During the Pandemic many lawyers and insurers have been very helpful, kind and considerate given the global health crisis we are all dealing with.
At the same time, some lawyers and insurers have been the exact opposite.
As lawyers we have an obligation (or a duty) to be part of the solution and not part of the problem.
This means pivoting and adapting to make things work.
Filing documents with the Court electronically? We’ve made that change.
Conducting examinations for discovery, mediations, pre-trials, case conferences and trials electronically? Evolved to do this as well.
Serving documents on other parties electronically? Check!
E-transferring settlement funds? Yup!
Commissioning Affidavits virtually? Yes!
All of these changes have taken place over the Pandemic to make the practice of law safer for lawyers, litigants, judges, clerks, witnesses and everyone in between so that the legal system can move forward even in the face of a global Pandemic which has cost so many lives.
Participating in the legal process should not be dangerous. You should not have to put your health at risk participating in a case. This is exactly why these changes have been brought about.
Yet some lawyers, and some insurers continue to resist these changes.