Legal Information: You and the Law
Pamphlets
- Your Guide to Hiring a Lawyer
- The General Practitioner
- ADR: Methods for settling legal disputes without going to court
- Your Rights if Arrested
- Guide to Jury Service
- Rights of Gays, Lesbians, Bi-Sexuals and Transgenders
- Your Guide to Law-Related Careers
- Becoming and Adult: Your Legal Rights and Responsibilities at Age 18 (PDF)
Articles
Census
Consumer Protection
- Buying merchandise on credit has legal consequences
- Consumer laws provide legal protection
- Laws exist to protect consumers
- Read the fine print before signing a contract
- Things to consider when choosing a computer password
- Unsolicited in-home sales can be cancelled
- Warranties can protect buyers from costly repairs
- What is a warranty?
- What you should know before signing a contract
- When buying on credit, read the fine print
Jury Duty
- Frequently asked questions about jury summons
- Jury Service Terminology
- The juror's role during a trial
- The jury selection process
- What to do if you receive a jury summons
Voting
- Voting is a right that is governed by laws
- Registering to vote is a simple process
- Test your knowledge of voting rights
- Voters have responsibilities as well as rights
You and Alcohol
- Penalties stiff for underage persons who violate state drinking laws
- Drunk drivers can face serious penalties
- Underage persons who violate drinking laws subject to stiff penalties
You and the Legal Profession
- Becoming a State Judge has several pre-requisites
- Broad gamut of law-related career options available
- Choosing a career in the law
- Criminal defense lawyer's role often misunderstood
- Do you really need a lawyer?
- Four basic ways that a lawyer charges for services
- Getting free legal help if you can't afford a lawyer
- How lawyers set fees
- How to know when you need an attorney
- How to resolve a dispute with a non-lawyer: hire a lawyer
- Making the most of your first visit to an attorney
- New law bans ads for unlicensed individuals offering legal services
- Protect yourself: how to hire the best attorney for you
- The role of the lawyer in our society is to protect our rights
- The role of non-lawyers in the legal system
- Take caution when using non-traditional means of seeking legal advice
- The unauthorized practice of law: what you should know
- Use caution before suing someone for defamation
- Who can practice law in Illinois?
Arbitration, Mediation, and Dispute Resolution
- Resolving legal disputes without a court trial
- Finding and working with a mediator
- Getting a lawyer’s help for a mediation
- Using arbitration to resolve disputes
You and the Media
Your Rights
- The benefits of a court 'Order of Protection'
- Defenses available to accusations of defamation
- Few legal restrictions exist if you want to change your name
- Free legal advice may be available to low-income persons
- Gays protected against discrimination
- Getting back a revoked driver's license
- Getting free legal help if you can't afford a lawyer
- How to have your record of arrest expunged
- Laws prohibit certain telephone solicitations
- The legal aspects of becoming an adult
- Requirements must be met before you can vote
- Rights of Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, and Transgender Persons
- Using the services of a notary public verifies your identity but does not necessarily make the document legal
- What you should know before signing a contract
- Your rights after an arrest under Illinois law
- Your rights if you are arrested