The law can be a challenging field to work in. It changes constantly. What was legal one quarter may not be the next. To stay ahead of the curve, lawyers need to think about new ways to approach their practice. This includes new types of clients and strategies that do not fit the old mold. One example is “law new.”
While there is no clear definition of this concept, law new focuses on providing value to clients in a way that has not been done before. It often involves the use of Legal Technology and a different pricing model that abandons billable hours. It also involves hiring staffers who are not on the partner track and working out of non-traditional offices.
The New Year has brought major changes to the legal landscape, from higher minimum wage rates in the city and Westchester to a new law that will allow medical professionals to administer lifesaving drug testing kits at no cost to their patients. In addition, the New York State legislature passed more than 700 bills and Gov. Kathy Hochul signed 730.
A few notable bills from the 2024 session include legislation that expands eligibility for crime victim compensation funds, requires local pharmacies to offer fentanyl test kits and allows police officers to take blood samples from suspected criminals at the scene of an incident. Other bills aim to help NYCHA tenants with water issues by requiring them to be informed in writing about the results of their water quality tests, and helps protect tenant security by prohibiting keyless entry devices on apartment building elevators.
Another legislative effort would require public bodies to comply with the Open Meetings Law if they are considering a contract that exceeds $1 million. The law applies to the City Council, New York County Board of Supervisors, municipal agencies, city, town, village and school district boards of trustees and commissions, and their committees and subcommittees. It does not apply to the governor, the mayor or members of the New York State Assembly and Senate. The law is available for review on the City’s website.