Mike Stein Quoted in Article on How New Jersey's Law Firms Are Moving to Remote Work Amid COVID-19 Response
Mike Stein, Managing Partner at Pashman Stein Walder Hayden was quoted in Law.com article, “How New Jersey's Law Firms Are Moving to Remote Work Amid COVID-19 Response.” The article explains how New Jersey's law firms are moving to remote work amid COVID-19 response.
Hackensack-based Pashman Stein Walder Hayden, with about 60 lawyers, has had full remote work capability for attorneys for some time, but not all staff were equipped until March 13, according to founder and managing partner Michael Stein.
The firm spent about two weeks preparing and had to buy a number of laptops for staff. The firm implemented a staggered office schedule but expected to be fully remote as of midweek, Stein said by phone Monday, adding that the firm was considering taking mail and check processing off-site if needed.
It was mostly business as usual up through the end of that week, Stein said. “I was in federal court Friday afternoon,” he said.
Stein said he’s been in touch with a number of other firms, and “some are more prepared than others—some are moving faster than others.”
Stein said the message, particularly to staff, has been that work must get done, but “we’re trying to inject a sense of comfort—that we’ve got their back” if they have child or elder care considerations.
The firm is “leaning in as much as we can to the community effort” to limit spread of the virus, he said.
“As firm leaders, we have a responsibility to do everything we can to ensure there’s no interruption in pay” for staffers, he said. “As I’ve spoken to others, I wish there was more uniformity in this sense of making employees feel like they’re going to be accommodated.”
With court closures and other cancellations, “we’re going to take a hit” in earnings, he added. The concern is “the unknowable of what this is going to do to the business,” Stein said. “That’s uncomfortable.”
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