New Laws in the State of New York
In an industry where the practice of law is constantly evolving, lawyers must always be thinking about ways to improve their services and create strategies that can help them succeed. One area of the practice that is currently attracting interest from many firms is the concept of “law new.” The term, while not easy to define, generally refers to alternative legal services providers (ALSPs), startups or law firm subsidiaries that augment traditional legal work by taking on some of the less-revenue-generating or high-risk parts of the business.
Among other things, New York’s law new involves finding more efficient ways to serve clients while still ensuring that all cases are handled properly and within a timely manner. The practice also focuses on working with underserved communities and coming up with innovative solutions to problems that might have seemed impossible in the past.
For example, New York’s new law could mean that police departments have the power to give out fentanyl testing kits to victims and witnesses of crime, so that they can determine whether their drugs contain fentanyl or other opioids before they decide to file for victim compensation funds. The new law, named after Matthew Horan, a college student who died from an accidental fentanyl overdose in 2020, is one of the state’s efforts to combat this devastating epidemic.
The state’s new laws could also include measures to ensure the safety of tenants and protect them from issues like water quality. An assembly bill, for example, would require NYCHA to notify residents in writing about their water’s test results and make sure that those hired to examine the quality of their water do so in accordance with federal, state and city regulations. Another new law, which is aimed at improving security in apartment buildings, would require building owners to give residents notice and give them the option to block access from those who have been granted keyless entry devices that can unlock door locks without a user’s authorized signature.
New York’s new laws may also relate to other topics such as food and housing, data privacy and consumer protection. To learn more about the state’s legislation, visit the New York Legislature’s Bill Tracker or NYC Rules website.
The law of the United States consists of constitutional, statutory and regulatory laws passed by Congress and periodically codified in the U.S. Code, as well as laws and decisions passed by the state’s legislature and consolidated into the New York Consolidated Laws.