The Zoom boom: How videoconferencing tools are changing the legal profession

Long before social distancing, Zoom touted its capabilities for lawyers. And the platform is booming, with a reported jump from 10 million daily users at the end of 2019 to 200 million in March. But lawyers must be extra careful when using Zoom or any other videoconferencing tool.

Jun 3, 2020 8:00 AM CDT

Two states introduce COVID-19 waivers for July bar exams

Jun 2, 2020 3:42 PM CDT

8 of the nation’s leading lawyers discuss impacts of COVID-19 on their practice areas

For lawyers and the legal system, the issues presented by the novel coronavirus have been as novel as the virus itself. The reverberations will be long-lasting—in some cases, forever so. The ABA Journal talked to eight leading lawyers in their fields, including Gloria Allred and Robert Shapiro, about impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on their practice areas.

Jun 2, 2020 8:00 AM CDT

‘Modest increase’ for class of 2019 jobs but also smaller class size, ABA data shows

For 2019 graduates of ABA-accredited law schools, 80.6% were employed in full-time, long-term jobs that require bar passage or are categorized as JD-advantage positions, according to data released Monday.

Jun 1, 2020 4:07 PM CDT

Supreme Court refuses to block California restrictions on religious services

A divided U.S. Supreme Court refused Friday night to block restrictions on religious services in California.

Jun 1, 2020 9:55 AM CDT

Lawyer certified as emergency medical technician calls on his experience during COVID-19 crisis

“I am able to use my skills to help with the board, to help with meal organization, and to help with providing supplemental staffing at a time when more than ever an EMT is needed,” says lawyer Christopher Jennison, an ABA member, employment and labor counsel with the Federal Aviation Administration, and assembly clerk of the ABA’s Young Lawyers Division.

Jun 1, 2020 8:00 AM CDT

Lawyers and the ABA must show resilience in tackling pandemic challenges

Jun 1, 2020 1:55 AM CDT

A Message to Our Readers

Jun 1, 2020 1:50 AM CDT

This year’s ABA Annual Meeting will take place virtually

In response to the evolving COVID-19 pandemic, the ABA Board of Governors decided in April that this year’s annual meeting will be entirely virtual.

Jun 1, 2020 12:20 AM CDT

Coronavirus on board: Lawyer’s parents were trapped on a contaminated cruise ship

Florida plaintiffs lawyer Debi F. Chalik remembers the moment she decided to file suit against Princess Cruises for negligence arising from the COVID-19 outbreak on the Grand Princess ship. It was March 6, and she was home watching Vice President Mike Pence deliver a televised briefing that included an update on the status of the Grand Princess.

Jun 1, 2020 12:02 AM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Judge prevented from fixing jobless system; state will stop sharing COVID-19 data

Separation of powers stops Florida judge from ordering unemployment system fix Leon County Circuit Judge John Cooper said Thursday that Florida law and the Constitution’s separation of powers doctrine is stopping him from getting involved with issues in the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity’s unemployment system. In response to a…

May 29, 2020 4:00 PM CDT

Criminal justice system should consider public health during COVID-19 pandemic, groups say

Several national organizations issued joint recommendations earlier this week for how the criminal justice system can incorporate public health approaches when responding to the novel coronavirus crisis.

May 29, 2020 9:36 AM CDT

Nearly 300 federal suits stem from pandemic; 101 ‘business interruption’ cases filed; what’s next?

Nearly 300 federal lawsuits filed in the months of March and April stem from the COVID-19 pandemic, a number that is likely to continue to expand.

May 28, 2020 2:57 PM CDT

Just 1 BigLaw firm makes the news for pay cuts in past week

Days after announcing a voluntary leave program, Troutman Sanders revealed it is going a step further with pay cuts for lawyers and staff members.

May 28, 2020 12:58 PM CDT

How are the ABA’s international ROLI programs adjusting to a global pandemic?

Communities around the world are reeling from the repercussions of the novel coronavirus pandemic and measures taken to contain it. Democratic backsliding threatens to derail significant development gains we have witnessed that have provided fair and equitable access to justice and measures to build accountable and inclusive justice institutions. Immediate…

May 28, 2020 11:24 AM CDT