President’s Corner:
Disaster Recovery – Do You Have a Plan?
DBA President Denise Warner
by Denise Warner
The recent earthquake in Haiti was absolutely devastating. In an area slightly smaller than Maryland, 200,000 people are suspected dead or missing. More than 3 million citizens of Haiti, the poorest country in the western hemisphere, require basic necessities: clean water, food and medical supplies. They were not prepared for the destructive effect of a natural disaster. Are you ready?
As lawyers we are known for giving advice that helps clients plan, but when it comes to planning for a disaster and recovery, we need to take our own advice and create a plan. You need to plan for how your firm will cope with natural or man-made disasters ranging from fires and floods to terrorist attacks, hurricanes, chemical explosions, or blizzards.
For a law firm, the disaster recovery plan should suit its size, type of practice and locale. While it is easy to depend on technology, the human element is the most important part of the plan. That’s because without talented people focused on client needs, a law practice does not exist.
The reason for planning is clear: lawyers need to be able to help themselves so they can help their clients. Just as a firm reaches out to employees by email, cell phone and the firm’s website, it should reach out to clients who may be in a state of crisis themselves and welcome the support and reassurance.
Depending on the nature of the emergency – a fire in your building, for example, in which case, your firm may be the only one affected – you still may be expected to meet filing deadlines and court appearances. Under those circumstances reaching out to clients to let them know that you are looking out for them despite the disaster is essential.
If the disaster is more widespread, such as the Flood of 2009, all of us may feel the effects. Accounting for employees and clients may take time.
A firm may want to consider setting up a team to take charge during the disaster. Team members should include management and administrative personnel. The plan should outline contingency operations, how staff will locate each other and how they will communicate with other employees. Having a plan in place will help avoid making reactive decisions. Telling all employees about the plan is key.
The plan should be kept in both hard copy and electronic form. The plan also should be backed-up off site, so that it is readily accessible if the firm’s offices cannot be entered in the wake of a disaster. For additional information regarding disaster planning for lawyers, please visit www.abanet.org/rppt/publications/magazine/2006/so.
Execute a plan today, and please consider contributing to one of the following agencies participating in the Haitian earthquake relief efforts: www.salvationarmy.com, www.redcross.org, www.unicef.org, and www.doctorswithoutborders.org.