In a profession that is constantly changing, lawyers must stay on their toes and be ready to adapt. One area of law that’s growing in prominence is “law new.” A broad term that can be hard to define, it usually refers to practices outside of traditional law firm settings. It can encompass everything from startups and independent contractor relationships to venture capital-backed legal companies. For some, it also means a new focus on serving underserved communities and finding innovative ways to serve clients.
Law new isn’t a replacement for traditional law firms; it’s an additional path that’s designed to be a complement to them. The idea is that by leveraging these new paths, traditional firms can better serve their clients and tap into a larger pool of potential clients. The result is a better, more inclusive society.
New laws are necessary to address a wide variety of issues, from economic crises and civil rights advancements to environmental disasters and health epidemics. While the process of creating legislation is complex, it’s an essential mechanism for shaping public policy and reflecting the values of voters.
The process of creating new laws begins with the development of a policy idea. This may come from a senator’s constituents, from an organization calling for change, or from a State agency or executive branch official. Once the idea has been agreed upon, it must be drafted as a bill. This is typically the responsibility of the Senate’s legislative staff, but the drafter may be hired by a lobbying firm representing an interested party or by a private practice law firm.
Once a bill has been drafted, it must be passed by both houses of the legislature and approved by the Governor. The Governor has 10 days to sign or veto bills that are sent to him, and once he signs a bill into law, it becomes effective immediately. If he vetoes a bill, it is returned to the legislature with a statement of his or her reasons for disapproval, and two-thirds of the members of each house must vote to override the veto.
This bill would require City agencies to provide employees and job applicants with information about federal and State student loan forgiveness programs. The bill would also amend the law to add penalties for violations of certain requirements regarding open captioning in movie theaters and automated employment decision tools. Read the full bill.