The American Bar Association (ABA) has published a number of helpful resources in order to support lawyers and law firms during the outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease, helping them to prepare for and respond to disasters in general and to COVID-19 in specific.

During any kind of disaster, and regardless of its size and scope, law professionals have to take certain steps in order to protect their practices and serve their clients, and possibly also other victims who are directly affected by the disaster.

The following pandemic resources are recommended by the ABA:

• FEMA’s Pandemic Influenza COOP
• A Lawyer's Guide to Planning for a Disaster
• Disaster Planning for Bar Associations
• Law School Emergency and Disaster Guidance 
• LSC Disaster Task Force Report
• McDermott Coronavirus Resource Center for US and Global Employees
• Coronavirus Information and FAQs, by the Society for Human Resource Management provides information regarding Employment Law and the effects of COVID-19
• Coronavirus Outbreak: The legal implications, by the Norton Rose Fulbright Law Firm
• What Are Companies' Legal Obligations Around Coronavirus?, by the Harvard Business Review
• Talking to Children About COVID-19 (Coronavirus): A Parent Resource, National Association of School Psychologists 
• Remote Legal Support Guide: A Best Practices Manual for Nonprofit and Pro Bono Innovation, by Pro Bono Net and the Immigration Advocates Network.
• Impact of coronavirus (COVID-19 on upcoming ABA meetings

Furthermore, there are the following ABA Entity COVID-19 Resources:

• COVID-19  Resources, by the Law Practice Division
• COVID-19 Mental Health Resources for the Legal Profession, by the ABA Commission on Lawyer Assistance Programs
• Coronavirus Update for the Elder Law Community, by the ABA Commission on Law and Aging
• COVID-19 Resources, by the Standing Committee on Legal Aid and Indigent Defense
• Coronavirus (COVID-19) Articles and Resources, by the Section of Litigation
• COVID-19 Tax News and Information, by the Section of Taxation

Suggested Technology Resources are as followed:

-          The ABA Legal Technology Resource Center (LTRC) offers relevant articles and resources, like for example this one: disaster preparedness on their blog Law Technology Today; they constantly publish updates on their Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn pages

Helpful resources in regards to Disaster Planning and Recovery for Law Firms are the following:

• ABA Guide to Conducting a Business Continuity Exercise
• The Essential Formbook: Comprehensive Management Tools for Lawyers (Vol IV, Disaster Planning, Risk Management and Professional Liability Insurance.
• Planning for Reconstituting a Law Office after a Disaster
• After Disaster Strikes: A Checklist
• Small Office Disaster or COOP Plan
• Preparing, Reacting & Resuming Life
• Firms and Courts Take up Challenge of Preparing for the Worst
• Pandemics: Preparing Businesses for a Global Outbreak (D. Benson & A Paterra, South Carolina Lawyer, July 2009)

On the ABA Law Practice Division page Disaster Resources you can find more tips for planning for a disaster, as well as for disaster recovery.

Also, in relation to COVID-19 Mental Health Resources for the Legal Profession, the ABA Commission on Lawyer Assistance can identify local and state assistance programs to help lawyers cope with the effects of a disaster. It is normal to feel sad, angry and overwhelmed following a disaster of any kind – therefore, additional mental health resources are there to assist anyone affected in addressing the impact of the coronavirus outbreak.