Each week we select a legal term or phrase that’s commonly misunderstood, interesting, or may remind you that suing your neighbor when they won’t replace the fence that Fido knocked down last week may not be the best option. This week’s word is the latter.
Written by: Lauren E. Trent
Most people imagine a dramatic courtroom battle [...]

Written by Tom Lininger
Associate professor, University of Oregon School of Law (B.A., Yale; J.D., Harvard).

Professor Lininger has been a member of the Oregon faculty since 2003, where he teaches evidence, legal ethics, criminal procedure and alternative dispute resolution. Before he came to the U of O, Professor Lininger worked as a federal prosecutor, as [...]

Each week we select a legal term or phrase that’s commonly misunderstood, interesting, or may make you reconsider telling Crazy Uncle Larry what you really think of him. This week’s word is the latter.
Written by: Amy E. Seely
Here’s the thing about wealth: when the grim reaper calls your number, you can’t take it with you.  [...]

Written by: Kimberly Brandt
Researched by: Jeff W. Richards
Edited by: Amy E. Seely and Jay D. Hall
On Halloween, 2007, the Muggle world was ablaze with news that Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling and movie studio Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc. had filed suit against RDR Books. Their goals? To prevent the publication of an unofficial Harry [...]

Each week we select a legal term or phrase that’s commonly misunderstood, interesting, or may help you live a worry-free afterlife. This week’s word is the latter.
Written by: Jeff W. Richards
Alice, worried that her next trip down a rabbit hole might not end quite so happily, decides to write her will. While doing so, Alice [...]

Written by: Steve Glista
Researched by: Matthew A. Schroettnig
Edited by: Lauren E. Trent
When Michael Righi heard someone running up behind him, he thought he knew what would come next. He expected a difficult conversation, maybe even some shouting or threats. He certainly didn’t expect to get handcuffed — but that’s exactly what happened after Righi walked [...]

Each week we select a legal term or phrase that’s commonly misunderstood, interesting, or in Latin. This week’s word is the latter.
Written by: Jay D. Hall
Pro se is a term used to describe a person who represents themselves in a legal action. The Latin term pro se literally means “for self.”
In a criminal action, a [...]

Written by: Jay D. Hall
Researched by: Amy E. Seely
Edited by: Kimberly Brandt and Stefanie Herrington
There’s a common saying in the legal community: a lawyer who represents himself has a fool for a client. If this old adage is true, it applies with equal vigor to those who decide to represent themselves without any legal training. [...]

Each week we select a legal term or phrase that’s commonly misunderstood, interesting, or may save you from living under a leaky roof. This week’s word is the latter.
Written by: J. Aaron Landau
Imagine you’re signing a lease on an apartment. A provision in the contract makes an assurance: so long as you keep up the [...]