Dome:
Law, Legislation & Policy

Housed at Boston University School of Law, Dome is a valuable resource for news, analysis, and opinion on legislation and public policy. Dome is staffed by students of BU Law’s various legislation clinics. Dome features work contributed by staff members, scholars, practitioners, and law students interested in legislation and public policy.

Negotiating with Goliath: Lawmakers’ battle with Uber & Lyft over ridesharing legislation

By picom
June 30th, 2017 in Local Legislation, State Legislation.

As I stepped off the plane and into the jet bridge, I already had my Uber app opened on my smartphone, and only a few short minutes after requesting a ride, the driver was calling me to tell say that he was outside baggage claim. This kind of convenience and... More

The Role of the Courtroom in Combating Domestic Violence

By Katherine Depangher
May 8th, 2017 in Analysis, Legislation in Court, State Legislation.

The rhetoric surrounding the courtroom can be idealistic. The courtroom is supposed to be a symbol of justice, where every party has a fair opportunity to be heard. Yet the reality for survivors of domestic violence is far from this ideal. Survivors who have the strength to seek their day... More

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When the shoe doesn’t quite fit: Fitting a digital world into an analog statutory structure

By Matthew Kipnis
May 8th, 2017 in Analysis, Local Legislation, Uncategorized.

  Few issues in recent years have bedeviled lawmakers at the state and local level as much as the question of how to react to the online “sharing” economy, where people with a car they don’t use much or a typically empty spare bedroom decide to monetize their asset. When voters... More

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Raising the Minimum Wage: Look No Further Than Your Own Backyard

By befelix
May 8th, 2017 in Analysis, Federal Legislation, State Legislation.

By: Brynn E. Felix The United States has a minimum wage problem. In 2015, roughly 2.6 million workers earned at or below the federal minimum wage—a measly $7.25 per hour. The federal minimum has not budged since 2009 and continues to depreciate in value: by 2015 the $7.25 hourly wage had... More

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Closing Loopholes with New Whistlerblower Protection Legislation and Dispensing the View of Whistleblowers as Mere Disgruntled Employees

By Eli Oh
February 22nd, 2017 in Uncategorized.

Following the havoc of corporate scandals caused by Enron, Worldcom, and Madoff and Stanford's Ponzi scheme, instances of corporate fraud and whistleblowing is no longer a novel subject matter today. Accordingly, questions surrounding the extent of ethical responsibility of those employees ancillary to the fraud emerged but with no clear... More