The legal profession is one that constantly adjusts to new challenges. One way that it has done this is through an idea that has come to be known as “New Law.” It’s a term that can be hard to define, but generally speaking, it refers to the way in which law firms are approaching their business and providing legal services in new ways. This can include everything from working with underserved communities to finding innovative methods of helping clients with their legal issues.
The AALS has selected NYLS as a co-host law school for the Journal of Legal Education, a quarterly publication that provides in-depth coverage on current and emerging topics in legal education. The issue features a discussion of the changing landscape of legal education, as well as essays written by students and professors from across the country about how their law schools are responding to these changes.
New York State Supreme Court Justice Judith S. Kaye, a longtime supporter of NYLS and its mission to serve the public, has been named the new editor-in-chief of the New York Law Review. She is the first woman and the youngest person to hold this position. Justice Kaye, who has served on the court for more than 30 years, has written many landmark decisions, including ones dealing with the constitutionality of statutes limiting abortion access and criminal procedure reform.
A lawsuit filed on behalf of a group of Access-A-Ride participants accuses the Metropolitan Transportation Authority of discriminatory practices in its transit system. The case highlights the importance of NYLS’s innovative law clinic model, which includes a focus on social impact work.
A bill would require city agencies to notify affected individuals if their private information is accessed, disclosed or used by an unauthorized individual. It would also amend the definition of private identifying information to make it more consistent with state law. The committee on open government may promulgate guidelines regarding the deletion of identifying details or withholding records otherwise available when such disclosures are unwarranted invasions of privacy.
CUNY Law alumna Heidi Goldsmith ’21 Evening is featured in global magazine Weil Quarterly for her writing on the NextGen bar exam and the modern writing demands placed on new lawyers.
The NYLS Dispute Resolution team won the first-runner up award at this year’s International Commercial Mediation Competition in Paris. The team’s Natalie Klein ’24 and Austin LaBorwit ’23 share their experience competing in the competition.
The New York State Legislature is considering several bills to expand protections for survivors of domestic violence. The NYLS Clinical Law Center and the Survivor Resource Network are helping to lead this effort. The reauthorization of this critical program would provide more than $15 million in funding for expanded programs and services. The funds are needed to continue offering free legal services, training and support for victims and their families, as well as new initiatives aimed at expanding access to resources. The bill will be discussed in a hearing this week, and a vote is expected next month.