I attended the Community Associations Institute’s annual Law Seminar last month. The seminar was held in Las Vegas this year and, while I am not a gambler, I still felt like a winner at the end of the three-day conference.
The Law Seminar draws approximately 600 attorneys from virtually every state in the country, all of whom dedicate a large portion of their law practice to the representation of community associations – condominiums, co-ops and/or homeowners associations. Some are solo practitioners, while others are members of large firms with multiple offices throughout the state, or in several states.
Meeting other attorneys whose practice is similar to, but in some ways different from, our work at Taylor, Eldridge & Endres is one of the major attractions of the seminar. Each has a story to tell. Austin, from Arizona, has been dealing with irate residents. Sandra, from California, has been challenged by bullying and harassment issues. Jeff, from Colorado, dedicates most of his law practice to suing sponsors for construction defects. David, from Las Vegas, recently purchased the law office he was working at from a larger firm that was looking to consolidate. Patricia, from New Jersey, was a Northport High School graduate.
Many of the topics discussed at the Law Seminar were familiar to me from our experiences on Long Island, such as short-term rentals, problem homeowners, affordable housing and apathy. But many states are dealing with issues which have not yet reached New York, or at least not in a significant way. Many states have adopted elaborate electronic voting and energy conservation laws, either designed specifically for community associations or which have a direct impact on such communities. Occupancy rules and the changing concept of “family” have received attention, as have accessory dwelling units (ADUs), which are units attached, detached, or located within the original home. Rules regarding marijuana use and the dissolution/merger of community associations are two topics that are being addressed in other parts of the country, but that are not local issues – yet.
The Law Seminar is a great opportunity to compare notes, exchange war stories, hear of new ideas and establish valuable contacts. While I stayed away from the card tables and slot machines, I did get to see Dionne Warwick perform one evening – she is indeed a national treasure. Overall, the seminar was a most worthy endeavor.
