Closing Arguments
by James Chenoweth This will be my last edition of NetNacs! I am moving on to a private law practice in Houston beginning in 2005. I hope that the LegalBits! feature has provided you with an entertaining and educational resource, with which you can spend your time without regretting it. I felt the best way to complete my tenure at NetNacs! is to provide you with the tools to do legal research yourself, helping you to cut out the middleman whenever necessary.
First, let me begin with a story to illustrate just what you can accomplish by using these resources. A friend of mine, just the other day, had a state tax issue in California. I, of course, had no expertise in the area, but being the resident tax law student, he came to me. He received a notice of deficiency from the State of California for income taxes, despite the fact he was a Texas resident and never worked a day of his life in California. My advice was simple: call the California's version of the IRS and tell them your situation. Within 24 hours, the problem was solved. Even the people that are against you in a legal issue can sometimes realize they are in the wrong. A phone call is, many times, all that separates your legal problem and solution.
To figure out exactly whom to call, however, can be tricky. Therefore, let me clue you in on some Internet resources available to you.
Lexis.com and Westlaw.com provide pay-for-service websites with which you can solve just about any legal issue if you know what you are looking for. These are the tools lawyers use to solve their problems. Whether you are trying to figure out the tax rate at the lowest bracket or are merging two multi-national corporations, the appropriate law can be found on these.
But, you will probably want some free websites, so let's get to that. Googling the government usually will get the job done, so hit IRS.gov for tax problems or SSA.gov for social security check hassles. As a general rule, contacting the government agency directly handling your issue will usually be all you have to do (see story above). Other common agency sites include SEC.gov, USDOJ.gov, and ED.gov. Your state and local governments will also have helpful websites if you simply search for them.
In addition to government agencies, you may search a general law-specific search engine like Findlaw.com, or contact the American Bar Association.
There you have it. Just checking through those sites ought to keep you busy enough for awhile. It has been enjoyable bringing you Perspective over the years at LegalBits and LegalBits! Thank you for reading, and good luck.
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Disclaimer... My articles / essays are intended for entertainment only. I am not a lawyer or expert of any kind or in any field and do not hold myself out to be. NetNacs, its owners, its affiliates, and I do not guarantee the accuracy of any of the claims made in my articles / essays at any time. Please consult your legal or financial advisor for professional advice on the subjects of my articles / essays. NetNacs, its owners, its affiliates, and I disclaim all liability as a result of any action taken based on my articles / essays. |
