Local and State Government Law Section

Local and State Government Law Section

Check the Online Community to find out about the March 30 COVID-19 Update: Open Meetings in the Era of Social Distancing.The Local and State Government Law Section Spring Meeting on 4/20 is being cancelled.

The purpose of the Local and State Government Law Section shall be to serve, educate and provide a common meeting ground and impartial forum for those attorneys, whether in the public or private sector engaged in dealing in any capacity with issues in local or state government law. The Section shall carry forward the work of the New York State Bar Association by:

(a) Providing a common meeting ground and impartial forum for those members of the Bar who are engaged in dealing with problems in local and state government law in any capacity;

(b) Furthering a better understanding of local and state government law through the holding of meetings and seminars, the making of studies, surveys and analysis and the dissemination of current information concerning judicial decisions, legislation and other matters of interest to attorneys practicing local and state government law;

(c) Formulating and submitting to the members of the Section and the Association, such reports and recommendations as may be deemed useful to the profession and advisable in the public interest;

(d) Reviewing pending legislation and promoting or opposing the same in the name of the Section (or one of its committees) and, whenever in its judgment necessary or appropriate, initiating legislation;

(e) Furthering the public interest through the practice of local and state government law; and

(f) Furthering access to justice through the promotion of voluntary participation in regional and local pro bono programs.

Section Bylaws

Contact the Local and State Government Law Section Liaison

To learn more about this Section, please contact Cathy Teeter
[email protected]
(518) 487-5573

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Upcoming Events

October 23, 2020

Local & State Government Section Fall Meeting - 75th Anniversary Celebration

Join the Local & State Government Law Section for their 75th Anniversary Celebration in Philadelphia.Registration and sponsorship opportunities coming soon.

Online Community

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Municipal Lawyer

The Municipal Lawyer features peer-written, substantive articles relating to the practice of municipal law on various topics including land use, zoning, ethics, and environmental issues. Edited by Prof. Mike Lewyn, the Municipal Lawyer is a publication of the Local and State Government Law Section of the New York State Bar Association and is distributed to Section members free of charge.

The Municipal Lawyer is published as a benefit for members of the Local and State Government Law Section and is copyrighted by the New York State Bar Association. The copying, reselling, duplication, transferring, reproducing, reusing, retaining or reprinting of this publication is strictly prohibited without permission.
© New York State Bar Association. All rights reserved. ISSN 1530-3969 (print) ISSN 1933-8473 (online)

Government, Law and Policy Journal

Each Government, Law and Policy Journal features peer-written substantive articles with a theme on a current issue of interest to government attorneys. Past themes have included NY Innovative Public Policy; Aging and Longevity; Renewable Energy; Civil Rights and Disabilities Law; Firearms, Public Safety and the Law; The Oversight Function: Guarding the Public Interest; New York State’s Budget; Beverage Alcohol Law: Regulation and Policy; Public Authority Reform; Freedom of Information Law; and Climate Change. Edited by Rose Mary K. Bailly, the Government, Law and Policy Journal is published twice per year and is available to Local, State and Government Law Section members free of charge.

The Journal is published as a benefit for members of the Local, State and Government Law Section and is copyrighted by the New York State Bar Association. The copying, reselling, duplication, transferring, reproducing, reusing, retaining or reprinting of this publication is strictly prohibited without permission.
© New York State Bar Association. All rights reserved. ISSN 1521-7183 (print) ISSN 1933-8562 (online)

Municipal Lawyer Archive

Government, Law and Policy Journal Archive

NYSBA Guidelines for Obtaining MCLE Credit for Writing

Publication Credit Application

Reprint Permission and Disability Accommodations

Author's Guidelines

Section Publications

Municipal Lawyer - 2019

A publication of the Local and State Government Law Section of the New York State Bar Association, produced in cooperation with Touro Law Center. Can’t…

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Section Publications

Government, Law and Policy Journal - 2018

A Publication of the New York State Bar Association Produced in cooperation with the Government Law Center at Albany Law School. Can’t see this edition?…

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Comments on Comptroller's Article 18 Bill

Ethics Litigation Papers

SCEC Felice Reply Affiramtion with Exhibit (PDF File)
SCEC Felice Afrirmation and Exhibits Filed 8-31-10 (PDF File)

SCEC Felice Affirmation in Opposition to Petition and In Support of Motion to Quash with Exhibits(PDF File)
SCEC Felice Affirmation (PDF File)
SCEC Felice Order 10-9-10 (PDF File)
SCEC Felice OTSC and Verified Petition Filed 8-31-10 (PDF File)
PERB Decision in Connection with Town of Islips Financial Disclosure Form (PDF File)
Lexjac, LLC v. Beckerman Appellate Division Brief (PDF File)
Lexjac, LLC v. Beckerman Memorandum and Order (PDF File)
Incorporated Village of PM Board of Trustees Report of Investigation (PDF File)
Putnam Valley Response (PDF File)
Putnam Valley Reply Memo (PDF File)
Putnam Valley MTD Memo (PDF File)
Putnam Valley Reply Affidavit (PDF File)
Putnam Valley Ethics Decision (PDF File)
Ives Hill Country Club (PDF File)

Local and State Government Law Section Committee

Ethics for Municipal Lawyers

The Local and State Government Law Section of the New York State Bar Association is proud to offer its members and members of the general public this complete resource center on Municipal Ethics. Below please find links to PDF versions of articles, statutes, and NYS Attorney General’s Opinion letters.

Legal Resources for Municipal Lawyers

Welcome to the Local and State Government Law Section’s Legal Resource Center!

To assist you with resources the Section has prepared accessible lists of resources available in New York State. Click below on the links to help guide you to our resources:

General Municipal Law Legal Links (for a variety of legal resources)
Municipal Laws
New York Municipal Guide

Sample Ethics Laws

While each of the following ethics laws may contain some deficiencies, such as lack of enforcement authority for the ethics board or an unnecessarily vague gifts provision, on the whole they offer a substantial improvement over Article 18 of the General Municipal Law and illustrate the types of effective local ethics laws municipalities have adopted. The Municipal Lawyers Ethics Columns link contains four columns from the Municipal Lawyer that discuss such laws and provide model provisions:

Enacting a Local Ethics Law-Part I: Code of Ethics (Adobe PDF File)
Enacting a Local Ethics Law-Part II: Disclosure (Adobe PDF File)
Enacting a Local Ethics Law-Part III: Administration (Adobe PDF File)
Local Ethics Laws: Model Administrative Provisions (Adobe PDF File).

Related Files