Florida Bar President Dori Foster-Morales hosted Virtual Town Hall meetings in each circuit to discuss how Florida attorneys are coping during the pandemic and what the Bar can do to assist them in their legal practice and beyond. Head to the Virtual Town Hall page to watch your circuit’s Town Hall.
Latest News
Free CLE regarding COVID-19
LegalFuel, the practice resource center of The Florida Bar, has created a COVID-19 page with a collection of CLE for lawyers to help with the practice of law during the pandemic. Topics include remote work help, video conference tips, cybersecurity information, how to access business assistance programs and more. Visit LegalFuel.com to see the full listing.
Also, click “Free CLE” in the top menu on LegalFuel.com to get a list of all of their available free CLEs.
UPCOMING WEBINARS
- Free CLE Webinar from Clio – Law Firm Cybersecurity in a Remote-first World | December 8, 2020 | 2:00 – 3:00 PM
- Free CLE Webinar – Introduction to Legal Research on the New Fastcase 7 | December 10, 2020 | 2:00 – 3:00 PM
Coping with Covid Articles
Professionalism
Practicing with Professionalism During the Pandemic – Judge Rodolfo Ruiz II, United States District Court, Southern District
Health & Wellness
- Mental Health Tips For Working Remotely (Rocket Matter)
- National Resources for Coping with COVID-19
- Lawyer Well-Being Starter Kit: 10 Tools and Strategies for Legal Employers (Florida Bar Journal)
Remote Practice Management
- 6 Tips for Lawyers Working Remotely From Home (Rocket Matter)
- E-Sign & E-Security (Free) Work-from-Home Readiness Program to Help End-Users During Crisis (RPost)
- Five Legal Malpractice Danger Zones for Florida Lawyers During COVID-19 (Florida Lawyers Mutual Insurance Co.)
- Five tips to help you run your law practice from your laptop (Florida Bar Tech Tips)
- How to work from home as a lawyer (various resources from Clio)
- Risk Alert for Florida Lawyers on Cybersecurity (Florida Lawyers Mutual Insurance Co.)
Video Conference/Zoom
- Best Practices on Remote Appearances and Remote Hearings (Florida Supreme Court)
- How to Zoom Securely (LegalFuel)
- How to Install a Virtual Background (Florida Bar News)
- Maintaining Legal Decorum in the ‘New Normal’ (Special Column by Eugene K. Pettis, Florida Bar News)
Mental Health and Wellness Resources
The Florida Bar mental health helpline (1-833-FL1-WELL) is a free and confidential service that connects members with professional counselors. There’s no cost for calls to the hotline and you may be referred for up to three free telehealth counseling sessions per year to help you develop strategies to overcome life’s challenges, balance priorities, and better handle both personal and professional pressures.
Please note: The helpline is for Florida Bar members and is not a referral service to find a lawyer or make a complaint against a lawyer.
Tenga en cuenta: Este número es sólo para miembros del Colegio de Abogados de la Florida (The Florida Bar). No es servició de referencia para asesoría legal ni es donde se presenta una queja en contra de un abogado.
In addition to the following resources, visit the Bar’s Health & Wellness Center for more information.
Home Services
The Florida Bar COVID-19 Pandemic Recovery Task Force has heard from members that child care and elder care as well as other domestic tasks have been a challenge for Florida attorneys during the pandemic.
Here are some resources that can help locate child care, housecleaning, elder care and other services in your area:
Opportunities for Lawyers
Florida Bar Lawyer Referral Service – The Florida Bar Lawyer Referral Service helps drive new business for Florida attorneys without a local lawyer referral service. The Lawyer Referral service provides members with more than 70,000 referrals each year in more than 120 practice areas, generating an estimated $3.49 million in new business for members.
Florida Bar Career Center – Job seekers can post resumes, apply to jobs, and read valuable career resources. Employers can connect with legal professionals across the state who are ready for their next career opportunity.
Florida Bar News Classified Ads – an essential placement service for the Florida legal market.
Florida Bar Attorneys Exchange – service for Florida lawyers to market their services to each other.
Law Practice Advice or Mentoring Opportunities
Lawyers Advising Lawyers is a free service offered to all Florida Bar members who may need advice in a specific area of law, procedure or other legal issue. If you confront an issue in an area of law or procedure unfamiliar to you, the program provides quick access to an attorney adviser with the experience to help.
Legal Accelerator collects information in one place needed by new lawyers or lawyers learning about a new practice area. It also features more than 1,000 videos from lawyers and judges addressing specific substantive legal questions, ethics and professionalism matters, professional development, and health and wellness.
The YLD Affiliate Outreach Conference is a long-time YLD program that will be virtual this year on February 5-6. It brings affiliate members together to share ideas and mentor each other, White said, and share initiatives for which the YLD awards grant funding. This year’s virtual event will include specific talks on dealing with pandemic issues as well as recurring issues seen in the yearly affiliate conferences.
The Voluntary Bar Liaison Committee, unable to have its annual in-person conference this year, has set up a coaching/mentorship program aimed at helping leadership in local bars.
The YLD’s Find an Affiliate program helps young and new lawyers find a local bar young lawyers program near them.
Member Benefits
More than a dozen Florida Bar Member Benefit providers offer free trials or initial services for Florida Bar members, including practice resources, legal forms and legal research. Take a look at the new Financial Services category, which will have some new services listed soon!
Florida Lawyers Mutual Insurance Company (FLMIC) has published a online resource that examines the malpractice “danger zones” for Florida lawyers during the pandemic. “5 Legal Malpractice Danger Zones for FL Lawyers During COVID-19” addresses several practices that may be increasingly common during the pandemic but which may trigger red alerts from a risk management perspective.
Fastcase has launched Fastcase COVID-19 Resources page, including:
- Fastcase webinars for remote CLE credit
- COVID-19 searches on docket alarm and ongoing Docket Alarm webinars with real-time information on COVID-19 litigation as well as past recordings.
- A live feed of Law Street Media COVID-19 coverage
Employer Resources
The Business Damage Assessment Survey remains a piece of the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity’s efforts to gather the information needed to evaluate and access tools to help businesses potentially lessen the impacts of COVID-19 and help the economy recover.
The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity provides a comprehensive overview of the state and federal resources available to small businesses affected by COVID-19.
Announcements
The Office of the State Courts Administrator is tracking the status of the different counties in Florida.
Several Florida judicial circuits have begun issuing jury summonses as a part of their resumption of jury trials, check the circuits’ websites below for the latest orders.
Florida Supreme Court
The Florida Supreme Court has established a COVID-19 emergency webpage to serve as a clearinghouse for statewide administrative court orders, advisories and memos. The page also includes links to Florida’s trial courts and District Courts of Appeal for information about local court operations and orders.
MOST RECENT FLORIDA SUPREME COURT ORDERS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS REGARDING
Nov. 23: The Florida Supreme Court issued two new and two amended administrative orders addressing court operations during the pandemic extending the term of the court COVID-19 Workgroup to July 2, 2021, and update requirements, benchmarks, and guidelines for the four phases of a return to normal statewide court operations as a vaccine is deployed.
The new orders are AOSC20-109 on appellate courts and AOSC20-110 on the workgroup’s term. The amended orders are AOSC20-23 on trial courts and AOSC20-32 on updates to the four phases. Previously, a single order governed both appellate and trial courts, but the two have been separated now for clarity, according to the court.
October 15: The Florida Supreme Court released amended AOSC20-32 regarding court procedures.
October 2: The Florida Supreme Court released amended administration order AOSC20-23 regarding procedures for state courts.
October 2: The Florida Supreme Court issued Amendment 4 to Assignment Order 2020-92 assigning judges to statewide duty in certain criminal matters.
August 26: The Florida Board of Bar Examiners has rescheduled the next Florida Bar exam for October 13, with testing potentially continuing October 14 for any candidates who receive test accommodations.
August 24: The Florida Supreme Court issued an order establishing a supervised practice program that will let some applicants for the October 2020 Bar exam work in the law during the pandemic under supervision of licensed attorneys. The program will last until 30 days after the results of the February 2021 Bar exams are released.
Florida Office of the State Courts Administrator
Main COVID-19 page from the Office of State Courts Administrator (OSCA)
Recent news and updates from OSCA
Clerks of Court
The Clerks of Court has created a web page with links to individual clerk’s offices, and frequently updated announcements and resources.
Court Links
District Courts of Appeal
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Circuit Courts
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Bar Groups and Resources
The American Bar Association Coronavirus Task Force webpage is intended as a national source of information about the coronavirus (COVID-19) and the delivery of legal services. It includes resources on remote service delivery, court access and rules changes, legal needs, public benefits programs, and pro bono mobilization.
American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA): https://www.abota.org/Online/Resources/Covid-19%20Resources/Online/Resources/COVID-19_Resources.aspx?hkey=d357b9b6-b809-4404-8c6b-4acdc6d358cf
The Florida Bar Foundation: https://thefloridabarfoundation.org/covid-19-and-legal-aid/
Visit the COVID-19 Resources for Voluntary Bars page for online CLE and practice management resources for local bars. Check with your local voluntary bar association for local event cancellations.
Section-Specific Resources
The Business Law Section established a COVID-19 Pandemic Recovery Task Force, and is posting helpful information for business owners.
The Family Law Section has provided two videos on domestic violence during the COVID-19 pandemic:
The Labor and Employment Section recommends this Florida Department of Employment Opportunity resource for unemployment claims. There is also this page for employers.
The Real Property, Probate & Trust Law Section of The Florida Bar is posting helpful information and guidance on COVID-19 pandemic-related topics.
Section Webinars:
- ADR Webinar Series: Happiness for Lawyers Guaranteed … Or Your Misery Back – visit their website to watch any of the recorded sessions.
- Dec. 9: Government Lawyers: CLE live webinar series: Litigating Civil Rights Cases – Part Two: Claims Brought Under the Bill of Rights and Civil Rights Statutes Against Municipal, County and Federal Defendants
For previous Section CLE webinars that were recorded, visit LegalFuel.com.
Coronavirus Control & Prevention
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Please make sure you read the following information on the CDC’s website:
Medical Studies
Moderna, Inc. announced its COVID-19 vaccine is 94.5% effective and provides details on it’s storage, possible usage and effectiveness. The Company is also working closely with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to submit data from its ongoing stability testing for approval. https://investors.modernatx.com/news-releases/news-release-details/moderna-announces-longer-shelf-life-its-covid-19-vaccine
Pfizer announced its COVID-19 vaccine is 90% effective, and its intent to seek emergency FDA approval; in the meantime, it is critical that we wear masks, social distance and avoid large gatherings as the vaccine is not expected to reach widespread distribution for several months: https://www.pfizer.com/news/press-release/press-release-detail/pfizer-and-biontech-announce-vaccine-candidate-against
- NEW: 80% of COVID-19 infections take place at restaurants, gyms, hotels and churches
- NEW: New England Journal of Medicine confirms that asymptomatic transmission of COVID-19 continues to grow
- NEW: Confirmation masks provide protection to both the wearer and to the public
- Long-lasting cognitive deficits from C-19 infection
- CDC has clarified the definition of close contacts
- Evidence of re-infections
- Neurological manifestations with COVID-19
- Cases of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome now being found in adults (not just children) with COVID-19
- Decrease of flu activity during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Symptoms and risks with a delayed return to health after COVID-19
Helpful Statistics
- Florida Statistics
- National Statistics: from Stanford University and from John Hopkins University
- Information on vaccine progress
Florida Department of Health
- Florida Department of Health is posting updates and helpful information and has created a resource kit.
Recent News
All courts throughout the state remain open. To check the status of the courts by county and for links to contact the courts and clerks in your area, click the Court Order and Links tab above.
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried announced the launch of Be SMART Florida, a new statewide COVID-19 consumer awareness campaign asking Floridians to take small actions with proven results to slow the pandemic’s spread. Search #BeSMARTFL to keep up with the multi-channel awareness campaign.
Florida’s Chief Justice Charles Canady distributed “Best Practices” guidelines developed by a statewide COVID-19 Workgroup to help people navigate new remote procedures used by state courts in the coronavirus pandemic.
Legal Assistance & Legal Aid
- Florida Free Legal Answers is an online service that matches low-income Floridians with licensed attorneys who can answer basic legal questions. On April 8, The Florida Bar announced an expansion of this service.
- The Florida Bar Lawyer Referral Servicr is designed to make it easy for consumers in counties without local lawyer referral services to connect to trusted, verified attorneys. See the coverage area or find your local lawyer referral service.
- Directory of legal aid organizations in Florida by county.
- Florida Courts Help provides information about local self-help centers, free and low-cost legal aid, and family law forms.
- The Florida Department of Elder Affairs Senior Legal Helpline — 1-888-895-7873 — provides free legal advice and brief services by telephone appointment to eligible Florida residents age 60 and older, for civil (not criminal) legal problems.
- The Business Law Section of The Florida Bar is posting helpful information for business owners on its website.
Florida Bar Consumer Guides
The Florida Bar’has a series of credit-related consumer guides, legal service and consumer protection guides, and the Bar’s most frequently read guide, Rights and Duties of Tenants and Landlords.
These pamphlets are not a substitute for hiring an attorney, but they provide basic legal information about the topics they cover.
Financial Protection
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau offers resources to help consumers, students with loans and homeowners with mortgages.
- Beware of scams related to the coronavirus
- What you need to know about student loans and the coronavirus pandemic
- Guide to coronavirus mortgage relief options
Price gouging
Attorney General Ashley Moody has activated Florida’s Price Gouging Hotline for Florida consumers. State law prohibits extreme increases in the price of essential commodities needed as a direct result of an officially declared emergency. Anyone who suspects price gouging during this declared state of emergency should report it to the Attorney General’s Office by calling 866-9-NO-SCAM.
Government Resources
- Governor Ron DeSantis has been making regular announcements regarding the coronavirus pandemic.
- The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has created a COVID-19 page with for info on the CARES Act, SBA loans for small businesses, USDA crop insurance updates and more.
- Florida Department of Economic Opportunity is posting information about reemployment assistance and other programs.
- Attorney General Moody issued a Cybersecurity Consumer Alert advising those working from home to guard against hackers and scammers that could access sensitive information on home computers.