New law is a concept that legal firms need to understand and harness as an opportunity. It’s about providing the help that clients need in ways they might not expect, offering new services that can bring in more business and creating strategies that are outside of traditional approaches to the practice of law.
A well thought out plan that makes use of this concept can allow a firm to expand its reach while retaining client loyalty and giving itself more flexibility in terms of how it operates. It’s not just about saving money, although that can be a part of it. It’s about creating value that benefits clients in new ways, expanding the firm and growing it to its full potential.
In the past, embracing this concept meant looking for ways to cut salaries, reduce staffing levels and find less expensive operating locations. That still exists but there is a more sophisticated approach now. The idea is about providing the service that clients need in new ways and embracing technology, finding innovative ways to work with them and creating strategies that are not typical of standard practice.
For example, this might involve establishing a special practice area to handle family disputes or assisting clients in the settling of estates. It might mean finding alternative dispute resolution methods, working with a wide variety of industries or helping small businesses grow their operations and expand. It might also include using different kinds of fee structures. In any event, this form of practice typically employs a team that may not be on the partner track and uses an approach that is outside the traditional office setting.
Some examples of new laws that went into effect on July 1 include the recognition of Juneteenth as an official state holiday, the Firearm Industry Responsibility Act and a number of changes to the handling of criminal records. To read more about the new laws and to see all laws that went into effect during a particular legislative session, visit the Laws of the City (Public Access Portal) website. You can filter the laws by year and switch which legislative session you are viewing on the search page. Laws passed during a special legislative session are listed separately. The information on this site is intended to be a convenient summary of the laws passed and does not replace the official text of the legislation.