The COVID-19 pandemic has really done a number on the daily lives of average Americans in a short amount of time. The routine lives of many people got disrupted pretty badly, and many things that people are used to are suddenly taken away from them. For some time, one can’t go out to work, visit the local shopping center, or take a walk in the park without wearing personal protective gear and sterilizing.
For people facing criminal defense charges, things slowed down even more thanks to the scaling back of services provided by the courts. Thankfully, that doesn’t mean that things have stopped for everything about their cases. For all it’s worth, one can still talk with their criminal defense lawyer in this age of coronavirus, through a variety of methods.
Consulting Off-Site
One of the consequences of the pandemic is the need to keep people at home to avoid the spread of infection. The result included the closure of several shops and the holding off on sending workers to do their jobs. With most employees and workers now working from home, self-employed professionals like defense lawyers are following suit.
Clients these days can keep in touch with clients through a variety of online resources, including email correspondence and social media (provided the proper social media channels are used or agreed upon by both client and lawyer). These days, there are also new apps that allow more efficient meetings online. Such technologies, such as Skype and Zoom, have been used extensively in other fields and can help clients get more in-touch with their attorneys.
Know what to Ask, and How
Communication is a two-way process that needs clear paths in order to be effective. It becomes more critical in times like this, when movement is limited and people can’t meet with each other. Maintaining communication with your lawyer is your only way of getting an acquittal for your DUI or domestic violence charge, after all.
At this point, the client should have an idea of what things they need to know about their situation now that most of the courts are scaling back services to prevent the spread of infection. Keep abreast of news in general and legal news in particular, and list down things that are relevant to the case. Letting the lawyer know about concerns that are directly related to the client and the pandemic situation will make the communication flow smoother.
Keeping in Touch
On the other hand, attorneys have a duty to stay updated on the status of their clients, even in situations like these. In times like these when a final verdict for their case is delayed not just by the bureaucratic machine but also by a major national emergency, it helps reassure clients that their lawyers are still out there and looking out for them.
Lawyers are expected to maintain constructive communication with clients even in times of high risk. The well-being of the client and his or her case is of high priority, after all. Additionally, lawyers should inform their clients about how the current situation with the pandemic will affect their legal prospects. Not only will they have to explain the delays (if their case is minor), they will also explain if the pandemic lockdown will have other pertaining effects on how their case will proceed.
Know what to Ask, and How
Communication is a two-way process that needs clear paths in order to be effective. It becomes more critical in times like this, when movement is limited and people can’t meet with each other.
At this point, the client should have an idea of what things they need to know about their situation now that most of the courts are scaling back services to prevent the spread of infection. Keep abreast of news in general and legal news in particular, and list down things that are relevant to the case. Letting the lawyer know about concerns that are directly related to the client and the pandemic situation will make the communication flow smoother.
The pandemic should not be a hindrance for the lawyer and the client in order for them to deal with the charges effectively. Effective, knowledgeable and secure use of modern communication tools can go a long way to having a uniform lawyer-client relationship even in times of emergency.
Goodman Criminal Defense Attorney
520 S 4th St. STE #200,
Las Vegas, NV 89101, United States
(702) 383 – 5088