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Legal information available online
General purpose information
The Law Library of Congress’s Guide to Online Law includes legal information from over a hundred different countries and all fifty states.
The Legal Information Institute has guides to 130 areas of law.
LawHelp has basic information about legal rights, court forms, self-help information, court information, links to social service agencies, and more for each state.
State and local bar associations may offer legal information on their websites.
Official website of the European Union about EU law. Allows searching inside law texts to find specific legislation.
Consumer Law
Consumers' Guide to Legal Help. A directory from the American Bar Association that can be searched for state-specific consumer resources, including assistance with foreclosure.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) publishes Scam Alerts and information about how to avoid fraud. According to the FTC, if you think you may have been scammed, you can file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (if you are outside the U.S., you can file a complaint at econsumer.gov). You can also report scams to your state Attorney General's office.
The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) is a service from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C) that offers internet crime prevention tips for transactions over the Internet. The IC3 accepts online Internet crime complaints from either the actual victim or from a third party.
Options for getting out of default on student loans. The U.S. Department of Education provides information about how to get student loans out of default status.
Income-based repayment plans for student loans. The U.S. Department of Education provides information about options for student loan repayment based on current income.
The European Consumer Center provides free legal advice and mediation to consumers in the EU who are having trouble with something they bought in a different EU country.
Copyright, patent and trademark
U.S. Copyright Office circulars and fact sheets and frequently asked questions about copyright.
United States Patent and Trademark Office's general information concerning patents and basic facts about trademarks.
Criminal Law
The ACLU's pamphlet "Know Your Rights When Encountering Law Enforcement". Available in English, Spanish, Arabic, Urdu, French, Farsi, Punjabi, Hindi, and Somali.
The Digital Media Law Project offers information about Recording Phone Calls and Conversations: "If you plan to record telephone calls or in-person conversations (including by recording video that captures sound), you should be aware that there are federal and state wiretapping laws that may limit your ability to do so. These laws not only expose you to the risk of criminal prosecution, but also potentially give an injured party a civil claim for money damages against you."
Disability Law
A Guide to Disability Rights Laws. From the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, Disability Rights Section.
Disability Law Handbook. From the ADA National Network.
Employment Law
The U.S. Department of Labor's Employment Law Guide.
Legal Voice offers self-help publications on a variety of Employment topics, including Employment Discrimination, Family Leave Laws, and Termination of Employment. Some information is specific to Washington State, but information about federal laws is also provided.
Family Law
Charts summarizing basic laws in each state by topic, including custody, alimony and grounds for divorce from the American Bar Association.
WomensLaw.org has state and federal law overviews about child custody, restraining orders, parental kidnapping, divorce, crimes, gun laws, immigration, and tribal law.
Journalism
The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press offers a Digital Journalist's Legal Guide for a variety of topics, including FOIA, Libel and Invasion of Privacy.
The Digital Media Law Project offers a searchable Legal Guide for a variety of topics, and a collection of legal guides and legal resources.
Military Families
Military families have legal rights above and beyond civilian families. The American Bar Association offers legal information about a variety of issues, and an online directory that can be searched by location for military legal assistance offices, legal aid and pro bono organizations, lawyer referral and information services, and military-specific programs.
The Armed Forces Legal Assistance site is a resource for basic legal information, aimed at service members on topics including consumer law, family law, trusts and estate planning.
Real Estate
The American Bar Association offers information about Real Estate FAQs, including Common Issues with Residential Real Estate, Common Issues with Commercial Real Estate and a Glossary of Real Estate Terms.
Small Business Law
The U.S. Small Business Administration's Small Business Planner.
Wills / Trusts / Estates
The American Bar Association offers information about Estate Planning FAQs, including wills, trusts, probate, power of attorney etc.
Legal Voice offers self-help publications, including After a Death Occurs - A Checklist. Some information is tailored to Washington State, but a lot of general information that may be helpful for planning purposes is also provided.
Disclaimer
The listing of an organization on this website does not constitute an endorsement of that group. This website and its contributors cannot guarantee the accuracy of information posted here or on any other website. This website and its contributors are not responsible for any legal advice, information, or assistance that you may obtain by using any of the organizations or websites listed or linked here. This website is for general information purposes only and is not legal advice for your specific situation. To obtain legal advice, you must get a lawyer.
