Opinion ID: 4529545
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 8

Heading: Guidance to Legal Professionals

Text: To the degree necessary, attorneys should counsel their clients that the public health emergency can in no way be used to secure strategic advantage in litigation, including by means of dilatory conduct. In such instances, it may be useful to explain that the duties of a lawyer as advocate continue during the COVID-19 crisis, including the duty to expedite litigation (Rule 3.2 of the Rules of Professional Conduct), the duty of candor toward the tribunal (Rule 3.3 of the Rules of Professional Conduct), and the duty of fairness to opposing party and counsel (Rule 3.4 of the Rules of Professional Conduct). As previously prescribed with respect to Courts of Common Pleas, the Court continues to AUTHORIZE AND ENCOURAGE use by legal professionals of advanced communication technology to the greatest extent possible. In addition, updated guidance has been provided by the executive branch explaining that: [531 & 532 Judicial Administration Docket - 10] [A]lthough law offices remain generally closed and lawyers and staff should continue to perform all work remotely to the extent possible, lawyers and staff may access physical offices on a limited basis as necessary to render legal services that cannot practically be completed through the use of advanced communication technology, and which are being rendered to comply with a court directive or deadline, or to meet client needs that are critical to the client’s health or safety, including, but not limited to, matters of healthcare, incompetence, incapacitation, end-of-life decision making, government benefits necessary to sustain life and access healthcare and income, or legal functions necessary for the operation of government at all levels. Any in-person activity shall be subject to the Orders of Secretary of Health providing for building safety measures (issued April 5, 2020) and business safety measures (issued April 15, 2020), including any amendments, and related Department of Health guidance. INDUSTRY OPERATION GUIDANCE, Uploaded by Governor Tom Wolf, https://www.scribd.com/document/452553026/UPDATED-4-30pm-April-27-2020Industry-Operation-Guidance (last visited April 28, 2020).5 Lawyers accessing their offices for the purposes set forth above are expected to comply with the Secretary’s Orders concerning building and worker safety. See supra note 5. 5 The referenced Orders of the Secretary of Health are as follows: ORDER OF THE SECRETARY OF THE PA. DEP’T OF HEALTH DIRECTING BUILDING SAFETY MEASURES (April 5, 2020), https://www.governor.pa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/20200405-SOHBuilding-Safety-Measures.pdf (last visited April 28, 2020); and ORDER OF THE SECRETARY OF THE PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH DIRECTING PUBLIC HEALTH SAFETY MEASURES FOR BUSINESSES PERMITTED TO MAINTAIN IN-PERSON OPERATIONS (April 15, 2020), https://www.governor.pa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/20200415-SOHworker-safety-order.pdf (last visited April 28, 2020). [531 & 532 Judicial Administration Docket - 11]