As legal professionals, we know that the business of law is a field that moves fast. What works one quarter may not be as effective the next. And as the industry evolves, it is important for lawyers to understand the trends and find ways to use new ideas to their advantage. One such idea is known as “law new.” While it can be difficult to define, law new is a concept that many legal firms are finding beneficial. It involves embracing innovation, focusing on process and incorporating a more varied form of fees than the traditional partnership track model.

A variety of new laws took effect as of Jan. 1 that will impact residents statewide. For example, the minimum wage in NYC, Westchester and Long Island now stands at $16 per hour. Also, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed 730 bills into law and has 87 more that she is currently reviewing.

City agencies that experience a data breach that exposes the private information of individuals would be required to promptly notify affected persons, the Department of Consumer Affairs and the Office of Privacy, and to make certain disclosures under State law. This bill is a technical amendment to align existing City data breach notification law with requirements under the State SHIELD Act.

The NYPD will be able to disclose records related to an individual’s criminal history, including convictions for felonies and misdemeanors, when a person voluntarily provides that information. This law, named after Matthew Horan who died from a fentanyl overdose in 2020, will expand the availability of drug test kits by requiring pharmacies and health care providers to give them away for free.

The term “public bodies” applies to those public entities that conduct public business and perform a governmental function for the City of New York, including city councils, city boards, county legislatures, town boards, village boards of trustees, school boards, legislative committees and subcommittees, and the committees and subcommittees of these groups. This bill would amend the definition of public body to clarify that it includes entities that are not a part of, or under the control of, a City agency, including school districts, boards of education, local government corporations and town or village boards of supervisors.

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