COVID-19 and the Legal Community

The Bar Library in Belfast has closed for the foreseeable future due to the COVID-19 situation and our key priority remains the health and wellbeing of our members, staff and their families.

This means that lots of members of our legal community will be working from home in the coming weeks with a range of great solutions available to help facilitate this, such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams. Even though members are working away from the Bar Library, the collegiality and sense of community at the Bar is vitally important at this time so remember to reach out to check in with each other and stay connected - lift the phone or email colleagues, encourage someone new to join Twitter (give @TheBarofNI a follow!) and engage with LawCare for extra support.

LawCare offers a free, confidential emotional support service to all legal professionals, their support staff and families in the UK and Ireland. Helpline calls, emails and web chats will be answered in confidence by trained staff and volunteers who have first-hand experience of working in the law. Any member can call the free, independent and confidential helpline on 0800 279 6888 or by email. LawCare has also produced some helpful tips on how to look after yourself when working remotely. Remember to:

• Set up a dedicated area in which to work;
• Stick to a routine;
• Set boundaries if you have to change working hours or work flexibly due to childcare or other commitments;
• Take breaks and prioritise self-care - take part in a virtual workout, read a new book or focus on a DIY project in the house;
• Seek support when needed and reach out to family, friends and colleagues.

Meanwhile the latest guidance from the Lord Chief Justice’s Office can be found here. From 26 March all court business is to be consolidated in The Royal Courts of Justice, Laganside Courts, Craigavon, Dungannon and Londonderry Courthouses and only urgent matters will be addressed by way of a court hearing until further notice. Stay at home, you will be saving lives.