It’s only the first full week of 2021. Already, we’ve witnessed an attack on Congress, effects from Brexit, and the implementation of new national labor regulations set to go into effect later this year. The LexBlog community has been busy keeping us up to date on these major changes, as well as offering legal insight onto more basic, broader issues. Here are some of the best posts from this week.
Top 10
Crime goes viral
Rick Horowitz talks about the link between viral crimes and GoFundMe campaigns. He has personal experience representing individuals who often cannot afford their own defense—and are usually not white—and points out that “The mob usually targets my clients, instead of supporting them.” Rick dives into the events that unfolded at the Capitol and white supremacist insurrection on Criminal Defense Blog.
Setting up your law practice for success in the New Year
At the start of a new year, it’s worth it to take a step back and evaluate where your firm is now, where you want it to be, and what steps it will take to get there. Allison Shields Johs of Legal Ease Consulting explains how having a plan like this in your back pocket also helps when the unexpected happens (such as 2020) at Legal Ease Blog.
Trump Administration extends bans on issuing certain work visas and green cards until March 31, 2021
The Trump administration issued a Presidential Proclamation that extended two prior executive actions suspending the issuance of work visas and green cards. Timothy C. D’Arduini of Mayer Brown discusses the ban’s vulnerability to action by the courts or the incoming administration at The Mobile Workforce.
DOL issues new tip regulations: Will 2020 be the last year Of 80/20?
Regulations that will go into effect March 1, 2021 explicitly exclude managers and supervisors from taking a share of employee’s tips. Seyfarth Shaw discusses how this could be the end to the 80/20 rule and the courts role in interpreting these regulations on Wage & Hour Litigation Blog.
Attack on Congress is an attack on the Rule of Law
Dan Schwartz uses a personal anecdote to highlight just how wrong and disgusting the events of January 6 in Washington D.C. were. The Shipman & Goodwin lawyer paints a picture of the first time he got to go on the Senate floor and then contrasts this experience with rioters invading the Capitol and attacking the Rule of Law at Connecticut Employment Law Blog.
The judge got it wrong- now what do I do?
For a family law case, what should you do if you firmly believe the judge’s ruling was wrong? While you’re entitled to appeal the judge’s decision to a higher court, there are many rules involved. Jennifer Millner of Stark & Stark discusses the processes and rules behind appealing a case to an Appellate Division court on New Jersey Law Blog.
Edge computing is the next big thing you and your clients need to know about
Many experts believe 2021 will see a rise in the use of edge computing since it has efficient bandwidth use, faster response time, and speeds up applications. Peggy Keene of Klemchuk defines edge computing in simple terms. She goes over its comeback and its differences from cloud computing over at Intellectual Property Trends.
Significant workplace changes in store under the Biden Administration
“Biden has touted support for numerous legislative and regulatory proposals that would significantly change the employment and labor law landscape.” Proskauer goes over his stance on issues such as equal employment and paid leave, employment-related agreements, wage and hour laws, labor/management relations, and other anticipated actions on the blog, Law and the Workplace.
England considering gene editing for food
Just recently at the virtual Oxford Farming Conference, it was announced that England had launched a comment period regarding gene editing of crops and livestock. Joe Whitworth of Marler Clark briefly explains how this related to Brexit. He also touches on the cautious but positive reactions it has received so far on Food Safety News.
Trump’s insurrection
Scott Greenfield refers to January 6 as the most un-American day he has ever experienced. He discusses the President’s inflammation of hatred and fear and how that contributed to the events at the Capitol and the attack on Congress on his blog, Simple Justice.