The law is a dynamic profession, and it is important to stay abreast of new trends. New developments impacting the legal field can mean new opportunities for firms to offer their services or even to develop entirely different strategies for doing so. One of those trends that has developed in recent years is the idea of “law new.” It refers to the practice of offering legal assistance through innovative means that are designed to create value for clients without disrupting the primary focus of a firm’s main legal efforts.
Federal Law
Become familiar with the lawmaking process in Congress, from beginning to end. This includes how a bill becomes a law, and the differences between how a bill is treated in the House of Representatives versus in the Senate. The process starts with a policy idea that may originate from a senator, an organization that recommends a new law, or a member of the public who petitions a senator to introduce a law in their name. Once a bill is introduced, it must be reviewed and changed by committees before it can move forward in the legislative process.
New York Law
New laws include the constitution, legislation passed by the legislature and periodically codified in the New York Consolidated Laws, regulations issued by governmental agencies with jurisdiction over certain areas, and judgments rendered by courts. The City of New York, which has its own charter and laws passed by the City Council, also has its own statutes and ordinances.
The laws of the State of New York can be accessed online via Westlaw. A searchable database is provided by the New York State Division of Administrative Rules, which can be accessed through links within the Westlaw site. In addition, the New York State Attorney General’s Office maintains a comprehensive set of online New York law resources.
LawNews: The New York Law Journal
This electronic law review contains current and archived issues, and features articles on a variety of topics, including the latest court decisions, significant cases, legislative developments, and legal trends. The New York Law Journal is published quarterly, and is available to all members of the public on the Internet for a small subscription fee.
The Ogletree Deakins Government Law Center provides students with hands-on experience working in a municipal, county or state government agency and assists students in their preparation for careers in civic leadership. The Center hosts a variety of programs, including the popular CityLaw Breakfast series, policy and budget briefings, conferences on major political issues, book talks with authors, continuing legal education seminars, and other lectures and trainings.
This law requires the Department of Citywide Administrative Services to prepare a notice for city employees and job applicants regarding student loan forgiveness programs. It also amends the City’s paid sick leave laws to align them with recent updates in Washington’s Paid Family and Medical Leave law.