No one could have foreseen the advent of the coronavirus or COVID-19 epidemic just a few months ago. Its impact on individual and community health, on business, on services, and on the economy as a whole has been swift and substantial. It has hit every sector of the economy and of society in the state, nation, and the world. The legal sector is no different. At Zirkin and Schmerling Law, we have fortunately prepared for a situation like this, and our operations, though running in a different way, have made a seamless transition to this new temporary reality.
When it was clear that community spread of the virus was a possibility, Zirkin and Schmerling Law immediately implemented a mandatory work from home policy. The firm’s technology has been completely set up so that our incredible team of attorneys, paralegals, and support staff can work remotely, and Z&S Law made a quick decision to ‘go remote’ at the earliest possible date. We also decided very early on in the process to cancel or postpone our firm events and conferences. These unfortunately included several charitable events that we look forward to rescheduling.
Zirkin and Schmerling Law handles personal injury, including automobile accidents, truck and motorcycle accidents, dog bites, and workers compensation, as well as family law, criminal law, contract negotiations, and group home abuse cases. These cases do not stop during the shutdown, and the pursuit of the case should not be postponed because of the current crisis. With the ability of all Zirkin and Schmerling Law staff to work remotely, progress will still be made on cases despite the temporary closure of the courts in Maryland. Lawyers and staff are fully prepared to begin the process of your case, file suit, begin negotiations, and pursue your rights. And there are important legal considerations such as statutes of limitations that cannot be ignored.
As for client communication, our staff is equipped with technology so that face to face meetings can be done remotely using video conferencing if necessary, and issues can be typically handled via electronic mail and via the phone. Zirkin and Schmerling Law files are maintained on a secure cloud-based platform so that everyone on staff can access the files remotely. All of our employees are fully equipped to work remotely with the same set-up as we have in the office. We are predominantly paperless and cloud-based, allowing everyone to access necessary documents and systems whether or not they are in the office.
Again, a seamless transition to work from home.
So in this time of great uncertainty and transition, it is important to note that your law firm is continuing to pursue your legal rights. Pursuing your legal case does not get postponed even if everything else around you is on hold. And Zirkin and Schmerling Law is fully prepared for the current situation to make sure your legal representation remains vigilant.