It is not news that some lawyers dedicate their careers to saving lives. Attorneys practicing criminal law may first come to mind. What may be less well known is that those of us who practice health law are also working hard to save lives, albeit at much less daily risk than our selfless colleagues on the front lines of medicine.

This year our Health Law Section members seized the opportunity to address the legal and ethical public health issues that COVID-19 brought front and center, by bringing attention to state action that would ease the challenges of public health emergencies. This was accomplished by presenting recommendations to New York state leadership to pass laws that will maximize the ability of local officials and front-line workers to act quickly and fairly to protect lives, especially the lives of our most vulnerable.