industries, and firms would still need to recruit talent for the future.
Final thoughts
The early weeks of the COVID‑19 outbreak revealed how quickly the legal system could be forced to adapt. Remote working, court technology and political priorities all shifted at unprecedented speed.
For the time being, the most important advice remained simple: stay safe, stay at home where possible and support those in the community who are more vulnerable.
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