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Practicing Law -- And Compassion -- In A COVID-19 World

We are rooting for all of humanity, as a disheveled team with chapped -- but disinfected -- hands.

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It’s easy to grow contemplative when isolated indoors in the COVID-19 world, where vicious cycles spin up like tumbleweeds in a Western. Work is a welcome distraction from increased parental duties, and parenting can be a welcome distraction from the overarching question of what a diminished economy means for job security. For those without dependents or kids in school, there are worries about elderly relatives or the risks associated with venturing out to replenish supplies.

Many of the plans that companies have put into place and Q2-4 goals can be thrown out the window at this point — if you’re even comfortable opening it -– as all of the factors that were weighed in coming up with those goals are now defunct. In the meantime, we patiently wait for answers to the questions that lie ahead that remain largely outside of our control as we responsibly social distance and watch to see if the curve flattens out in response to those individual efforts.

As lawyers, though, there is a palpable sense of growth amidst all this inertia -– at least for this practitioner.  Sure — there remains the daily drumbeat of meetings and deadlines. And now, layer on webinars about the CARES Act and training around risks associated with a new Work From Home economy. But beyond that, there is a sense of interconnectedness that brings comfort to those of us who tend to overthink things (read: every lawyer ever). An acknowledgment that we are in this together –- whatever “this” turns out to be when it’s all said and done.

The Other C Word

In the weeks since the virus took hold and developed from an oblique news story into an autobiography for each and every one of us, I have seen lawyers draw upon an attribute that unfortunately, the legal world doesn’t always emphasize or value but that should always have been there all along –- compassion.

It’s not to say that the end in any way justifies the means or that the pandemic is a positive happening in any sense at all. To be clear, it’s absolutely devastating and terrifying. But addressing a global pandemic together within the legal industry has been heartening and positive in allowing us to see each others’ softer sides, as well as the occasional offspring who might dart by during a videocall which is undeniably adorable and endearing.

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Because the new normal is anything but normal, it seems that everyone is operating from a place of acceptance. Taxes aren’t going to get filed on time, SEC filings are going to be delayed, courts are on pause, conferences are getting rescheduled -– all of this is understandable and excusable because first and foremost we value our ability to survive this global pandemic. And we are rooting for all of humanity, as a disheveled team with chapped — but disinfected — hands, wearing comfy sweatpants.

Time For Change

It’s no secret that lawyers are overworked and highly stressed from bearing the weight of our clients’ problems. While adept at solving problems for others, we tend to shy away from finding solutions to our own angst. And support systems can be sparse, presumably because we cave in to the perception that lawyers should be able to maintain their composure and handle anything that comes their way without any help.

So while what is unfolding is a tragedy of epic proportions and while we are learning to juggle not just the demands of work but what is essentially home schooling –- the silver lining might just be that the legal world is a little bit kinder, a shade less cut-throat, a better place to find your way not just as a professional but also a person — a team in which we all root for each other.

As lawyers, we come up into the profession from school with the recognition that there are a limited number of A’s, and a set number of summer associate positions and permanent offers. Sharing precious answers or revealing personal challenges is anathema to success insofar as it allows your peers to overtake you. But the world in which we all now practice means virtual happy hours, words of support, heartfelt concern for others and a growing sense that while our companies and firms are important, our families and health come first. This is the world that I enjoy practicing law in, ironically. Someday, we will all be allowed to go back outside to the world we knew, let’s not lose this valuable lesson along the way.

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Author’s Note: The American Bar Association has resources for lawyers who are struggling. If you are going through a hard time right now, please seek help or connect with me, and I’ll do my best to issue spot this alongside you.  We are all in this together.

Jennifer DeTrani is General Counsel and EVP of Nisos, a technology-enabled cybersecurity firm.  She co-founded a secure messaging platform, Wickr, where she served as General Counsel for five years.  You can connect with Jennifer on Wickr (dtrain), LinkedIn or by email at dtrain@nisos.com.

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