The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) Southern Luzon Region (SLR) organized a webinar entitled “The Legal Profession in the midst of COVID-19” held last 21 May 2020. Over 350 participants attended.
Among the panelists was ACCRALAW’s Arnold M. Corporal, a Partner of the Litigation and Dispute Resolution Department. Mr. Corporal is also the President of the IBP Makati Chapter.
Mr. Corporal identified various challenges faced by private practitioners because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the issues that were discussed involved health and safety, management of financial resources, maintaining lawyers’ productivity and efficiency, addressing clients’ concerns. As lawyers keep abreast of the various government issuances, they also need to enhance their capabilities to adjust to the drastically changed work environment.
To address these challenges, lawyers will need to learn and adapt to return to work protocols, alternative work and billing arrangements, videoconferencing tools and attendance at e-hearings. Mr. Corporal also mentioned the e-notarization proposal submitted by the Supreme Court Sub-Committee on the Revision of the Rules Governing Notaries Public. Mr. Francis Ed. Lim, a Senior Partner of the Firm, is a member of the Sub-Committee.