BARBULLETIN Volume XXXVII, Number 5 • May 15, 2020
What’s Inside Remote Mediation: Best Practices for Lawyers Page 10
Legislative Update: Driver’s Licenses, Auto Insurance, and the Impact of COVID-19 Page 11
Covid-19 Planning Considerations from a Public Health Perspective Page 12
Estate and Trusts Section Demonstrates Remote Execution and Notarization of Documents Page 12
Federal District Court Dismisses Claims That USDA Agency Violated Federal Law in Granting a Loan Guarantee to Maryland Poultry Farm Page 14
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By the Numbers: The Impact of COVID-19 on the Legal Industry BY ANDREA SOLAN, ESQ, MSBA LEGAL CONTENT EDITOR
Data collected by legal technology provider, Clio, shows the very real and significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the legal industry. In a recent webinar, Clio shared some of the results from its ongoing research of consumers of legal services and legal professionals. Attorneys in all practice areas and career settings should pay attention to the numbers.
R
esults from Clio’s research show that consumers agree that legal services are essential, but that the pandemic has left many without ability to pay for services. In addition, the research indicates that consumers have mixed feelings about virtual legal services, with a majority preferring virtual consultations, while 38% feel that a virtual hearing or trial would result in a negative outcome in their case. To the right is an overview of results from the research on consumers. Clio also gathered data from legal professionals. As courts have closed and much of the country has been under stay-home orders, law firms have necessarily had to rely on technology. Five to 10 years’ of technological advances have taken place over a mere two months, and the legal profession realizes this is about survival, not just convenience. The numbers back this up:
83%
of legal professionals agree cloud technology is necessary for business survival
69%
of legal professionals agree that tech is more important now than it was before the pandemic
66%
agree coronavirus will impact firm operations beyond the pandemic
47%
of legal professionals agree they are using more types of technology
38%
agree they are more comfortable with technology
58%
of consumers would prefer to meet with lawyers either virtually or over the phone rather than meeting in person during the pandemic
52%
of consumers said they cannot afford to pay associated legal costs and fees over the next few months; affordability of legal services is more of an issue than it usually is
38%
of consumers believe that a remote hearing or trial would negatively impact the outcome of a case
22% 13%
The pandemic has also impacted the mental health of legal professionals in ways that cannot be ignored. In normal times, lawyers report a high level of stress, and that has increased during the time of COVID-19. According to Clio’s data, 75% of legal professionals have increased stress and anxiety due to the pandemic. The MSBA has responded to this increase in stress and anxiety by providing mental health & wellness tools on its COVID-19 website, creating a weekly support group, and providing useful webinars to help legal professionals through this unprecedented time. You can find more information on the MSBA COVID-19 page: msba.org/Covid-19/wellness. To see more of Clio’s data regarding the impact of the pandemic on the legal profession, go to www.clio.com/resources/legal-trends/covid-impact.
VIDEO EXCLUSIVE
consumers agree that lawyers 77% ofprovide an essential service
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of consumers believe the lawyers have stopped offering services during the pandemic of consumers agree that they expect to deal with a coronavirus-related legal issue in the future
According to Clio’s data, 75% of legal professionals have increased stress and anxiety due to the pandemic.
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