Alumni, law students, Tulane Law evolving in response to COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed how lawyers, and law students, can work, learn and practice.

From courthouses closing and moving to remote hearings, to law students turning to the trusted cell phone to help locals through pro bono work, and to legal clinics seeing clients via Zoom, everyone has had to become nimble, and find new ways to manage daily life in the business of law.

We asked some in the black law community to give us a glimpse into their “new normal” and show us how advocacy and legal work are evolving during these uncertain times.

Tonya Jupiter (L’94): Pro Bono Work Has Never Been More Important

 Jupiter is Assistant Director of Pro Bono Programs at Tulane Law, and is in New Orleans.

Though challenging and disheartening not to physically be on campus with students and colleagues, this pandemic  has highlighted the value of human connection and family ties.  On any given day, my house has virtually hosted, Lusher High School, Stanford University, Municipal & Traffic Court and Tulane Law School.  Thankfully, our wifi has not crashed. 

We have all learned to carve out spaces to operate and get our work done with a minimum of fuss.  I am learning that I love to work in flip-flops and get my best work done sitting on the patio while taking in the beautiful spring weather.  

 Pro bono service is needed even more during this pandemic.  I am working with students to secure placements with public interest partners with various remote service projects, including Louisiana Appleseed, where students have  have been a tremendous asset to  Adrienne Wheeler, Executive Director of Louisiana Appleseed and Amanda Brown, Executive Director of Lagniappe Law, by providing legal research and content for the  Legal Navigator.

The Navigator will be an online AI tool to assist pro se litigants understand their issues, and seek an attorney when appropriate or necessary. Some of the subject matter content includes  landlord tenant, divorce, custody and unpaid wages.  (For more details or to volunteer, see the remaining topics online here.)

Students have also been engaged with the ACLU in legal research on federal COVID-19 legislation and analysis of various state benefits.

Chesapeake Legal Alliance has also had our students working remotely with Molly Brown, Director of the  Community Legal Education program at the Chesapeake Legal Alliance. CLA is a non-profit legal advocacy organization located in Annapolis, Maryland.  CLA provides pro-bono legal services to people and organizations throughout the Chesapeake Bay Watershed around issues that improve water quality. 

My advice to future graduates is that Tulane Law School has equipped them to succeed in spite of the current challenges.  Your exposure to civil and common law traditions makes you multi-talented, intellectually nimble and flexible.  Combined with your generous spirits and commitment to community, Tulane Law alumni are uniquely poised to thrive.

LaDawn Blackett Jones (L’05): Embracing the Novelty of Today

Jones has her own firm, the LBJ Group in Atlanta, Ga.

The first couple of weeks were a shock for our family.  The balance between anxiety of the unknown, financial concerns, and change of pace took lots of adjustments.  But now we are in a place of acceptance.  We can now appreciate the time we are able to spend together, not being caught in daily traffic.  It has forced me to be innovative.  

Much of my work was handled in court.  Now that the courts are temporarily closed I had plenty of time to figure out how we can become more virtual.  The entire court team has been focused on shifting to no-contact or limited contact work.  I'm confident that our time in court will be reduced significantly when we return as a result of the virtual practice.  

 Currently, I advise my business clients on what is happening with emergency orders.  I must advise them whether or not they can open, what precautions they must take, and giving them advice on how to treat each week.  

As for the Class of 2020, I would say to them that we are fortunate that in our profession, even with courts closed there is always something that needs to be done.  A contract that needs to be reviewed, legal issues to research, or someone who needs advice.   In other fields of work, COVID-19 could eviscerate their duties.  This is a time to evolve, learn new areas of practice, and try that thing you've always thought of such as writing that screenplay or creating that App. Do it!  This is our new normal.  Don't wait for things to go back to how they were - embrace the novelty of today. 

Michelle Wimes, (L’94): Don’t ‘Manage the Crisis;’ Learn How Best to Manage Your Response to the Crisis

Wimes is Chief Diversity and Professional Development Officer at Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak and Stewart, PC. She is in Kansas City, Mo.

In coping with COVID-19, honestly, I’ve been trying to focus on the positive, joyful things in my life.

I have been using this time to reflect on my blessings; connect virtually with law school classmates, friends and family near and far; and to do more of the things I love like Yoga, meditating and journal-writing. Like everyone else, I’ve also participated in more than my fair share of Zoom coffees, meet-ups, happy hours, and birthday celebrations! 

Also, for the first time in a long time, my husband and I have all three of our daughters home with us, and that has been marvelous. We are enjoying downtime and the leisure family activities we’ve done together like playing board games, watching Netflix movies, taking family walks and bike rides and even a driving tour to learn more about our city via the VoiceMap App! After 22 years in the same house, we also finally took the time to clean up, paint and refresh our home office! That was a true family endeavor! 

All three girls are incredibly resilient, flexible and resourceful. I’m proud of how they have adjusted to this new normal.

 As for the practice of law, I practiced for 14 years, but gave it up 12 years ago to focus on my twin passions: diversifying the legal profession and equipping lawyers with the tools and resources they need for their professional success. 

The work I do as my firm’s Chief Diversity and Professional Development Officer has definitely been impacted as a result of COVID-19. I am finding myself doing many more virtual one-on-one and group check-ins with our diverse lawyers personally and via our six business resource groups. 

My team and I are laser-focused on ensuring that our diverse lawyers are not socially isolated during these times of physical distancing, that they have high quality work that will continue to develop their skillset during these times, and that they are continuing to be mentored and sponsored. Of course, we’ve also had to adjust our overarching budget and prioritize those initiatives and activities which support these goals. 

Additionally, I have been focused on the well-being, mindset, and growth of all of our firm’s lawyers from a professional development standpoint. My team pivoted our in-person learning opportunities to now offer them virtually. One example includes the annual writing workshop for first through fourth year associates we host annually with esteemed lexicographer Bryan Garner. 

We’ve also collected and shared resources, developed content for and hosted a weekly webinar series for our firm which has included topics like “Working Remotely While Parenting and Home-schooling” for our caregivers, “Adding Value and Staying Visible During COVID-19” for our associates, “Strategies for Staying Well During the Pandemic” for all staff and attorneys, and “Leading Inclusively During a Crisis” for all firm managers and leaders. We will offer another four-part series in May as well. 

Finally, Ogletree also has a practice group focused on diversity and inclusion. I have partnered with the leader of that group, Kimya Johnson, to develop content and host webinars for our clients on diversity, equity and inclusion engagement and retention strategies during COVID-19. 

In the community,  I sit on several boards including a charter school, a local theater and arts community organization, and the Board of Trustees at my alma mater, the University of Missouri-Kansas City. 

In each of these organizations, not only are we discussing the devastating impact of COVID-19, but we are having to update our strategic plans, revise our annual goals and budgets, and, in many cases, re-tool our in-person fundraising events. It’s all been quite stressful, but at the same time it’s been wonderful to see our members coming together to roll up their sleeves determined to help our organizations not only survive but thrive after this pandemic. 

My advice for our alums as well as the class of 2020 is to not try to manage this crisis. The only thing you can truly manage is your response to the crisis. That is, you have control over your attitude and your overall approach to life during and after this pandemic. 

Tanisha Manning (L’20): We did it! (Despite COVID-19!)

Manning is a Student Attorney, Tulane Civil Rights and Federal Practice Clinic; Director, Tulane University Legal Assistance Program; and Moot Court Administrative Justice of Special Competitions. She is at her grandparents’ home in Houston, Texas.

 I initially thought it would be easy to adapt to remote learning at home, but with a household of more than 5 of us and a 1-year-old toddler who loves law school zoom classes, the transition was a bit challenging. My older sister is a teacher and logs in with her PreK-3 class daily as well, so we are always navigating between rooms. Despite this, I have enjoyed being able to attend classes at 8:30 a.m. and hop up to eat my granny’s home-cooked breakfast afterwards. I also am happy to note that it has felt amazing to utilize this time to actually relax as I was always very busy on and off campus at school.

Our professors have done what they could to make online learning work for everyone.  They have been lenient towards absences and cold calling but they have attempted to make sure we felt that the learning was similar as it had been in the classroom.

Social media has been very helpful with keeping up with friends and classmates, and of course, texting. A quick text update goes a long way. After a week or two, we try to do a 15-30 minute call to check-in on one another. Me and a few other friend groups have also utilized Zoom or House Party to have large group connections.

After graduation, I will take the Maryland Bar Exam with hopes of being able to waive into D.C. or Texas, depending on where I am able to secure a job. My goal is to work in public policy and/or public service, preferably in D.C. first, and then later, permanently in Houston and run for public office here.

Here in Houston, I am focusing most of my efforts towards assisting my family with various tasks. I have also been able to become more involved with my home church by attending/leading prayers, Bible Study, and assisting with developing creative and new methods to connect with our surrounding community, especially our senior citizens.

As for New Orleans, I am still at Student Attorney for the Tulane Law Civil Rights and Federal Practice Clinic and a Director for the Tulane University Legal Assistance Program.

At the legal clinic, I am happy to state that we have been able to assist our client and settle her case. Considering the challenging times that everyone is facing right now, navigating a legal case is not a worry one wishes to have. This is a huge win for her. At TULAP, we have just interviewed 1L Clerks for the Assistant Director position. We are also proud to state that TULAP has still been able to assist many students with legal issues (especially housing and immigration questions/concerns) via Skype during this pandemic.

And, finally, to my 3L class: WE DID IT!! And we did it in circumstances that we would have never imagined for ourselves. We’ve had an amazing ride and although we’re not able to hug each other right now or celebrate after our last final together as we did 1L year, we will still celebrate at our rescheduled Commencement Ceremony. May we never forget this experience and journey and may we use this to strive even harder in our next phase. It’s been a “3LOL” of a year!! I love each of you!!

Have you had to change or evole in the practice of law during this pandemic? Let us know! Email us at lawcommunications@tulane.edu.