By Marc Zucker
As I think about the theme of this magazine issue – the impact of the pandemic on the practice of law – it’s clear that the impact is profound, as each of the contributors to this issue has so clearly expressed. Rather than focus on the legal profession itself, however, on how the pandemic changed the Philadelphia Bar Association in ways both large and small. As the primary voice of the Philadelphia legal community as a whole, the Association embraced its role at a time of crisis and showed its value in stark relief.
We demonstrated the power of a broad base.
When vaccinations were in short supply and workers were triaged to assess levels of need, our bar association – galvanized by our Criminal Justice Section – spoke out loudly and clearly on behalf of the profession. Most at risk were criminal defense attorneys who were required to enter prisons – environments in which the spread of COVID-19 was high – in order to meet with their clients. But others faced challenges of their own, from trial lawyers entering courtrooms (once trials cautiously resumed) to public interest lawyers whose clients had limited access to technology. In partnership with the Pennsylvania Bar Association and other local bar associations, we mobilized and spoke out in one voice – a powerful voice – to get our members the attention they required. (And to be clear, by “we” in this article I mean my predecessor chancellors, leaders in the community at large.)
That mobilization has continued— speaking out with passion and influence on issues that impact our profession - and will not be silenced.
We became an organization with the flexibility to pivot.
An association that had thrived on in-person networking, in-person CLEs and in-person events suddenly found itself forbidden from gathering together for several months. The staff and lay leadership took full advantage of technology to offer remote access to CLEs, meetings and town halls, networking in “breakout rooms,” coordinating delivery of Grubhub and Doordash meal coupons, mugs and other gifts, and so much more.
We survived, having fun along the way, and the best aspects of those interactions are continuing. It’s rare for early morning meetings to be solely in-person now; those who are reluctant to face a 7 a.m. commute more often than not can participate remotely. Likewise, most Section and Committee meetings are coordinated on a hybrid basis.
Our advocacy efforts expanded. We fought to expand credit for remote CLEs. We weighed in on how bar examinations should be conducted. Along with our partners in the legal services community, we lobbied for and helped to implement what became a nationally-recognized Eviction Diversion Program to stave off an overwhelming wave of evictions. We pressed for safeguards in courtrooms. Both in Philadelphia and in Harrisburg, our voice was heard. Once again, that advocacy on multiple issues of concern continues unabated.
Our commitment to the public interest deepened. Related to the advocacy addressed above was our ongoing commitment to access to justice. Our Civil Gideon Task Force was already in place when the shutdown began, and it served as a forum to deal with the pressing issues spawned by the pandemic. Direct communication with the court allowed candid discussions of challenges our public interest community was facing, and we worked to alleviate many of those challenges, with the skill and insight of our public interest partners. Those discussions have been strengthened over the past three years and continue in a meaningful and constructive direction.
Our role as a primary source of information expanded.
For decades, the Association has served as a communications hub for transmitting essential information to its members, from rule changes to court listings and the like. Never has there been a greater need for a centralized conduit of information than that spawned by the pandemic, however. Our members have come to rely on the Association as a primary information source. On a weekly and sometimes daily basis, seemingly endless email notices went out to notify practitioners of modified courtroom proto- cols, schedules and rules. We held regular town hall meetings to give our members direct access to the First Judicial District and federal district and appellate courts. And we presented panel discussions and forums on issues ranging from returning to the office to cybersecurity and new technologies. These town halls, notices and forums are now a central part of the Association’s role.
Our focus on wellness blossomed.
The importance of wellness was nothing new when the pandemic arrived, but it morphed from an aspirational benefit an essential resource. Many of our members were stricken with COVID and its related long-term ramifications or were caring for loved ones in need. Others encountered stress and mental health challenges rarely seen before. The Association contracted with an organization offering mental health services and worked with Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers to provide critical resources to members and their families. We planned outdoor activities, food demonstrations and other entertaining remote or socially-distanced programming. These offerings continue, even as we now have returned to myriad in-person networking opportunities.
Each of these changes serves to deepen my own respect for the work of the Bar staff and my predecessors in Bar leadership. Without their vision and persistence, we all would have been far worse off as a community and as a profession. And along the way, they kept our finances in order, upgraded the web platform, streamlined many of our systems and added value to Association membership. Kudos to all for moving us — sometimes kicking and screaming – into a post-pandemic world.
Marc Zucker is 2023 Chancellor of the Philadelphia Bar Association. You can reach him at chancellor@philabar.org.
