Lawyers in lockdown: Stories from the frontline

Scott Halliday, Law Society LGBT+ committee member, Irwin Mitchell LLP, London/Leeds

'My daily routine has changed a lot during lockdown. I live in London and Leeds week to week, but left London days before the lockdown was announced.

I now try and get up early to review emails sent overnight with the early morning coffee. There is no commute to the office or court, so I am actually finding that I am being really productive day to day. It is certainly different – telephone court appointments and Skype calls with clients day to day but our team has adapted really well.

I am forcing myself to go on a quick 5km most days to ensure I get some fresh air.

I never thought I would miss the tube in London or the hustle and bustle of Leeds train station, but I do.'

Heather Grimbaldeston, NWSSP Legal & Risk Services, Cardiff

'I manage our primary care legal team. It’s a busy time for us. We’re working remotely and it helps that we have a paperless office.

We operate the Welsh state-backed General Medical Practice Indemnity Scheme (GMPI). We run a GMPI helpline and we had to make sure there were no interruptions to the service when we switched to remote working.

I’m part of a hub providing advice on legal issues arising from the coronavirus pandemic. One of our first tasks was to liaise with the Welsh Risk Pool to prepare a guide setting out indemnity arrangements during the coronavirus pandemic. The guidance is for the many healthcare professionals returning to work or working outside of their normal duties. Also, to assist those working on new arrangements to increase capacity to provide care.

Our team work closely together. Our two new paralegals joined just before lockdown started and they haven’t met in person yet. It must be a strange time to start a new role. We’ve settled into having an informal daily team catch up, which suits us. It’s a good start to the day and we can share our experience of lockdown and our coping strategies.

It helps to be busy, but I took some holiday over Easter and really enjoyed relaxing for a few days with my family. I miss being able to visit my family in Lancashire but we all check in and catch up (probably more than before!).

I'm in awe of all key workers and thankful for everything they’re doing. I’m immensely proud of my colleagues as well, who are all working hard in the background to support NHS Wales.'

David Hodson, OBE, Law Society family law committee member, International Family Law Group 

'As an international family law solicitor, my international clients have all been put into the lockdown of their respective countries. So from the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak, I have been trying to find family solutions against very different national situations.

I have learnt a huge amount about how different countries have responded - often with far more restrictions than us. It has been particularly harsh for parents unable to have contact with their children living in other countries. Initially some were able to travel but this quickly stopped and Zoom is no substitute.

I have had parents abducting children from the other parent using the coronavirus crisis. Financial holdings have fallen in value but more in some other countries and this has affected my advice on financial settlements.

I have been in daily contact with family lawyers in other countries and it has become a hugely supportive global community for each other. National borders may have gone up but international supportiveness between lawyers has increased. This was particularly valuable for the Family Court Consultation for remote hearings as I was able to set out what has been happening in the family courts in a number of other countries.'