The physical and emotional toll of the COVID-19 pandemic on New York residents has been well documented. The virus has fundamentally changed our way of life. The legal profession has not been immune to those changes. The pandemic disrupted court operations throughout the state, prompting numerous adjournments and a tremendous backlog of cases. Since March 2020, except for unique circumstances, New York City courts have been closed for in-person court operations.

This decision has led to the implementation of new technology and policies to facilitate our legal practice. Some of the policies implemented can only be described as befuddling. However, some have improved our legal practice. In this commentary, we explore the policies that have transformed our civil legal practice for the better, and in our opinion, have created unique opportunities for permanent reform once the pandemic is over.

Remote Court Conferences