Law new is a difficult idea to pin down but it’s one that all lawyers should understand and harness to their advantage. At its core, it’s about offering clients the kind of help they need without impacting other areas of legal practice that might be the firm’s primary focus. It’s also about adopting a variety of different ways to deliver services and utilizing non-traditional fee structures.
Generally, ideas for new laws are introduced in the form of legislative proposals known as bills. Bills are assigned numbers (either H.R. or S.) and are formally referred to a committee of Congress (either the House or Senate). After consideration, bills may be recommended for passage by the committee with the aid of staff work. If passed, the bill becomes a Public Law and is therefore binding on all persons, entities and agencies in the United States.
Committee reports accompanying legislative proposals are a vital part of the legislative process. They provide a detailed analysis of the bill, explaining its purpose and scope as well as the reason why the committee recommends its passage. They are also important reference tools for the courts, executive departments and the general public because they contain the text of the newly enacted Public Law.