Law is always changing, and lawyers need to stay on top of new ways to approach their work. One area that is growing rapidly in the legal world is called “New Law,” a term that encompasses all kinds of different strategies that can be used to help clients in unique and innovative ways. New Law is a concept that all lawyers should be familiar with to be able to take advantage of it as a potential source of client growth and new revenue streams.
With the new year comes a fresh start, and in Illinois that means more than 180 new laws taking effect on Jan. 1. The new legislation covers a wide range of topics, including worker rights, public safety and even hairstyles.
Among the big laws that took effect this month is the SAFE-T Act, a massive criminal justice reform package that updates rules governing jail time while awaiting trial and use of force by police. However, just days before the law was set to take effect, a judge ruled that the portion of the bill that ends cash bail in the state is unconstitutional.
Other notable new laws include a measure that allows workers to file lawsuits against their employers if they are not paid on time, and another that requires businesses with at least 15 employees to put salary information in job postings. Meanwhile, a new law will require companies to publish pay data broken down by position, gender and race.
The new laws also include a measure that would require City agencies to provide notice of student loan forgiveness programs for employees and applicants for employment. And another would allow workers who have a miscarriage or stillbirth to take 10 days of leave.
In addition to the new laws that are taking effect, there are many other pieces of legislation on the table. The New York legislative session, which runs through June, includes several bills that are pending. Learn more about the lawmaking process in Congress: how a bill becomes a law, and how a bill gets changed or amended during committee hearings. Also, get a detailed look at the process in the House of Representatives and Senate, including how each body votes on a bill.