Lawyer Assistance Programs Gear Up for New Client ‘Explosion’

Here are the day’s top coronavirus stories from the team at Bloomberg Law:

• HELPING LAWYERS: Lawyer assistance programs are girding for an upswing in demand for services, as attorneys seek help for mental health and substance abuse issues exacerbated by the coronavirus.
• WALL STREET RELIEF: U.S. bank regulators are poised to resume easing Wall Street rules after spending the past few months carrying out emergency actions to help the economy weather the coronavirus pandemic, according to a newly designated federal watchdog.
• PRISONER RELEASES: Massachusetts’ top court refused to order the release of convicted prisoners in light of Covid-19, saying inmates who’ve sued over cramped conditions aren’t likely to succeed on claims that the current prison conditions violate their Eighth Amendment rights.
• JOB CUTS EASE: U.S. companies shed fewer workers in May than expected, offering some hope that the worst of the coronavirus-related hit to the labor market is over.

Editor’s Top Picks

Physicians Group Sues FDA to Widen Access to Hydroxychloroquine
The Association of American Physicians sued the Food and Drug Administration in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan, alleging the agency is “irrationally” interfering with doctors’ and patients’ use of the antimalarial drug.

Union Case for OSHA Emergency Virus Standard Moves Forward
A petition brought by the AFL-CIO over OSHA’s decision not to issue an emergency temporary standard during the Covid-19 crisis is moving forward in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, as the federation of labor unions defends its standing in the case.

OSHA Meat-Plant Inspections Increase After Trump Executive Order
The main federal agency policing workplace safety standards has nearly doubled inspections of meat-processing plants since pledging to use “enforcement discretion” when conducting coronavirus-related reviews at slaughterhouses that try to follow agency guidance.

APC Automotive Files for Bankruptcy, Tipped Over by Pandemic
Car parts supplier APC Automotive Technologies has filed for bankruptcy after the coronavirus pandemic hit sales and plunged the already struggling firm into a liquidity crisis.

Intercompany Loans Amid Virus Invite Scrutiny by Tax Authorities
Multinationals that loan money among their entities or rework existing loans to boost liquidity during the pandemic could end up attracting the attention of tax authorities.

Patent Office Aggregates Covid-19 Information on Its Site
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office created a web page aimed at easing the process for companies and inventors during the coronavirus pandemic.

White House Lawyer Confirmed to Be Virus Spending Watchdog
The Senate confirmed White House lawyer Brian Miller to be the watchdog overseeing trillions of dollars in federal loans and grants being provided to boost the U.S. economy reeling from the global pandemic.

INSIGHT: Pandemic Debunks Three Myths, Teaches Lessons on Diversity
The pandemic has set back law firm diversity efforts by affecting women and communities of color disproportionately, but it has also disproven several unspoken but entrenched myths that continue to impede diversity efforts. Robins Kaplan’s Qian Julie Wang explains the three myths: face time ensures productivity, flexible hours impede productivity, and effective lawyering can only be done in person.

INSIGHT: Making the Most of Being a Virtual Summer Associate
This summer’s virtual law firm associates face challenges never experienced before. Hogan Lovells’ partner Sean Marotta offers some tips to help them make the most of their experience and says even if they never step foot in the law firm building, they can make great contacts and do important work.

Click here for updates on how federal courts are operating during the pandemic.

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Editor’s Note: The Bloomberg Law news team has been closely covering the legal, regulatory, business, and tax implications of the coronavirus pandemic. This daily email highlights the top stories of the day, across practice areas. To unsubscribe, please adjust your Bloomberg Law newsletter settings. For assistance, contact our help desk at 888-560-2529 or help@bloomberglaw.com.