The practice of law is changing and evolving at an incredible rate. New laws are being enacted, old ones are being reformed, and the way that law firms do business is constantly being challenged and changed by these forces. One area of the practice of law where these changes are especially important is new law, a new area of legal expertise that seeks to bring value to clients by employing alternative business models and methods.
Legal innovation is about change that is meaningful and impactful to consumers of legal services and society at large. It is about building a better future. It is about moving beyond the conventional and outdated practices of the past. It is about embracing technology and multidisciplinary expertise (non-lawyers) as part of the solution to our biggest legal challenges. It is about working smarter, not harder. It is about using the power of technology to produce more efficient, value-driven solutions for our client and customer needs.
This is the first of a series of articles that will explore the many different aspects of the new law phenomenon. The articles will discuss new legal strategies, delivery methodologies, technologies and processes that are being used to improve the quality of the services being provided by legal practitioners and in-house departments. These innovative solutions are designed to create more efficient, responsive, cost-effective and value-driven legal services for all.
A law is a set of rules or regulations created by a legislature. The process for creating a new law in Congress begins when a member of either the House or Senate introduces a bill. The bill is then assigned to a committee whose members will research the bill and make changes to it before it is brought up for a vote.
If a bill is passed by both houses of Congress, it becomes a law and is signed by the President. A law can also be amended or repealed by the same procedure.
New York City’s Laws & Rules
NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (“DCWP”) has recently adopted new rules to implement Local Law 129 of 2021, which requires City agencies to provide their employees and job applicants with information about federal and state student loan forgiveness programs. DCWP has also made a number of other policy and administrative amendments to existing rules. These new rules can be found on the Laws & Rules web page.