As reported in The Law Society Gazette, health protection regulations introduced in the week commencing 28 September 2020 state that "people who test positive for COVID-19 or have had close contact with someone who has tested positive for the coronavirus after 28 September must self-isolate. However, a person can come out of self-isolation ‘to fulfil a legal obligation, including attending court or satisfying bail conditions, or participating in legal proceedings’ (s. 2(3)(b)(iii)).  

Simon Davis, president of the Law Society, said: ‘Allowing lawyers to break quarantine will increase the risk of COVID-19 transmission and pose a significant danger to court users – especially those who have underlying health conditions or are particularly vulnerable to Covid-19. If explicitly required by the court to attend, lawyers should notify the court of any quarantine requirements so that consideration can be given for hearings to be rescheduled or dealt with remotely". Guidance from HM Courts & Tribunals Service states that people should not go to court if they are self-isolating, have symptoms or are extremely vulnerable. 

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