Coronavirus: Law360 Fri June 12 Briefing
From Media & Entertainment Law360
TOP NEWS
Pandemic Isn’t Stopping Most Firms’ Summer Programs
A new survey by the National Association for Law Placement had good news for law students in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, with the vast majority of law firms saying they plan to host their usual summer associate program and about half of law schools indicating they’ve scheduled the upcoming round of on-campus interviews.
GCs Report Burnout, Longer Hours During Pandemic
Nearly a third of general counsel report experiencing high or very high burnout amid the COVID-19 outbreak, while a majority say they are working more hours than usual, according to the results of a survey released Thursday by the Association of Corporate Counsel.
Coronavirus: How Law Firms Are Handling The Downturn
UPDATED June 9, 2020, 3:20 PM EDT | The spreading coronavirus pandemic has upended the legal industry, forcing firms to cut salaries, lay off attorneys and make changes to summer associate programs. Here is a roundup of how law firms are responding.
Texas Atty Swaps Suits For Scrubs To Fight COVID-19
As coronavirus cases climbed by leaps and bounds, Texas attorney Colleen Carboy temporarily set aside her legal career to work 14-hour days without breaks as a hospital nurse, witnessing family members say goodbye to their dying relatives over Zoom calls and even caring for one patient who had to go to the hospital for COVID-19 symptoms instead of his wife’s funeral.
Calif. High Court Mulls Pushing Summer Bar Exam To Oct.
The California Supreme Court on Wednesday said it was considering pushing back the summer bar exam yet again — to October — a move the court said would allow the state bar to see how the online first-year law students’ exam goes later this month.
Coronavirus Litigation: The Week In Review
McDonald’s employees continued testimony in court about what they say are inadequate safety measures, Ruby Tuesday’s faces a $2.5 million lawsuit after shuttering one of its eateries, and protesters rallying against police brutality say the use of chemical agents violates their constitutional rights and increases the risk of COVID-19 infections.
CLOSINGS AND RESTRICTIONS
Coronavirus: The Latest Court Closures And Restrictions
UPDATED June 12, 2020, 1:50 PM EDT | As courts across the country take measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, some are restricting access and altering their procedures. Here is a roundup of changes.
Coronavirus: The Latest EU Court Closures And Restrictions
UPDATED June 12, 2020, 11:23 AM GMT | As courts across the region take measures to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, some are restricting access and altering their procedures. Here is a roundup of changes.
WHAT IT MEANS FOR ATTORNEYS
USPTO Tells Congress It May Need More Funds Amid Virus
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Director Andrei Iancu has penned a letter to Congress about how COVID-19 has hurt the agency’s budget, saying that more funding may be needed should its internal reserves be depleted as a result of the economic strain.
Pandemic May Stanch Investors’ Appetite For Carbon Credit
The economic fallout from the novel coronavirus has the potential to disrupt carbon capture project investments, as actors in the tax equity market that have been hit hard by the pandemic may have little use for tax credits for the foreseeable future.
US Citizen Hopefuls Halted By Virus Want Oaths Fast-Tracked
Immigrants whose U.S. citizenship has been delayed indefinitely by the COVID-19 pandemic have filed a proposed class action asking a Pennsylvania federal court to fast-track their naturalization and help the government clear a backlog of applicants.
SBA Sued Over Criminal History Bar For Biz Relief Loans
A Maryland business owner is suing to force the Small Business Administration to open the Paycheck Protection Program to borrowers with a criminal past, claiming the agency can’t pick and choose “who is and is not morally worthy” of aid from the coronavirus relief loan program.
MLB Labor Spat A Bad Look But Not Bad Faith, Attys Say
The return of Major League Baseball from the COVID-19 pandemic is in jeopardy due to a labor dispute over how much players will be paid for a shortened season with few or no fans in attendance, but experts say the good-faith talks do not appear headed for a courtroom showdown that could further tarnish the sports’ popularity.
Amazon, EBay Told To Stop Selling Unproven Virus Cleaners
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ordered Amazon and eBay to stop selling unproven or unapproved disinfectants that claim to be effective against the coronavirus, stepping up pressure on the companies Thursday after asking them to pull the products in April.
Abating Pandemic Keeps ‘Varsity Blues’ Moms Prison-Bound
Wielding a pen to rule on a pair of “Varsity Blues” motions, a Massachusetts federal judge on Thursday denied requests by two mothers who pled guilty in the college admissions case to swap their prison sentences for home confinement due to the COVID-19 pandemic, citing the abating of the public health crisis.
EXPERT ANALYSIS
Keys To A Thriving Biz Development Culture At Your Law Firm
As law firms continue to experience the economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis, it is more important than ever that they reduce reliance on just a few rainmakers and foster a culture that makes business development a way of life for everyone — from junior associates to senior partners, says Elise Holtzman at The Lawyer’s Edge.
Congress Must Create More Private Rights Of Action
In light of the Trump administration’s efforts to limit the enforcement of regulations during the pandemic and beyond, and the U.S. Supreme Court’s severe limitations on private rights of action, Congress must take swift action, says attorney Todd Phillips.
Calif. Commercial Lease Hardship Bill May Be Unconstitutional
If passed, a California bill that would provide certain lease protections for commercial tenants facing COVID-19 difficulties will inevitably be challenged — perhaps successfully — based on the U.S. Constitution’s contracts clause, say attorneys at Klehr Harrison.
