As the judiciary system grapples with a growing backlog of cases caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, litigators are finding themselves juggling intense trial schedules. One exemplar case is Joseph Messa Jr., founder of personal injury firm Messa & Associates. He voiced how firms are taking the soonest trial dates as soon as they become available, leaving teams to configure covering the trial when the time comes. This approach has led to extremely busy dockets with firms struggling to manage.
The combination of postponed case hearings due to pandemic-related restrictions and an influx of new cases being filed has resulted in a significant backlog. As courts reopen and attempt to regain some semblance of normative functioning, the pressure of catering to this backlog is placed upon the shoulder of law firms. All this is resulting in more extensive trial schedules, pushing litigators to their capacity.
You can read more about this situation affecting litigators across America in The Legal Intelligencer’s article. The situation is evolving rapidly, and the impact on litigation practices and strategies is a dynamic narrative that is still being written. Legal professionals worldwide are advised to stay updated as these changes can potentially alter the very landscape of the legal practice.