The legal industry is always changing, and that’s why it is essential for firms to be open to new ideas at every turn. One area that has grown recently is “new law,” which focuses on providing clients with legal help in different ways. It involves leveraging technology, finding innovative methods to reach underserved clients and using a non-traditional structure for staffers, among other things. The concept of “new law” is still evolving, but it is one that all attorneys should consider to the extent possible to create value for their firms and clients.
New Laws
The Leyes Nuevas (“New Laws”) were passed by the Spanish Crown in 1542 and replaced the previous, less effective, set of laws known as the Leyes de Burgos. The New Laws sought to regulate relations between the Spanish and indigenous peoples of the Americas. They prohibited enslavement of indigenous workers, allowed Indians to be freed from encomienda grants upon the death of an encomendero and forbade the encomienda system from being handed down through inheritance. These were the first humanitarian laws to be enacted in the New World, and they were not completely successful because of resistance from colonists.
This bill would expand the number of street vendor permits, but require that a supervisory permit be present at all pushcarts to operate. It would also create a dedicated vending law enforcement unit to exclusively enforce street vendor laws and establish protections for hotel service workers who lose their jobs due to a change in ownership of a hotel, including the right to severance pay. It would also require fast food employers to discharge employees by inverse seniority, and establish a board to review workplace health and safety guidance during the COVID-19 pandemic. Finally, it would allow sidewalk cafes to waive or refund their revocable consent fees during the pandemic.
