Coronavirus Resource Center for Lawyers

Reopening Your Practice Guidebook
from the Indiana State Bar Association

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 Intergroup
• 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 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

Free Programs

• On Demand Program - Embracing technology for long-term success, hosted by Clio
• On Demand Program - Navigating malpractice and security in a new digital age, hosted by Clio
• On Demand Program - Helpful tools for automating your document management, hosted by Clio
• On Demand Program - Communication tools for law firm efficiency, hosted by Clio
• On Demand Program - Understanding legal technology competence, hosted by Clio
• 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 Series (non-CLE) - ABA Section of Civil Rights and Social Justice webinar series (past webinars now available)

Practice management resources

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

Legal Ethics Counsel:

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

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

Webex Guide:

• Missouri Office of State Courts Administrator's guide to Webex

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
• In need of a virtual receptionist? Check out LexReception, Ruby , and Smith.ai.
• 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

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:

• Business guidance
• Stay at home order FAQ for businesses

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
• 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
• 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:

• 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

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 retirement plans

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

Oregon State Bar - 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:

•  View guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding the novel coronavirus
• 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 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)

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