May Briefcase
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May, 2020 Vol. 53, No. 5 A Publication of the OKLAHOMA COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION WWW.OKCBAR.ORG DIARY OF A COVID-19 LAWYER/MOM By Shanda McKenney His “office” Thanks to my company’s implementation But, we are all healthy. We’ve been cook- has therefore of various technologies ahead of this pan- ing at home and eating more meals together My family and I were out of state for become the demic, I am able to perform my job entirely as a family. We play games of pool together Spring Break when everything started shut- bar in our rec from my new home office. I have conduct- and listen to music (taking turns playing DJ) ting down. Concerned about the availability room. This ed a successful mediation via Zoom confer- - we watch movies as a family and play War of facilities for our return trip, we cut things has been an ence, am in constant contact with support for hours. We have cleaned out and sorted short and came home early. The next morn- adequate solu- staff via integrated messaging, and rarely through closets and outgrown clothes, and ing I went to my office to fetch my com- tion, except it need to print anything. That said, with the recently celebrated a 13th birthday with puter set-up, and have been working from has effectively courts closed and many lawyers unwilling grandparents present via video apps. We home ever since, as has my husband. Home Shanda McKenney removed the to schedule depositions, my workload has take walks around the neighborhood and Sweet Home, with two kids and three dogs, “rec” from the been comparatively light. The cancellation just talk to each other more. As an added for the foreseeable future. room during working hours, which has led of so many bar association functions I look bonus, I can sneak downstairs for a hug and At about the same time we decided to to whining children. forward to each month and year has been kiss from my “coworker” when I’m feeling come home, our kids’ school was first sus- It is difficult to get kids to engage in difficult, and I miss my coworkers and pro- especially burned out or just need a break pended, then cancelled completely. They “distance learning” when they know the fessional acquaintances terribly. from the screens. are 10 and 13 and barely house-trained, work is not being graded. Zoom meetings My “work day,” such as it is, is perpetually As things begin returning to something so “distance learning” was going to be a with the class get old quickly, particularly punctuated by various noisy interactions, sort of resembling “normal” (whatever that challenge. We also recognized our lack of when most of their friends aren’t in that either between the dogs or the kids or a was or is), I hope each of you are finding home office space and set about ordering class. I spent most of the first week of combination thereof, or someone needing constructive ways of dealing with your desks (“some assembly required,” i.e. most “distance learning” as an amateur IT tech- me for something right now. There seems to individual changes in circumstance. Your of a Saturday) and rearranging furniture in nician, attempting to circumvent the various be more laundry to do than usual, the dogs OCBA is here for you, and there are a at least 4 different rooms to accommodate parental control features these same schools are developing serious attachment disorders, multitude of free resources available, from them. told us were imperative so that my kids and being in my house 24/7 only highlights the comfort of your own home, if you find We quickly discovered that my husband could access various lesson plan materials. all of the on-going home improvement proj- yourself struggling with unhealthy coping and I cannot work in the same space, given I have since given this up entirely and the ects that need our attention. If it weren’t for mechanisms. I hope each and every one of the fact he is on teleconferences non-stop, school year is “officially” over on May 13. Fortnite and TikTok and YouTube, I would you are healthy, and remain so, and that we and the speakerphone makes me insane. Hallelujah. likely have no peace, whatsoever. will see you all on the flip side. President Michael Brewer delivered masks to the OCBA Office. REMEMBER, MASKS ARE REQUIRED TO ENTER! Judge Sheila Stinson doing homework school during the pandemic. Inside REMEMBERING HOW BOARD From the President ............ 2 Book Notes .................. 4 JUDGE LEE WEST MEMBERS Stump Roscoe ............... 3 Events & Seminars ............ 9 Page 4 QUARANTINED Page 6-7 OKLA CITY OK CITY OKLA PERMIT# 59 PERMIT# PAID US POSTAGE US PRSRT STD PRSRT 2 BRIEFCASE • May 2020 From the President BRIEFCASE May 2020 Briefcase is a monthly publication of the Living in the Reopen Oklahoma County Bar Association 119 North Robinson Ave. Oklahoma City, OK 73102 April showers indeed brought May flow- rants, etc. We can’t help it; we want out of the house without (405) 236-8421 ers along with tree, grass, and weed pollen, social distancing, and we don’t want to give up a certain standard mold, hail and tornadoes. Before Corona, I of living. We have become accustomed to living a life without Briefcase Committee thought NBA refs were worse than a plague social distancing. We simply can’t imagine another week without Judge Jim Croy, Chris Deason, Ryan Dean, and then 2020 came along saying: “hold my golf, hair coloring, manicures, being out on the town, casinos and J. Renley Dennis, Ben Grubb, Justin Hiersche, beer.” With May and the end of Tiger King Scott Jones, Matt Kane, Jeff Massey, Joi Miskel, bars. The rest of the world must be amused by our first-world Trais Pickens, Kyle Prince, Miles Pringle, Austin comes a reopening of sorts. Executive and issues. Reams, Cari Remillard, Rex Travis, Judge Allen Administrative orders begin to lapse allowing In recent Zoom meetings and viewing of social media posts, Welch & Alisa White businesses to open. States and cities are imple- many attorneys and professionals seem to be just fine working Editor Benjamin Grubb menting reopening in different stages and timetables. Individually, at home. We get to see homes, offices, pets, gardening projects, Contributing Editors Michael Brewer we are all making our own choices on how to approach reopening woodworking projects and the like. With this, however, there Richard Goralewicz and social interaction. Certainly, we all understand that one size seems to be a lack of self-awareness. Some law firms will not Bill Gorden does not fit all. Montana is not New York and OKC is neither. Conducting ourselves now will not be like the days before Rudy reopen, and some lawyers will change professions. Many of those came to town. Many businesses will not reopen again or will non-lawyers in the food line or out-of-work would also do better Oklahoma County Bar Association likely shutter in coming weeks. Many jobs will not return. The during quarantine closure with a nice home, wi-fi, and too many OFFICERS: way we do business must and will evolve. It took only six weeks kid’s toys to count. Although I have a nice set up when I work President Michael W. Brewer to show the weakness in the supply chain and yield approximate- from home, I also remember others are not so fortunate. In fact, President-Elect Judge Don Andrews ly 33 million unemployed. It was reported in the ABA Journal it appears from the increasing unemployment numbers, unpaid Vice President Shanda McKenney that the rate of new legal work decreased nearly 40% in only a utility bills, and defaulting loans that the great majority do not Past President Judge Sheila Stinson few weeks.1 I have heard local mutterings about law firm staff have the same support system that many in our profession do. It Treasurer Robert D. Nelon layoffs, salary reductions and lack of partner draws. Much of the may all be a political or scientific discussion to you, but it may Bar Counsel Coree Stevenson focus of any discussion is on the economics of the shutdown; be life without a meal or living on the street to another. Another although, rightfully the individual decision/liberty/rights part of individual is making their decisions on risks of reopening, wear- STAFF: this risk equation continues to be a significant factor for discus- ing a mask or gloves on a different basis than yours. Too many Executive Director Debbie Gorden sion. Resistance changes hats and sides. Individual control over Legal Placement Director Pam Bennett times I see on social media the first response is that the other side decision-believers become more in favor of governmental con- Membership Services Connie Resar trols. Civil discourse is not civil and hasn’t been for a while, but is dumb, and the second response is to say the other person must shouldn’t our profession promote civil discussion of issues? Let’s be an R or a D. Rather than throw stones, we must take care of Journal Record Publishing Co. Inc. consider different perspectives on reopening. our family, each other, our communities, our city, our state and Special Projects Designer I encountered a new reality on the way to do essential work at our country. You need to start at home and move your sphere of influence outward from there. For advertising information, my office only a few weeks into the shutdown. At that point, a call 278-2830.