At some locations, Legal Aid is experiencing telephone and Internet access problems. Continuing to operate with limited phone and Internet access "is a significant challenge," Banks said.
"The commitment of the staff has been extraordinary," he said.
G. Foster Mills, managing attorney of the City Law Department, said its office at 100 Church St. in Manhattan is closed because the building does not have electricity.Service of all process and interlocutory papers which would normally occur at Church Street may be made in the lobby of 350 Jay St. in Brooklyn.
Additionally, Mills said that since attorneys are unable to reach their offices or files in Manhattan, the office is asking courts to adjourn any calendared matter for two weeks. Mills said all depositions, with the exception of Family Court, scheduled for next week—the week of Nov. 5—are postponed with plans to resume depositions the week of Nov. 12. The agency is asking attorneys to call next week for information about specific depositions at the following numbers: Bronx— (718) 590-3971; Brooklyn —(718) 222-2069; Manhattan -- (718) 222-2001; Queens -- (718) 206-4703; Staten Island -- (718) 447-5985. For general office inquires, call (718) 222-2226.
While many law firms downtown were closed, lawyers and staff of Midtown firms who tried to get to work faced arduous commutes and sometimes interrupted services in partially empty offices.
'Difficult to Concentrate'
Patton Boggs partner Larry Schiffer said about half of the New York office at 47th Street and 6th Avenue, came to work Thursday. "People are trying to scratch their way in" if they can, he said.
A resident of East Rockaway, Schiffer said his home doesn't have power and his neighborhood is under water restrictions. Meanwhile, family members are staying with him. He left at 6:15 Thursday morning to take a train into work.
Schiffer said he must prepare for a trial that starts in two weeks. Without power and Internet and other full services at home, he said, "It's a little difficult to concentrate but I have clients who expect service."
"Nobody is making unreasonable demands" and clients understand the circumstances, he said. He added that attorneys are supporting one another's work. "You got to do what you can do" to get focused,"to get your head back in the game," Schiffer said.
At Bingham McCutchen, at 53rd Street and Park Avenue, the office opened Wednesday for those who could make it in. About 25 percent of the 400-person office appeared, said Anthony Carbone, the office's managing partner.
Subscribe to New York Law Journal
