When the COVID-19 pandemic struck, law firms and corporations around the world implemented remote work arrangements for attorneys, paralegals, and other legal staff as part of their efforts to protect employees and the public. Thanks in large part to legal technology solutions, firms were largely able to continue providing services and complete legal work for clients without extended interruptions. Now, a full year into the pandemic, many firms have adapted to the “new normal.”
Pre-pandemic, the legal industry as a whole lagged behind other industries in remote work arrangements. Issues surrounding client confidentiality and data sensitivity can be difficult to address, but there are solutions that resolve these critical concerns for legal work. And firms and corporate legal departments, faced with “stay home” mandates in many jurisdictions, had to implement and adapt to cloud-based technology models in order to continue serving clients’ needs.
There are differing opinions when it comes to whether cloud-based models and remote work arrangements will become permanent in a post-pandemic world, or attorneys will return to the office for day-to-day work. Some law firm partners are adamant that legal professionals work on-site, while others see potential benefits of allowing attorneys and legal staff to work from home on a regular basis, even when it is no longer necessary to do so for public health reasons.
Cloud-based technology allows legal professionals to securely access client records and case files, collaborate with other attorneys or support professionals, and hold remote client meetings from virtually anywhere. Firms considering making remote work arrangements permanent cite the cost savings from a reduction in corporate real estate, improved job satisfaction, and even greater productivity in some cases.
While the future of legal work is not yet clear, it is likely that cloud-computing legal technology solutions will continue to evolve, providing additional benefits for law firms and corporate legal departments, and opening up opportunities for creating the right team regardless of location.
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Mr. Reyes graduated with honors from the Ateneo de Manila University, where he received the Procter and Gamble Student Excellence Award. He obtained his Juris Doctor degree from the Ateneo de Manila School of Law. During law school, Mr. Reyes was part of the Philippine delegation to the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot held in Vienna, Austria. He was also a member of the Ateneo Society of International Law and the St. Thomas More Debate Society. He completed his internship at the Public Attorney’s Office. He wrote a thesis entitled: “To Kill A White Elephant: An Analysis of the Fiduciary Exception to the Corporate Attorney-Client Privilege”. Mr. Reyes is admitted to practice law in the Philippines and the State of New York.
Ms. Lardizabal-Manzano is a graduate of San Sebastian College-Recoletos, where she earned her B.A. in Political Science. In 2003, she received her law degree from Lyceum of the Philippines and was admitted to practice law in 2004.
Matthew Hersh earned a B.A. in Political Science from Columbia University in 1990 and graduated cum laude from Georgetown University Law Center in 1999. He also holds a master’s degree in international relations from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service.
Cap. Avi Levak (Res. IDF) graduated from from Israel’s prestigious Ben-Gurion University of the Negev with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Mathematics. He is also a Leadership and Communication coach trained in TuT coaching by Alon gal in Israel. Avi specializes in high-level, in-depth analysis of business and client needs, within systems and software strategy and architecture.
Ms. Tyler graduated cum laude from Georgetown University and received her law degree, cum laude, from Georgetown University Law Center. During law school, she interned at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. She also worked on The Tax Lawyer journal and was a member of the award-winning Barristers’ Council Mock Trial Team. Ms. Tyler is admitted to practice law in the State of California and the District of Columbia.
Ms. Cruz-Anonuevo graduated cum laude and top nine in her batch from Miriam College with a degree of Bachelor of Arts in InternationalStudies. She obtained her Juris Doctor degree from Ateneo de Manila University School of Law in Rockwell. During law school, she interned in Rivera, Santos, Maranan & Associates. She was also part of Ateneo’s Labor Law Bar Operations. She wrote her thesis on, “Stealing Privacy: Limitations on Media’s Photographic Invasion.,” Ms. Cruz-Anonuevo is admitted to practice law in the Philippines.
Ms. Aquino-Batallones obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Development Studies (with Minors in Global Politics and Hispanic Studies) from the Ateneo de Manila University. In 2011, she received her Juris Doctor degree from Ateneo de Manila University School of Law. During law school, she interned at Romulo Mabanta Buenaventura Sayoc & de los Angeles then became an intern of Ateneo Legal Services Center’s Clinical Legal Education Program.
Mr. De Guzman graduated from San Beda College with a degree of Bachelor of Arts Major in Economics and received his law degree from San Beda College of Law. He is multilingual and is fluent in three languages: Chinese, Filipino, and English. He was admitted to the Philippine Bar in 2003.