Coronavirus advice and updates – COVID-19
Committee
Council has appointed a Committee of Kathryn Clough, Linda Watts and me to review the COVID-19 issues, deal with matters as they arise and provide members and the public with regular updates.
Law Society
The Law Society building will be closed from 5.30 Wednesday 18th March 2020. Jacky will work from home, Christine will come into the office working Mondays and Tuesdays and Sheila will work Wednesdays and Thursdays. Juan will be working from home Monday to Thursday and Juan will be in the office on Fridays. We would ask that you send any queries by email in the first instance. Should you wish to call me my mobile number is 312357.
Compliance
All compliance visits will be postponed for the time being. The compliance team will still be available to assist with queries so please call or email as required and someone will get back to you.
Advocates Practices
The following practices have advised us of the following operating procedures:
COVID19
Cains Gordon Bell: During the current situation we are taking steps to ensure the continued safety of our clients and staff within Government restrictions and we are working remotely to provide a continued service while our office is closed.
You will find it most efficient to contact us by email at law@cainsgb.co.im Our telephone number has been redirected and messages will be passed to the person you wish to speak with. Meetings with clients will be held by telephone. In circumstances where a face to face meeting is necessary we will make particular arrangements with you ensuring the safety of us all.
Please be assured of our continued attention to your requirements at this difficult time.
DQ Office: As from Monday 30th March 2020 our reception will be open from 09:30 to 13:00 Monday to Friday but the door will remain locked. We have made arrangements for the safe receipt of documents outside of the front door.
Our phone system has been set so that any voicemails will be emailed to the relevant staff member.
Advocates Smith Taubitz Unsworth: In order to maintain the safety of our staff, Clients and colleagues we are not allowing anyone to attend our office without a pre-booked appointment. Urgent matters that require face to face consultations are being dealt with, at all times in line with Government guidelines and the strictest hygiene measures possible. We remain open for business and are here to provide legal advice and assistance. The only differences to our usual operation are set out below.
Our front door is closed. We are maintaining a skeleton staff within the office, complying with all social distancing and hygiene guidelines. All of our Advocates are working remotely as much as possible, although this should not affect the standard of service you receive. Our Advocates continue to attend Court and the Police Station for urgent matters that require to be dealt with. Telephones are still being answered, however, we would ask that you use email over other forms of contact, where possible. Please email the Advocate you ordinarily deal with, or for general enquiries please email reception@advocates.co.im
Documents for service can still be delivered to our office. Upon arrival please call 677888 and you will be given instructions.
Please note, the Court is only listing hearings in the most urgent and necessary cases. All other cases are being delayed until after the COVID-19 crisis has passed. This may very well impact on your case, but we will keep you informed throughout.
Athena Law: By reason of the current health crisis, and having regard to the health and wellbeing of our employees, colleagues, clients and the wider community, all staff at Athena Law will begin remote working on 17 March 2020 and until further notice. This will allow us to do our part, and to limit face to face interactions as much as we can.
With this in mind, as at 17 March 2020, the office will no longer be attended, but our telephone line will remain in service as usual.
The post box will only be checked fortnightly and we would be grateful if you would please ensure that correspondence is sent by email, whenever possible. Service of court papers should be effected by email too. For larger items which you are unable to send by email/via cloud platforms, please contact us to make arrangements for hard copy delivery.
Attorney General’s Chambers: The AG’s Offices will close at 7pm on 27th March, initially for a period of at least 3 weeks. AGC will endeavour to provide as many of its usual services as possible, bearing in mind the restrictions imposed elsewhere across the Island. From tomorrow there will be no facilities to drop in at our reception counter and there is no external post box, so members are asked to correspond by email using generic email boxes where possible as not everyone has remote access to their individual email account, or by telephone. Hard copy post will be re-directed.
Callin Wild Updated: As of 5.30pm on 24th March our offices will be closed completely and staff will be working from home. If anyone needs to get in touch then if they ring the main number they can leave an answerphone message which will be picked up. Alternatively, email the person you normally deal with directly, if you have their direct dial number you can contact them on that, or email on mail@callinwild.com and that email will be picked up.
Simcocks Advocates: Are restricting the visitors into the building.
Dickinson Cruickshank Ramsey: We have reduced our public opening hours now from 10.30am to 12.30pm and from 2.30pm to 4.30pm.
Myserscough & Clegg: Our reception to all visitors and we will be conducting all meetings via, email phone, or skype from close of business today.
Gray Law Advocates: Open as usual.
Carters: We are closing our doors as from Monday and will see clients by appointment only so as to control social distancing.
We have also implemented further preventative measures internally in relation to sanitising surfaces.
We have taken a decision to ensure the safety of our staff that we will not be able to represent any party arrested or charged with any breach of regulations made under the Emergency Powers Act.
Laurence Keenan Advocates: As a protective measure in the midst of the Covid-19 (coronavirus) pandemic we have scaled back the administrative and legal staff within the office. Those who can do so are working remotely.
Social distancing and public health recommendations are being followed. In order to further minimise the transmission of the infection we have suspended face to face meetings with clients, but will continue to provide advice by telephone and conference call where possible.
Correspondence will be sent where possible electronically. We continue to operate and can be contacted on our usual numbers and email addresses.
Wood Law: As of 9am 26th March (and until further notice) the office will be closed to all but staff. However, we are still working on matters behind the scenes. We would ask clients and members of the public wishing to contact us to leave a message on Tel:625007 (you will be called back although it may not be till the following day).
Alternatively (and for a faster reply) we would urge you to e-mail your enquiry to us at : help@woodlaw.im
Prison/Police Station/Court
We have written to the Chief Constable, Head of Prison and Chief Registrar asking for full details of their COVID-19 plans and guidance notes. This is a rapidly changing situation and the administration of justice must be considered in light of the difficulties that will be presented by the infection and/or isolation of advocates, their staff, clients, witnesses etc. As soon as we have received a response we will provide a further update to members. There are many issues to consider and we well be monitoring all developments and updating members regularly. We are aware of the steps taken in England and Wales by the Bar Council and this situation is being monitored closely.
For the time being, all courts are continuing as normal and any issues that arise in relation to compliance with directions or attendance at hearings should be addressed in the first instance to the courts.
Legal Aid
We have requested that Legal Aid reconsider the completion of forms. We will provide further updates when received.
Conveyancing
Members will wish to consider completions possibly not proceeding due to one party having the virus or being otherwise unable to complete because of self-isolation or other related difficulties. There is guidance on the English Law Society website that we would recommend you review https://lawsociety.org.uk/support-services/advice/articles/covid-19-and-residential-conveyancing-transactions/. Members might wish to consider discouraging clients form going to contract, thinking about including a clause on the virus and ensuring that you liaise closely with clients and the banks.
Library
Accuity and Lexis-Nexis have agreed to provide a temporary user name and password to enable you to use their facilities away from the premises. Please contact Jacky who will be able to issue you with the details. We will require a name and email address for Accuity to set up the temporary access. Thompson Reuters (Westlaw/Practical Law) have said that they cannot provide a similar arrangement however they said that for those who need access, they can arrange for firms to have their own individual 3 week trial on a case by case bases. This would be subject to practices contacting them directly to discuss and understand your requirements prior to setting up the trial. If you wish to proceed with the trial please contact Robbie Woodhall at Robbie.Woodall@thomsonreuters.com.
Those members who require access to the library for hard copies of texts please let me know. Whilst the office is closed we would prefer to limit all access to the premises to only myself, Jacky, Christine and Sheila therefore if this causes any problems please let me know and arrangements can be made.
Public Enquiries
We would ask the public to contact Jacky.lloyd@iomlawsociety in the first instance. Jacky will deal with the query or direct the email to the correct individual. The premises will be closed and we will not be able to answer the door.
Government updates
We would urge all members to review the following Government Website: https://gov.im/coronavirus. The website Is being updated daily. You can see that details have been included of the Chief Ministers address of the 16 March 2020. There are also now details available of financial measures which have been brought in to assist society during this unprecedented period and members can view these on line.
The Committee will be monitoring these and UK updates.
Travel /self-isolation
You will be aware that anyone returning to the Island after midnight tonight must self-isolate for 14 days. The minister said that individuals not self-isolating will be prosecuted. We have requested details of the legislation which we will carefully consider when received. We will then provide a further update to advocates and duty advocates. We are very aware of the complications that this could create so we will keep you updated when we have more information.
Vulnerable members
We are conscious that some of our members fall into the vulnerable category and may have to self-isolate. Should any member be experiencing difficulties, even if with daily shopping please feel free to contact Juan who will be able to arrange for assistance. We would ask all members to think about vulnerable colleagues, friends or family. The Society is here to assist in any way possible.
Practices
If you are having difficulties with making arrangements for your practice at this time please contact Juan who will see how the Law Society can assist.
General
If there are any points that you wish the Committee to consider or you have any questions on the above please feel free to contact Kathryn at kclough@callinwild.com, Linda at Linda.Watts@attgen.gov.im or me.
Previous Updates for members can be found in the members section of the website under news – Covid 19 Updates.