Law new is an idea that means different things to different people. For many, it is about a new way of delivering legal services. It is about looking at ways to unleash potential and serve clients in the most effective manner possible, all while lowering costs. It can mean a more efficient use of technology or it can be about finding nontraditional locations for practice. It can also be about a non-traditional partnership track or a business model that focuses on process rather than profits.
It can also be about making a big difference in the lives of people, and this is particularly true for state laws. A number of laws that are new or have just become effective this year aim to impact the public in various ways, ranging from the quirky to the serious. Some focus on issues that dominate the headlines, while others are less well known.
New York state laws include the Constitution, laws passed by the legislature and periodically codified in the New York Consolidated Laws, as well as decisions by courts that interpret these laws. This week, ILN highlights some of the laws that are now in effect as of Jan. 1.
In Illinois, a new law named after Louie Miceli seeks to raise drug overdose awareness and education standards in schools. The goal of the legislation is to help young people avoid drugs and their dangerous side effects, and ultimately save lives.
The law, which will take effect July 1, makes it a misdemeanor to sleep on or camp on state-owned lands unless authorized by the department of natural resources. The law aims to protect the rights of those who use the land for recreational purposes while still protecting the interests of other users.
A new law allows voters to cast ballots even if they don’t have their polling place assignments with them. The bill, which takes effect Jan. 1, also requires voters to have their ID with them, and gives the Secretary of State authority to enforce these requirements.
New laws are made all the time, and ILN strives to bring you some of the most interesting ones as they come into effect. But all of us should be aware of how laws are created in the first place, and this week we’re featuring an informative infographic that will explain the process.
International Law News is the quarterly publication of the American Bar Association’s International Law Section and has a global readership of legal practitioners, scholars, professionals, and students in public and private international law. This issue features articles on Impartiality, Ethics and Due Process in Corruption Investigations; A Global Finance Proposal from the World’s Smallest Countries to Enhance Climate Change Resiliency and Adaptation; California Wins Proposition 12 Case; and more. To view the full issue of ILN, click here. For submissions to ILN, please follow our Author Guidelines. For questions about submissions, contact the editor.