AT&T’s outage last week should serve as a warning to lawyers about their own internet reliability (I don’t know how a $5 refund will alleviate AT&T customers from the self-panic ensued by the outage?🧐).  In the digital age, the legal profession, like many others, has grown increasingly reliant on the Internet for its operations. The internet is an indispensable tool in a lawyer's arsenal, from conducting research and accessing legal databases to communicating with clients and filing documents electronically. However, this dependency also means that internet outages can significantly disrupt legal operations, posing challenges that law firms must navigate to maintain continuity and uphold their duties to their clients.

Lawyers can take several proactive measures to ensure minimal disruption in their work due to internet outages. Here are five strategies to consider:

1. Backup Key Resources Offline: Lawyers should ensure they have offline access to critical resources, such as legal databases, case law, statutes, and client files. This can involve preemptively downloading essential documents and using software that allows offline access to these materials.

2. Establish a Redundant Internet Connection: Having a backup Internet connection can be crucial for maintaining productivity during an outage. Since AT&T went down last week, having a different provider (perhaps on a cheaper plan) could be a good investment. This could be in the form of a secondary wired connection, a mobile hotspot, or a tethering option through a smartphone. Investing in a reliable data plan for mobile devices can provide an immediate alternative if the primary connection fails.  (For example, I have Verizon FIOS for the office Wi-Fi, AT&T for phone and internet on my personal cell, and Verizon mobile for my blog phone and internet.  BACKUP, BACKUP, BACKUP, or REDUNDANCY, REDUNDANCY, REDUNDANCY!

3. Regular Data Backup: Regularly backing up data to external drives or cloud storage that can be accessed offline ensures that work can continue seamlessly, even without an internet connection. Automated backup solutions can be set up to run during off-hours to ensure that all recent work is securely stored.  Remember, my So, if one of your backups is in the cloud, then your other backup should be in a physical location like a hard drive at your office or offsite.

4. Develop and Test an Emergency Plan: It does not help if your emergency strategy doesn’t work! Creating an emergency plan that outlines steps to take during an internet outage can help minimize downtime. This plan should include contact information for IT support, steps for switching to a backup internet source, and a list of critical tasks that can be performed offline. Regularly testing this plan ensures everyone knows what to do when the internet goes down.

5. Invest in Training and Preparedness: Ensuring that all staff members are trained on how to access and use offline resources and understand the emergency plan is crucial. This can include training on manual procedures for tasks typically performed online, such as filing documents or conducting research.

By taking these proactive steps, lawyers can minimize the impact of internet outages on their practice, ensuring that they can continue to work effectively and meet their clients' needs, even in the absence of an online connection. Internet outage is a major concern I have with Law Practice Management providers based solely on the internet – if you lose access, there is going to be a major problem – and I don’t know how “understanding” a judge is going to be if you miss a filing deadline because the internet went down.  But in the meantime, what can lawyers do if there is downtime due to the internet being offline?

When the internet goes down, a lawyer, like any other professional reliant on online resources, can still stay productive by reverting to more traditional methods of working and organizing. Here are the top five things a lawyer should consider doing when you are completely stuck offline, and you have done everything necessary to protect your client’s interests:

1. Review Physical Files and Documents: Without internet access, it's an excellent opportunity to organize and review physical case files, documents, and any printed material that might have been set aside. This can also be an excellent time to catch up on reading case law, statutes, or regulations relevant to current cases that haven't been prioritized.

2. Plan and Strategize: Use this time to strategize for current cases or projects without the distractions of emails and online notifications. This can involve outlining arguments, planning case strategies, or brainstorming solutions to legal problems. It's also an excellent time to set goals and priorities for the coming weeks or months.

3. Networking and Client Relations: Reach out to clients, colleagues, and other professionals through phone calls. This can be an excellent opportunity to check in on clients, discuss cases, and build stronger relationships. Networking can also involve setting up future meetings or lunches.

4. Continuing Legal Education (CLE) and Professional Development: Lawyers often have CLE requirements to maintain their licenses. When the internet is down, it's an excellent time to catch up on CLE materials available in physical formats, such as books, journals, or even pre-downloaded audio or video courses.

5. Administrative Tasks and Office Organization: Use the downtime to catch up on administrative tasks that might have been neglected. This can include organizing the office space, filing, billing & invoicing, or even planning for future marketing efforts.

While the internet is a crucial tool for modern legal practice, being disconnected can provide a valuable opportunity to focus on tasks that might otherwise be overlooked or deferred. It's also a reminder of the importance of having backup plans and being adaptable in the face of unexpected disruptions.

Happy Lawyering!

MTC