Covid-19 has changed how people live and work, and the practice of law is no exception. Many clients have been asking whether the courts and our office are open.

The short answer is yes: the courts remain open, and Harter & Schottland is operating as an essential service (see Executive Order 2020-10, section 1, subpart (12)(r), here: Executive Order 2020-10.

Harter & Schottland is committed to continuing to provide the best possible legal service to our clients. At the same time, we remain dedicated to protecting the health and well-being of our incredible team, who make it possible for us to meet high standards every day. To that end, we have implemented several safety measures.

First, for the time being, we are offering phone or video appointments for all new and existing clients. Limiting in-office visits helps protect everyone. Still, some clients may need to come in person to drop off or pick up documents. For those occasions, we have installed a protective barrier at our reception window to safeguard both clients and staff.

We are also providing protective gear, such as masks and gloves, in line with CDC recommendations. Giselle, pictured above, demonstrates some of this protective equipment.

Inside the office, we have increased our cleaning and disinfecting practices. Counters, door handles, and other frequently touched areas are disinfected regularly. We also maintain an adequate supply of disinfectants to ensure ongoing safety.

Even within the office, we practice social distancing. This is made easier by a rotating schedule that allows team members to work from home, reducing the number of people present at one time. To support remote work, we recently updated our phone system. Calls made to the office can be seamlessly transferred to team members working from home. Additionally, our computer network now allows secure, encrypted access for remote employees.

With these measures in place, Harter & Schottland continues to provide high-quality legal services in the following areas:

• Traffic, DUI & Criminal Defense
• Family Law
• Driver’s License Reinstatement
• Real Estate
• Injury / Worker’s Compensation

As we prepare to celebrate our 16th year, we are deeply grateful to our clients, associates, court personnel, friends, staff, and supporters who have made this journey possible. Day to day, it is our commitment to the vision and goals of the firm that allows us to deliver not only strong legal representation but also unparalleled service.

We treat one another like family, supporting and encouraging each other—something that has never been more important than now. Harter & Schottland is profoundly thankful for our dedicated and wonderful team. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and make adjustments as needed to keep our team safe and to serve our clients effectively.