| Mandatory Continuing Legal Education |
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| After successfully completing law school, a law school graduate is required to pass a state bar examination before he or she will be admitted to the practice of law in the state. After admission to the state bar, 40 states require lawyers to continue their legal education during the period of time they actively practice law. The primary goal is to increase a lawyer's professional competence. Mandatory continuing legal education (MCLE) courses are required in order for a lawyer to continue practicing law in that state. More... |
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| Freedom of Information Act |
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| The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is a federal law that was passed in 1966. It ensures government openness and accountability. The FOIA gives a person access to federal agency records. However, agencies are allowed (but not required) to withhold records that fall within nine categories.
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| State Appellate Courts |
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| Most states have an intermediate level appellate court, which is generally called the court of appeals. State courts of appeals have a panel of judges who review the trial court's decision. The number of judges on the panel varies. The court of appeals determines whether the trial judge followed proper procedure and correctly interpreted and applied the law to the facts of the case.
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| Alternative Dispute Resolution/Mediation in Appellate Courts |
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| In the 1970s settlement conferences were used in the appellate courts in response to the increasing number of appeals that were being filed. Settlement conferences had mixed results. In the 1990s, appellate courts began using mediation conferences to encourage the settlement of civil cases on appeal. The underlying assumption is that all cases do not need full appellate review by the appellate court. More... |
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| Products Liability Law |
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| Products liability is an area of law that deals with injury or harm caused by a defective or flawed product. Perhaps the product was designed defectively or maybe the manufacturer used a faulty part in the product. A product is considered defective if the manufacturer failed to warn of its dangers. More... |
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