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This is not ideal mutual aid support, but these are not ideal times. If you absolutely have to attend recovery meetings in person, it is understandable. Please practice the hygiene protocols set out by the CDC.

For those of us whose recovery involves mutual aid support such as the rooms of 12-step, coronavirus (COVID-19) presents unique challenges and balancing considerations. We have to protect our own health and stay sober while also recognizing the negative impact such social contact can have during the pandemic. Let’s be honest, the rooms we walk into to share our experience, strength, and hope are not always the most cleanly. However, there are options that, while not perfect, can give us the support we need while being socially conscious of how our actions impact others.

This resource will also be helpful if you must self-quarantine, and therefore cannot get to meetings.

An online resource that is user-friendly, offers complete anonymity, and a wide variety of mutual-aid support ranging from 12-step to Smart Recovery, including video meetings, is “In The Rooms.”

To be clear, I do not view this as the ideal mode of support, but it is an option and as anonymous as a person wants to be. It can be a steppingstone to more brick-and-mortar modes of recovery.

In the Rooms is an online social network dedicated to the global addiction-recovery community for people seeking help or in recovery, and their family, friends, and allies of recovery worldwide.

They put it as follows:

We are not trying to replace Face-to-Face fellowship meetings; rather, ITR is a safe and secure place to come and socialize the other 23 hours a day you’re not in a meeting and to connect with other recovering people around the world.

InTheRooms.com transcends the boundaries of all 12 steps and non-12 step fellowships socially while maintaining the integrity of each by having 40 different fellowship groups represented. ITR currently has the largest AA / Alcoholics Anonymous (208,000+ members), NA / Narcotics Anonymous (155,000+ members) and Alanon (26,000+ members) groups in the world.

For the first time in history, this allows the social interaction between fellowships not found when attending regularly scheduled meetings of any one of these fellowships. We are bringing together members of the global recovery community socially to experience a vast array of tools that can be used to enhance and expand one’s recovery experience and social connectedness.

The site is not only conventional 12-step support.  You will be able to find:

• Faith-Based meetings
• Yoga and meditation meetings
• Refuge Recovery, which is Buddhist Recovery
• Meetings for agnostics in both AA and NA
• Support for family members
• Meeting for grief and codependency
• Meeting for people suffering from chronic pain
• Meetings for people on MAT (Medically Assisted Treatment)
• Closed specialty meetings for men and women
• Non-12-step meeting for Sex Addiction

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Brian Cuban (@bcuban) is The Addicted Lawyer. Brian is the author of the Amazon best-selling book, The Addicted Lawyer: Tales Of The Bar, Booze, Blow & Redemption (affiliate link). A graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, he somehow made it through as an alcoholic then added cocaine to his résumé as a practicing attorney. He went into recovery April 8, 2007. He left the practice of law and now writes and speaks on recovery topics, not only for the legal profession, but on recovery in general. He can be reached at brian@addictedlawyer.com.

First of all, speaking of student loan debt, thanks to all of you who purchased the Your Debt-Free JD eBook last week. You’ve actually propelled it to being the number one new release in the admittedly obscure legal education category on Amazon. Cool. I’m really looking forward to hearing what some of you have to say once you’ve gotten through it, and to seeing some (hopefully five-star) reviews. I’m also working on getting Amazon to produce an on-demand physical, touchable, real-life paper version to assuage the surprising number of you who expressed an interest in that, so stay tuned.

Second, Joe Biden’s record on student loan debt really sucks. In the early 2000s, as a senator for the great State of Delaware, Biden fought mercilessly to prevent borrowers who fell on hard times from being able to discharge in bankruptcy student loan debt taken on from private lenders.

Now, keep in mind that Uncle Joe wasn’t talking about federal student loans, the kind of life-draining intestinal worms (uh, financially speaking) that most of us are familiar with. No, by the early 2000s, public sector student loans were already next to impossible to shed in bankruptcy, and had been for close to three decades. Biden, rather, was protecting those poor private sector lenders who were peddling a far more vampiric product and were, I’m sure totally coincidentally, some of his largest campaign contributors at the time.

Biden’s early 2000s argument was that too many people, flush with overconfidence from obtaining an education, were discharging their student loan debts too easily. This supposedly caused interest rates to rise for everyone else. And to be fair, that was a more widely held view back then. But it wasn’t a particularly good widely held view, even at the time. There were already lots of safeguards in place to keep people who could afford to pay off their private student loan debts from frivolously discharging them. These were called “bankruptcy judges,” and they would, you know, “judge” whether people’s private student loan debts should be discharged.

At a 2001 hearing, Joe Biden said that he and his sons took out large commercial student loans to get through law school and didn’t discharge said debts, but instead worked hard to pay them off. “Something is wrong with a system that allows guys like me getting out of law school discharging our law school debt front-end,” Biden said at the time, ignoring the fact that the system did not in fact allow a guy like him to discharge his debt, which anyone with ears had just heard him complaining about. At this same hearing, Biden additionally told a bankruptcy judge who was testifying that he was “fully [sic] of malarkey.” Neat.

Ultimately, Biden led a handful of Democratic defectors in support of the Republican bill that became the 2005 Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act. Ever since, private student loan borrowers who qualify for bankruptcy have nevertheless largely been unable to discharge the sums they own to private financial institutions. Far from reluctantly supporting the bill in order to temper its cruelest provisions, as he has since tried to frame it, Biden was actually an enthusiastic cheerleader.

Maybe none of this matters. Now, Biden strongly supports making it financially feasible for more Americans to afford the higher education they need to compete in the global workforce. With all the remaining major presidential candidates pushing 80, it doesn’t seem fair to run the better part of a century through the bullshit Democratic purity test gauntlet. Lord knows I said some dumb stuff back in 2001 myself, such as, “Yes, I do want to go to that Sugar Ray concert.”

One thing I can guarantee though is that whatever Biden does with student loans in the future, it’s going to be a hell of a lot better than what Trump has done and will continue to do over the next four years if he’s re-elected. I just wish Biden would get a little better at owning his mistakes. If Biden really wants to be the anti-Trump, perhaps a good way to demonstrate the contrast is to at least occasionally admit a past error.

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Jonathan Wolf is a litigation associate at a midsize, full-service Minnesota firm. He also teaches as an adjunct writing professor at Mitchell Hamline School of Law, has written for a wide variety of publications, and makes it both his business and his pleasure to be financially and scientifically literate. Any views he expresses are probably pure gold, but are nonetheless solely his own and should not be attributed to any organization with which he is affiliated. He wouldn’t want to share the credit anyway. He can be reached at jon_wolf@hotmail.com.

It’s always difficult as a pro se defendant to figure out if your handwritten motions are losing because the judge is secretly working with the Klan to keep you down or if it’s because you’re babbling nonsense about maritime court.

This guy decided to take his objections up directly with the judge and it… went poorly.

Is this funny? Obviously. Is it also sad? Yeah.

Often, pro se defendants are left to flounder making procedural errors that could be easily remedied if they had resources available to them. In this case, he’s lucky enough to have that very embarrassed attorney next to him that he’s not listening to. But many more defendants have nothing and when people offer the slightest of helping hands they risk getting fired for their trouble. So don’t forget that sometimes the tomfoolery we see is really our fault as lawyers for leaving people adrift.

But I’m not convinced the judge was really sleeping with the prosecutor here.

Earlier: Court Clerk Helps Free Innocent Man and Gets Fired For Her Effort
Would You Watch ‘Law & Order: Liquidated Damages’?

I am willing to bet that many of the people reading the title of this article have no idea what the abbreviation “CYA” means. The first time I ever heard the term was when I was an ROTC cadet, and I was told that it meant to “cover your ass.” In essence, if someone thought that they had to follow misguided orders, or pursue a flawed strategy, they would make sure to have witnesses, or perhaps something in writing, to provide evidence that they were not responsible for the consequences. This attitude is not exclusive to any field, and I am sure that many of us have heard of the term “defensive medicine” to describe a similar practice in the medical field where doctors cover their butts to insulate themselves from malpractice claims.

The legal industry is also ripe with this kind of attitude. Lawyers, like all other professionals, are nervous about being accused of malpractice, so attorneys often cover themselves to avoid malpractice liability. However, attorneys also simply try to cover their butts so that they don’t look bad in front of their bosses. Nevertheless, sometimes a cover your ass attitude can get in the way of serving clients, and attorneys should make clients the priority over insulating themselves from blowback.

Lawyers are often forced into covering their butts because clients wish to pursue a strategy which can result in negative outcomes. For instance, I once worked at a firm that was tasked with serving local subpoenas for an out-of-state proceeding. The out-of-state law firm insisted on making the subpoenas returnable sooner than the mandated time period required by local rules. I conveyed this to the out-of-state paralegal that was assigned to the case, and she told me that we should just go forward with signing and serving the defective subpoenas anyways.

I spoke with my boss about this situation and suggested that we discuss the matter with the out-of-state lawyers who were working on this case. I suggested that perhaps the paralegal did not know the importance of timeframes with the subpoenas, but maybe we could convince the lawyers to use the correct timeframe with the subpoenas. The partner ended up telling me that it was not our problem that the paralegal had dictated that we serve defective subpoenas. He simply told me to write a memo to the file memorializing the conversation I had about the defective subpoenas so we could cover ourselves if the situation blew up in our faces.

Naturally, the short-served subpoenas became problematic, but we were able to tell the client about our conversation concerning the defective subpoenas, and we didn’t receive any blowback. In fact, our firm actually got more work sending out another round of subpoenas. However, it would have been more efficient to simply fix the problem in the first place rather than focus on covering our butts. This would have resulted in a much better outcome for our client even though it required us to go that extra mile.

Sometimes, attorneys focus on CYA because of internal firm politics, and this does not serve the best interests of the client. I once had a case as a “baby lawyer” that required someone from our firm to head to Long Island for a deposition. The senior associate told me that he wanted me to take the deposition because he did not want to get on the Long Island Railroad and schlep a few hours to the deposition and back. Since this was in the early part of my career, I was pretty excited to go on the deposition, even though I was somewhat inexperienced, and the senior associate knew more about the case.

However, the partner ended up finding out that the senior associate had pawned the deposition off on me, and he probably understood that the senior associate was just being lazy when assigning me the deposition. The senior associate then proceeded to write an extremely long email to cover his ass, and the message discussed in detail all of the tasks that the senior associate had to do in the office and why he could not cover the deposition. It must have taken the senior associate a substantial amount of time to review his outstanding tasks and draft that email. However, the senior associate should have just taken the deposition himself and not wasted so much time justifying his actions so that he could cover himself in front of the partner.

Of course, there are situations when it makes sense to cover your ass, and lawyers more than other professionals know best how they can avoid liability if a situation blows up. It is often a good idea to memorialize some oral conversations in an email, and speak by phone in other contexts. Furthermore, providing advice to clients about how they can cover their asses is a huge part of providing quality legal representation.

However, attorneys should try not to cover themselves if it will have a negative impact on the client. It is far better for attorneys to help clients fix situations than insulate themselves from liability.

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Jordan Rothman is a partner of The Rothman Law Firm, a full-service New York and New Jersey law firm. He is also the founder of Student Debt Diaries, a website discussing how he paid off his student loans. You can reach Jordan through email at jordan@rothmanlawyer.com.

So our germophobe president has probably been exposed to coronavirus, which is also having all sorts of other effects on things—I don’t really know, I haven’t been paying much attention to what’s going on immediately north of me or whatever. But, you guys, it’s getting serious now: It’s getting closer to Steve Cohen.

A spokesperson for Point72 confirmed that an employee at its gleaming new offices at Hudson Yards became a confirmed case of Covid-19 on Monday…. As a precaution, all the employees on the 14th floor were sent home as deep cleaning of the office began today. The source added that the company intended to remain fully functional as most employees can work from home.

Earlier this week, Quinn Emanuel shuttered its New York office after one of the firm’s partners tested positive for coronavirus, enacting a work-from-home policy for all of its attorneys and staff members. Employees at other firms were shocked, and perhaps even envious, that such a successful firm had done such a thing, pondering if their own firms would ever close their doors to protect their health.

Now we know that at least one more firm is willing to close its doors to spare its employees from suffering through a COVID-19 diagnosis.

Which Biglaw firm could it be?

Faegre Drinker, the 1,300-lawyer strong merger product of Faegre Baker Daniels and Drinker Biddle & Reath, decided to temporarily close all of its offices — every single one of them across the globe, 22 in total — due to coronavirus fears. That’s an incredibly bold move. The American Lawyer has more information:

None of the firm’s lawyers and staffers have tested positive for the coronavirus, but a person who attended a recent event at Faegre Drinker’s Washington office did, the firm said in a statement. As a result, the firm’s executive leadership decided Monday to close the firm’s offices.

“Because the health and safety of our personnel and clients is our top priority, Faegre Drinker is temporarily closing its D.C. offices. As a measure of caution, our leadership team has also taken the step of closing our global offices on March 10 while we evaluate this situation,” the firm said in its statement.

The firm noted in its statement announcing the office closures en masse that its employees “are equipped with the required technology to work remotely and remain ready and available to assist clients.”

How long can a Biglaw firm survive with all of its employees working from home? We may soon find out, because Faegre Drinker has not said when it plans to reopen its offices across the globe. Stay tuned for further developments.

What is your firm doing to protect lawyers and staff from coronavirus? Please text us (646-820-8477) or email us (subject line: “Coronavirus Response”). Stay safe.

Faegre Drinker Closes All 22 Offices After Potential Coronavirus Exposure [American Lawyer]
Philadelphia law firm, Faegre Drinker, temporarily closes 22 offices as precaution [Philadelphia Inquirer]

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Staci Zaretsky is a senior editor at Above the Law, where she’s worked since 2011. She’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to email her with any tips, questions, comments, or critiques. You can follow her on Twitter or connect with her on LinkedIn.

* Justice Sotomayor is recusing herself from a Supreme Court case involving the electoral college, but it has nothing to do with President Trump’s recent statement about recusals at the high court. [Washington Post]

* A couple filed a lawsuit about coronavirus against a cruise liner while still on a Grand Princess cruise. Hope they’re out of containment before depositions… [The Hill]

* Harvey Weinstein’s lawyer is not optimistic about the amount of prison time the movie mogul may need to serve. [Hollywood Reporter]

* It appears real estate heir Robert Durst will testify at his trial over the alleged murder of his friend Susan Berman. [AP]

* Federal defense attorneys are alleging that New York City’s federal jails are not prepared for the coronavirus outbreak. [New York Daily News]

* A man was shot yesterday just steps away from the Bronx DA’s office. Should have no problem finding a prosecutor to handle this case. [New York Post]

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Jordan Rothman is a partner of The Rothman Law Firm, a full-service New York and New Jersey law firm. He is also the founder of Student Debt Diaries, a website discussing how he paid off his student loans. You can reach Jordan through email at jordan@rothmanlawyer.com.

The people’s party resolved to work with all progressive forces in pushing for a peaceful and non-violent people’s action meant to return the country to legitimacy and democracy.

The people’s party took hours deliberating on the deteriorating situation across the country, the threat of the corona virus, hunger and starvation, the collapsed social services sector, the sky-rocketing fees and food prices, the power and fuel shortages and the general high cost of living that has affected every household in Zimbabwe.

To this end, it was resolved that, a big political action be mobilised and organised.

The NSC also noted that the people’s party’s call and quest for genuine and sincere dialogue to resolve the national situation has been spurned and turned down by Mr. Mnangagwa.The people’s party has therefore drawn a line in the sand until the possibility of dialogue becomes a viable and available option.

The NSC received a report of the state, health and hygiene of the people’s party. In this regard the NSC discussed the persistent and desperate machinations by the illegitimate regime to portray the people’s party as a house in turmoil by manufacturing fake letters and false communication in the names of certain of our leaders.

To this end, Senator Morgen Komichi, a respected people’s party leader himself, took advantage of today’s meeting to dismiss the false communication manufactured in his name. He also reaffirmed his unstinting faith and loyalty to the party and its leadership and expressed his undying faith in the MDC as the sole repository of hope for the people of Zimbabwe.

The people’s party leadership also discussed and noted the need for message discipline and consistency and emphasized that all communication be done by its relevant designated officials.

The people’s party notes with extreme concern  the deteriorating health situation in the country and in particular the threat of the corona virus, and has since directed the Secretary for Health and Child Welfare, Dr Henry Madzorera to actively state the position of the people’s party on the matter.

Zimbabweans are demanding for a people’s government, an improvement of their livelihoods and restoration of their dignity, a decisive end to corruption, respect of human rights and a return to constitutionalism and democracy.

#ChangeThatDelivers

MDC Communications

The programme, which was criticised for being both chaotic and violent, resulted in numerous deaths in the course of land seizures.

On Friday, the Zimbabwean government gazetted new legislation under which former landowners may opt for repossession or monetary compensation. The new regulations will apply to indigenous farmers whose farms were appropriated, as well as to those whose land was protected by bilateral treaties.

Several countries, among them South Africa, Austria, France, Germany, Mauritius, Holland, Sweden and Malaysia, had signed investment protection agreements with Zimbabwe at the time.

Of those covered by bilateral treaties, South Africans were the worst affected, according to the Commercial Farmers Union in Zimbabwe, as over 200 farmers lost their land.

However, the new legislation does not automatically grant compensation. Any application may be rejected “on the basis that granting it would be contrary to the interests of defence, public safety, public order, public morality, public health, regional or town planning or the general public interest”, according to the gazetted regulations.

Land ‘waiting to be used’

The South African Embassy in Zimbabwe welcomed government’s decision to return land under Bilateral Investment Protection and Promotion Agreements (BIPPAs) and Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs) to its former owners.

“We welcome the development, as we believe there is enough land waiting to be used,” a spokesperson from the South African Embassy, speaking on behalf of ambassador Mphakama Mbete, said by phone from Harare.

“We think the position is in line with the mantra ‘Zimbabwe is open for business’.”

He said commercial agriculture would grow “exponentially” now that land is being availed again to those with expertise and the required capital.

“While we don’t have the numbers, in terms of those likely to benefit, we have spoken to a number of South African farmers who already have their own funding to start agriculture activity in Zimbabwe, so this decision is welcome,” he said.

Despite droughts that have befallen the southern African country several times since year 2000, land reform has been blamed for Zimbabwe’s failure to feed itself, with the country resorting to imports and international help.

The United Nations World Food Programme plans to double the number of Zimbabweans that it assists, up to 4.1 million, and will require over $200 million to meet needs in the first half of 2020 alone.

Post published in: Agriculture