Saskatchewan, Manitoba law societies work from home in light of COVID-19

By Terry Davidson

Law360 Canada (March 20, 2020, 4:25 PM EDT) -- As is the case with many of its counterparts, the Law Society of Saskatchewan has shut its doors and has its employees working remotely as COVID-19 continues to spread.

“The health and safety of our members, students, faculty, and staff (and their families) is the Law Society’s top priority,” states the law society on its website. “We want to assure all of you that the Law Society is closely monitoring COVID-19 announcements and recommendations from health authorities regarding risk and safe practices. We encourage everyone that should you experience any symptoms to please stay home and get well.”

The Law Society of Saskatchewan Libraries “physical locations will be closed until further notice,” it states. “All book circulation will also cease until further notice. All inquiries can be made be e-mail: reference@lawsociety.sk.ca.

However, the Member Resource Section and all online tools will continue to be available.

Inquiries about new or existing complaints may be sent to: complaints@lawsociety.sk.ca. The law society asks that the complaints process be referred to beforehand.

Links to practice tips, COVID-19 facts and client interaction advice can also be found on the law society’s Preparing for the COVID-19 Virus webpage. There is also a list of law society contacts.

The Law Society of Manitoba (LSM) has done the same, implementing a “work from home plan” for all its employees which began March 18 and will run until April 3.

As of late that day, there was no longer any public access to the LSM’s offices.

Law society staff are still available and are reachable through a contacts page. General questions may be sent to: admin@lawsociety.mb.ca.

The LSM’s library is also closed, but members are being encouraged to remote access. The library can be contacted by e-mail at: library@lawsociety.mb.ca.