In practice

What’s your cyclone contingency plan?

3 March 2025

While North Queensland practitioners are used to dealing with cyclonic weather, it could be new territory for South-East Queensland firms. With Cyclone Alfred forecast to hit the region this week, it is time for to implement contingency plans.

While it is difficult to predict the exact impacts, it is likely there will be significant disruption, with flash flooding, road closures, loss of power in some areas and potential court closures.

Practitioners should be planning for this, including considering the following issues:

Staff safety – flash floods and high winds can be dangerous, and it may be that some/all staff should be working remotely;
Staying informed – keeping up to date on the cyclone’s progress, and any official warnings (it is best to source your information from official sources such as the Bureau of Meteorology);
Checking Proctor for up-to-date information on court operations and closures;
Ensuring your back-ups (re: files) are up to date and a copy is in a safe, accessible location;
Checking your safe custody documents (if any) are in a place that will not be affected by floods;
Considering an off-line version of your key dates calendar if power / internet is down.

It is also worth taking the time to make yourself aware of the resources available to practitioners, such as:

Guidance for law practices where documents have been affected by flooding or extreme weather conditions;
The QLS Business Continuity and Succession Planning Guide and other practice management resources;
This natural disaster response checklist and contingency planning checklist;
Converge International Telehealth/critical incident support or crisis counselling. To access this service call 1300 687 327 or Rapid Response / Critical Incident – Converge International;
The Lexon Extreme Events – Law Practice Disruption Guide (for those insured with Lexon).

Also keep in mind that during the cyclone and its aftermath, fellow practitioners may be struggling mentally, cut off by floods or dealing with storm damage to homes and offices.

It may be that extensions and postponements are needed, and at times like these our profession will need to rely on the collegiality and understanding that lies at its heart.