By Shane Clausing

Grande Prairie Businesses

Grande Prairie businesses adjust to life during COVID-19

Apr 18, 2020 | 5:00 AM

Businesses across Grande Prairie have had to adjust the way they operate during COVID-19.

Many non-essential businesses have had to temporarily shut their doors to the public because of the pandemic.

Hayes Fry Law Firm in Grande Prairie is one of those businesses that is adjusting to this new normal we live in.

“Our whole law firm is based on service first; we’re keeping up with that and trying to push that,” said Leah Hayes Fry a partner and real-estate lawyer with the firm. “Anywhere we can, we’re trying to make things easier for our clients, and documents still need to be signed.”

The law firm currently has eight employees and has given its staff the option to work from the office or from home.

Meaningful Mementos

Remembering Someone You've Lost at Christmas

Dec 03, 2024

Seasonal Sorrow

How Do You Get Through The Holidays When You're Grieving?

Nov 01, 2024

Upcoming Events at Oliver's

Grief & Loss and Estate Planning Seminars

Oct 02, 2024

With the lack of human to human contact with clients, the law firm has had to implement new programs or make adjustments in order to keep business moving.

One of the new programs implemented is a program called ‘driveway sign-ups,’ which is free of charge. This is for those who are trying to purchase a new house, sell a house or refinance a house.

In order to sign land titles documents, you must have a real estate lawyer present to witness the signing, which is why the driveway sign-up program has been implemented.

“What we typically do is drive to our client’s house and put the documents on their front steps,” said Hayes Fry. “We then walk back to the front of their driveway and call them to tell them we’ve arrived. They come out and sign the documents in front of us. They close the door, we take the packages and then call them to explain to them what they just signed.”

Real estate signings can also now be done over video chat with a real estate lawyer. This adjustment was implemented by the government last Friday to help encourage social distancing.

The law firm is also allowing its mediation services to be used over video chat. The firm is still able to have people gather in a room together for mediation, but says the proper social distancing measures have been taken.

Hayes Fry adds that because the courts are closed to the public, now is potentially a good time for people to try and strengthen any damaged relationships through mediation.

“Because of the court closures, it’s actually a good time to have those mediations. Farming dispute, family law dispute, real estate disputes, it really works for anything and now that the courts are closed, it’s a really nice way to get those parties working together and to get them to come to an agreement that works for both of them at the end of the day, rather than having a judge tell them what’s going to happen. Often a mediated agreement is better, and the relationship is strengthened at the end.

Hayes Fry said that unfortunately, she expects a rise in people asking for family mediation services in the coming months, as people spend more time together at home during the province’s self-quarantine period.

The company has also continued to have regular meetings with all of its staff members, including those working form home so everyone can stay engaged.

“I wouldn’t say it’s been difficult, but it’s changing because we are a really close team. What that looks like is just having quick Zoom calls with the office so we can talk about nothing and everything, that same kind of ‘water cooler’ chat. It’s always important for our staff to give us their feedback and I think that’s worked really well.”

The company has also implemented sanitization precautions at the office. Hays Fry says business for the law firm has so far remained steady and has actually been busy on the real estate side, but they’re expecting a drop in business in the coming months.