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30 Alb. L. Rev. 282 (1966)
Legal Effects of Attorney Specialization

handle is hein.journals/albany30 and id is 298 raw text is: the dependent and helpless.89 It is suggested that the act still has this pur- pose, but that it has been overlooked and that consequently many persons who are protected by the act have neglected to prosecute actions. As it now exists, the act gives a cause of action to anyone who is injured as a result of the intoxication; there appears to be no reason for denying the right to persons other than natural persons, such as to corporations and governmental subdivisions. It is suggested, therefore, that the act could be used by welfare depart- ments who are forced to support an individual as a result of someone's intoxication. Since habitual intoxication is in many instances a direct or remote cause of poverty, it seems that the statute would have wide use by such welfare departments. There would be no difficulty in obtaining a recovery if the intoxicated person was receiving welfare payments at the time of his intoxication and as a result of his intoxication required medical attention which the welfare department had a duty to furnish.90 It like- wise appears that there is no objection to these departments recovering the sums expended when an unlawful sale contributed to a person's intoxi- cation and as a result of the intoxication, his means of support were re- duced to such an extent that the welfare department was obligated to undertake his support. Several other uses for the statute suggest themselves. Not only does the act allow recovery in one-car accident cases where awards would other- wise be impossible, but it generally protects the dependents of the inebriate from the wrongful effects of his actions. It would seem that in any case in which the intoxication of one party plays a part in an injury to another, the attorney's duty to his client would require him to explore the possibil- ities of action under the dram shop act. In addition it would seem that the act could be used by attorneys and especially by legal aid societies as a means of collecting otherwise uncollectable support for their clients. The possibilities are unlimited and it seems that much greater benefit could be derived from the statute than has been in the past. THOMAS F. FARRELL LEGAL EFFECTS OF ATTORNEY SPECIALIZATION As modern legal practice expands in variety, complexity and difficulty, the problems arising from specialization within the legal profession become increasingly important. Although no fields of specialization are yet offi- 89 See Volans v. Owen, 74 N.Y. 526 (1878). 90 N.Y. SOCIAL WELFAke LAW § 184. 282 ALBANY LAW REVIEW [Vol. 30

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