Last Updated on March 21, 2020 by Julian Yang

As I’m sure you have all heard, the current pandemic is reaching critical levels worldwide. Here in Ontario, a lot of decisions are being made as well. Here is a quick overview of important updates impacting the legal sector:

Suspension of all non-essential matters in the Superior Court of Justice:

Notice to the Profession, the Public and the Media Regarding Civil and Family Proceedings

All matters currently at court are shut down until further notice. Only emergency matters are currently being heard. We are actively monitoring the situation and in contact with our colleagues as well as the Law Society and Lawyers’ Association as we all try to make sense of an otherwise senseless situation. If your matter is currently in court, we will provide you with updates as we receive them.

Regarding client meetings:

https://lso.ca/news-events/news/corporate-statement-re-covid-19

During these special circumstances, we have also received direction from the Law Society of Ontario with respect to matters normally requiring in-person client meetings, such as verifying ID, signing documents, commissioning, and notarization. The Law Society of Ontario has elected to interpret the guidelines in a way to allow us to conduct most situations requiring in-person meetings to virtual meetings, such as through video or telephone conferencing. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your matter, feel free to give us a call or send us an e-mail, and we will help you navigate this unprecedented situation. We have a wide variety of technology and methods available to make sure your legal rights are not affected, and that we can continue to serve you to the best of our abilities.

At this time, it is in all of our interests to follow the directives provided by the government. All non-essential business are encouraged to shut down, and non-essential personnel are all directed to stay home. We at Julian Yang Law Professional Corporation are doing our part in following social distancing procedure and are working from home as is practical. Rest assured however, that we are still available and serving our client’s needs remains our priority. If you are feeling unwell, or have just recently returned from travels, please disclose this information to us, so that we may arrange alternative means of meeting with you.