Shelter-in-Place Tabletop Exercise for Law Firms

This exercise is part of our catalog of tabletop exercises for law firms.

Scenario Overview

A sudden explosion in the surrounding area triggers emergency alerts directing all nearby buildings to shelter in place. The law firm's office is immediately impacted, and employees and guests must remain inside while the situation develops. Confusion spreads quickly as staff try to understand what is happening and how long they may be required to stay.

As conditions evolve, leadership must manage a wide range of issues, including employee safety, emotional stress, access to medications, and the challenges of maintaining order within the building. At the same time, the firm must address security concerns, ensuring that no one leaves prematurely and that unauthorized individuals do not enter the facility.

This exercise is designed to test leadership decision-making during a prolonged shelter-in-place event. It focuses on emergency response, building operations, employee management, and continuity challenges in a law firm environment.

Why This Scenario Matters for Law Firms

Law firms depend on stable working environments, controlled access, and the ability to meet time-sensitive obligations. A shelter-in-place event can disrupt normal operations while introducing complex challenges related to employee well-being, facility management, and security.

This exercise helps leadership teams evaluate how they would respond when employees and guests must remain inside for an extended period under uncertain and stressful conditions.

Exercise Objectives

• Evaluate leadership response during a prolonged shelter-in-place situation.
• Discuss how the firm will manage employee safety, stress, and medical needs.
• Review building control measures, including restricting movement and managing access.
• Assess internal communications during an evolving and uncertain event.
• Identify impacts on court appearances, deadlines, and ongoing legal work.
• Strengthen planning for operational continuity during extended facility lockdowns.

Typical Participants

• Firm leadership
• Office or operations management
• Human resources
• Facilities or building management liaison
• Security personnel
• Communications personnel
• Practice leadership or department heads
• Business continuity or crisis management team members

Exercise Format

Conduct-It-Yourself Tabletop Exercises are structured, discussion-based simulations designed to help organizations test their response to disruptive events without the time and cost of a fully facilitated exercise. Participants are placed in the middle of a realistic scenario as it unfolds and must work through decisions, priorities, and consequences as a leadership team.

Each downloadable exercise package includes everything needed to conduct the session internally, including facilitator instructions, exercise overview materials, participant forms, a detailed scenario script, and a ready-to-run PowerPoint presentation that guides the scenario and discussion. The materials are designed so organizations can conduct the exercise as delivered or customize the storyline and supporting materials to reflect their own facilities, operations, and testing objectives.

Most exercises are designed to be conducted in approximately 2 to 4 hours. A typical agenda includes an exercise overview and scenario briefing, the facilitated disaster simulation discussion, group review and preparation for debriefing, and a structured post-exercise discussion to capture lessons learned and improvement opportunities.

Exercise Focus

• Emergency Response
• Shelter-in-Place
• Evacuation
• Building Operations

Related Tabletop Exercise Scenarios

Organizations exploring this scenario may also find these exercises useful:

• Cyber Crime Tabletop Exercise for Law Firms
• Workplace Hostage Tabletop Exercise for Law Firms
• Earthquake Tabletop Exercise for Law Firms
• Train Wreck Tabletop Exercise for Law Firms
• Gas Main Explosion Tabletop Exercise for Law Firms
• Pandemic Tabletop Exercise for Law Firms

Purchase & Download

This exercise is delivered as a downloadable package that includes facilitator instructions, scenario materials, and structured discussion prompts to guide the exercise.