Won a bet? Here’s some info about the pertinent tax laws in US
There is not much similarity between religion and taxation but if one parallel could be drawn between the two it is that many tax regulations and religious principles are set in stone. They have remained the same for ages and the people are expected to follow them by the letter.
Different countries have different laws but the core principles of taxation are true for all the countries. Income from various sources is deemed taxable under laws of various countries. For e.g. The Internal Revenue Service taxes (IRS) all income accrued from any source under the laws of the United States of America. This means that winning money from gambling, lottery, etc. is also taxable in America.
We have brought you some tax rules which can help you legally manage your gambling winnings.
Forms 1099 must not be ignored
You must be familiar with the various 1099 forms that you receive at the beginning if each year. Your social security number is attached to these forms and they include sort of a notice about what part of your income is taxable. If you are not certain if income received from a certain source is taxable or not you must also report that in the Forms 1099.
The Forms 1099-Miscellaneous cover almost all type of income. If you are employed in a corporation then your payer will roll out the forms on regular basis and send them to you. In a scenario where you don’t receive the forms it is wise not to ask for them as you might end up getting two set of forms, one which is issued in the ordinary course and another because you asked for it. This means that the income reported to the IRS will be twice your actual income.
Refrain from altering tax returns
As per the IRS rules you should file to amend the returns if you find a mistake in it afterwards. But be careful about taking this step as the amendment request go through strict scrutiny of the IRS. So when you file to amend you must correct every mistake, if the IRS finds that you have not sought to alter something from which you were benefiting you could land in trouble.
Don’t overdo documentation or try to explain too much
First thing to know here is that you must file for your returns within the stipulated time even if you are not able to pay within such time. Filing returns on time can save you from the unnecessary penalties. You can even arrange for an agreement with the IRS wherein you pay the tax in instalments.
Secondly, you must not attach too many documents and if you are required to explain or disclose something then try to keep it concise. And there is no need to attach documents that are not asked for in the forms for filing return. If the IRS needs any particular document from you they will ask for it.
Am I Being Detained? 6 Questions You Should Ask During Interactions with the Police
With around 14 million arrests carried out each year, there’s a pretty good chance that one of those might be you.
But interacting with police isn’t just about getting arrested.
What about a traffic stop? Or police questioning? Am I being detained? What are you supposed to do in that situation to get out of it safely and maintain your rights?
You don’t want to become another person thrown in jail unfairly or treated with injustice. Maintain your rights and understand your situation by asking the following questions during any and all police interactions.
1. “Am I Being Detained?”
If police officers are commanding that you go with them, your first question should be to ask whether you’re being detained. Detention is similar to an arrest in that you’re not free to leave. However, detention is not the same thing as an arrest.
When you’re detained by police officers, it’s usually for “brief and cursory” questioning. After the questioning is over, you’ll most likely be released.
Officers must have reasonable suspicion to detain a suspect, but this also usually means they don’t have probable cause to arrest you.
If they answer yes to detainment, try and remain as silent as possible. Remember, you have the right to remain silent. The police might be trying to get information out of you to obtain probable cause for an arrest, so be careful with your words and don’t fall for police interrogation tricks.
2. “Am I Being Arrested?”
If the answer to your detainment question is a “no”, then you should ask whether you’re being arrested. Learn the difference between the two so you can understand how police will treat you in each situation along with what rights you have as a detained suspect vs an arrested individual.
Read this article on what to do when you’re arrested in order to learn your rights and the steps you should take in the event of an arrest.
3. “May I Speak to My Lawyer?”
No matter what the police have in mind interacting with you, you should always ask to have your lawyer present. A lot of people avoid doing this since they think it makes you look guilty.
But you need to look out for your own best interest. The police usually have an agenda or a plan with why they’re interacting with you. Even if their intentions are not negative against you, it’s always best to have an expert there with you to make sure you’re protected.
Remember: the police know the law well. You probably don’t. A lawyer is going to protect you and represent your best interest, whereas the police and likely working in their own best interest.
4. “What Is My Arrest/Detainment for?”
You cannot be arrested without probable cause. So if you are being arrested, ask why you are. You have the right to know what you’re being arrested for and charged with.
This can help you understand the situation and help guide how your respond to police questions (if you respond at all).
If you’re being detained, ask why. It could be innocuous, which can ease some of your panic. But, as with an arrest, understanding the situation you’re in will help you formulate your responses and your next actions.
5. “Am I Free to Go?”
Think about the answers to the first two questions you asked. If you’re not being detained and you’re not being arrested, chances are you are free to go.
The police cannot keep you without probable cause or reasonable suspicion. Asking whether you’re free to go will force their hand since if you are, that means they don’t have much on you for any crime or issue they’re pursuing.
You also cannot be detained illegally. If they say you aren’t free to go and it later comes out that they had no cause to hold you, that’s something to take up with your lawyers.
Usually, if you are free to go it’s called a “voluntary interaction” with police. Perhaps they’re asking if you saw anything in an area where a crime happened. Or perhaps they are attempting to pin a crime on you.
Whatever the case with voluntary interactions, you can end the interaction legally at any time. You also cannot be searched by the police or have your things searched if you don’t consent.
6. “Do You Have a Warrant?”
In general, you shouldn’t give your consent to police officers. They need warrants to search you, your property, or your home. They also need an arrest warrant if they’ve come specifically to arrest you.
So if they’re asking to search your things or asking to enter your home/your car, that usually means they don’t have a warrant and are asking for your consent. Ask whether they have a warrant and if they say no, then you can legally refuse the officers.
If they disregard this and continue anyway, call your lawyer ASAP. This could be an illegal search and seizure since the law requires officers to have warrants. An exception is if they have extreme examples of reasonable suspicion or probable cause).
Ask These Questions, But Know When to Stay Quiet
From, “Am I being detained?” to, “Do you have a warrant,” these are six questions you should ask the police during any encounter you have with them. But, you should also keep in mind that you have the legal right to remain silent if you wish, and you should use that right to your advantage.
Police might try and get you to admit to things or lie to you during interrogations to get evidence against you. After you ask these key questions, wait for your lawyer and they will represent your best interests.
Looking to learn more about the law in case you have an interaction with the police? Read this article for some legal background knowledge to get you started.
Your Options for Getting in Touch with A Jailed Person – Explained
The incarceration of a loved one can be quite emotionally draining. While most state laws in the US provide visitation rights to friends and family members of inmates, exceptions can arise depending on the nuances of that particular case.
For instance, the laws laid down by the Federal Bureau of Prisons mentions that each inmate is generally allotted 4 hours every month for visitations. However, most jails in Florida and New Orleans have instead resorted to paid video-calls between inmates and their loved ones, cutting down on or completely doing away with in-person visits.
Knowledge of the right channels to pursue can help you connect quickly with jailed loved ones. For instance, sites like PrisonRoster are also useful for looking up an inmate’s detail and finding legal assistance for visitation rights. It, thus, becomes extremely important to be thorough with your state’s jail laws, the category under which the felony falls, and the kind of visitation rights you are looking for.
What are the Different Types of Visitations?
Contact visits is the most widely prevalent category of visitations across the United States. The visitor(s) can sits across a table from the inmate, and physical contact is restricted to greetings and farewells. Holding hands is strictly prohibited. Frequent violation of these rules can lead to suspension of visitation rights. These visits are usually limited to a short span of time.
Non-contact visitations separate the visitor(s) from the inmate via a glass partition, and communication takes place through a phone. These conversations are generally supervised by a prison guard. In the last couple years, however, paid video visitations, as mentioned earlier, are becoming more and more common.
Conjugal Visits: Are They a Possibility?
Conjugal visits are considered a positive solution to the mental burdens of an inmate as also an incentive for them to comply with prison norms in the hope of an early release. In the US, prisoners in federal custody are not entitled to conjugal visits. However, prisoners in state custody are governed by that particular state’s laws. Currently, only California, Connecticut, New York and Washington allow conjugal visits, with California being the only state to extend these rights to homosexual couples as well.
Who Can Visit an Inmate?
Visitors need prior approval from jail authorities before being allowed to visit. Prisoners, who are in the process of being transferred from one jail to another, or are yet to be processed into the system, may not be allowed visitations before an approved visitors’ list has been prepared.
Additionally, children, especially those not in the custody of the inmate, are generally not granted visitation permits. Religious visits by priests or clergymen are allowed, but also restricted in their scope. Unless the accused or the convicted inmate has been booked on grounds that hamper national security or has been deemed a threat to society, visits by lawyers are generally allowed and granted scope for confidentiality.
Will my Jailed Loved One Be Granted Visitation?
Only in certain cases like solitary confinement, or those convicted or accused of grand felonies are visitation rights completely eliminated. However, they are subject to limitations, strict rules and supervisions by prison authorities. Visitation rights can be temporarily suspended by the prison authorities on grounds like non-cooperation on the part of the inmate, violation of visitation rules by listed visitor(s), attempt at smuggling contraband, and other such cases, where legal preventive measures are deemed necessary. These can, however, be challenged in court if the inmate and his family feel that they are unjustified.
How to Fill Out the Visiting Application
The jail authorities will be running a background check on your profile and cross-verify the information you have put down. If any of them turn up erroneous, you can be denied visitation rights. You can also be denied on other grounds like if you have a prior conviction of your own, you are already on another inmate’s visitation list in the same prison, you are on probation or parole. You can appeal the decision in court within a certain time frame. Approved visits by minors, accompanied by an adult, require special application to be filled out.
Contact Prison Authorities Regarding Visitation Guidelines
Each prison has its own set of rules governing visits. Ideally, you should call the prison helpline and ask them the dress code, what you are required to bring, what items you are not allowed to enter the prison premises with, and what you can pass on to the inmate when you come to visit. Visitors are required to produce a proof of identity at the time of arrival, so ask them beforehand which identification proofs they accept as valid.
Concluding Remarks
The criminal justice system in the US can become quite bureaucratic and difficult to understand for the layman to approach and understand. A legal counsel is deemed a necessity in such cases. A qualified lawyer can not only help you get in touch with your loved ones on the other side of the bars, but also expedite their release. Certain cases become eligible for pro bono, which means that the case is worked on by the legal team free of charge.
The Legal Tricks of Dating Sites: The Mistakes We Make
Online dating sites are a place where millions of people go online to find the love of their life or a quick hookup. No matter what it is that you are looking for on these sites, people tend to make the same mistakes when registering. Some of these may be used to make a person feel safer when they date, but others are borderline or outright illegal. All in all, here are some important legal tricks of dating sites that you need to watch out for.
Agreeing to Terms They Haven’t Read
The first and most common legal mistakes that we make when it comes to dating websites is not reading the terms and conditions of the website. A lot of people want to feign ignorance when they violate the terms of use for a given website, but the fact is that too many people just hit accept when they see the terms appear. That isn’t necessarily illegal in and of itself, but the fact is that you make yourself liable for violations by willfully ignoring the rules and then saying that you didn’t know you were breaking the rules or the law when you signed up. It’s a sticky situation to say the least, but one that is easily avoided.
Giving a False Name
It doesn’t matter what website you’re signing up for, there is always going to be a problem with supplying a dating site a false name. When you join this site or any other dating site, you are agreeing to allow the dating site know who you are on paper in case there are instances of inappropriate behavior. When you create and hide behind a fake name while you are on the website, you are at best breaking the rules of the website. At worst, you’re breaking the law depending on the name you use and the jurisdiction in which you sign up. Sure, you might feel a tad safer by hiding your personal name, but it can still lead to issues. Be honest when you sign up for a dating site because your username hides your real identity anyways.
Supplying Illegal Pictures or Videos
A lot of dating sites are prickly about the content that you share on the website. Depending on where you’re dating from and where your date is, sending videos or pictures that feature nudity or sexual acts could be illegal for many reasons. Yet, people tend to persist in this form of communication even without thinking about the consequences. Most of the time, you won’t even get noticed by the dating website, but if you aren’t careful you can find yourself kicked off the website or reported to authorities.
Cat-Fishing for Money
The final trick that people use on a dating site that skirt legality is known as cat-fishing. This is when a person pretends to be someone that they are not and uses that identity to get gifts or to cause mental anguish to a person on the other end. The problem is that it is usually a man pretending to be a woman to get gifts from another man with promises of a relationship or other arrangement. This is technically theft by deception and can cause a lot of problems on both ends. Take the high road and avoid or report this behavior when you see it happening.
There are a lot of things that can go wrong on a dating site in terms of legal tricks. By learning about the ones that we have put up here, you will have a lower chance of being affected by them. Remember, it is worth taking a look at the fine print before you sign a contract to join a website, and your conduct has to fall in line with the site’s requirements, too.
Surviving the Aftermath of Semi Truck Wrecks: A Guide to Your Legal Rights
It is estimated that 10 million accidents take place due to vehicle operation each year. Many of these accidents are fatal and a shocking number of the most deadly accidents involve semi trucks.
That’s because some semi trucks weigh over 80,000 pounds.
If you’re the victim of a semi truck accident, count yourself lucky to be reading this article. Now that you’ve made it through the worst of your experience, it’s time to take action.
Taking the appropriate steps after a truck-involved accident is a little bit different than what you’d do after a standard car accident. Below, our team walks you through some general tips on how you should move forward after semi truck wrecks.
Get Medical Help
The first thing that you need to do after an accident, especially one involving a truck, is to get appropriate medical help.
It’s obvious that physical injuries will require medical attention. What many people don’t look to get help for is the psychological and emotional damages semi truck wrecks can cause.
If you’re finding yourself fearful of getting behind the wheel of your car or fearful of getting on the freeway because of your accident, do what you can to seek psychological help.
Be sure that your doctor(s) document all of your issues meticulously as these records will serve you well if you should choose to sue.
Understand Who to Sue
Being involved in an accident with a commercial vehicle can make understanding who to go after a little fuzzier than when you’re in a standard vehicle accident. In most cases, your legal action will be aimed at one of two parties…
The Trucking Company
If the driver who hit you works with a trucking company and is classified as an employee (not a private contractor) your legal action will likely be against the company they work for.
This is good since many truck drivers may not have the assets or the insurance to award you the compensation that you need to cope with your trauma.
The Driver
If the truck driver that hits you is a contractor or an “owner-operator”, you may have to direct your case at them personally.
While a driver’s assets are likely to be less than a trucking company’s, in many cases, owner-operators own their truck. This can give courts the option to liquidate that asset to pay for damages.
Sometimes though, truck drivers are borrowing the truck that they’re using. Consequently, the truck that caused your accident may fall out of the reach of legal action.
What Kinds of Damages Can You Sue for in Semi Truck Wrecks?
Understanding the kinds of legal grounds you have at your disposal when filing a lawsuit is important to make sure that you and your US Attorneys or other legal representation are seeking correct damages.
Common damages awarded during semi truck wrecks include:
- Medical Expenses – Any bills you incur from medical professionals that are a direct result of your accident.
- Pain and Suffering– Psychological and other less tangible damages that you incur from your accident.
- Lost Wages and Future Earning Capacity – Money lost from not being able to work and future wagesw lost due to an inability to perform your trade.
There are many more categories of damages that you and your attorney can pursue. The list above should serve as a good starting point to build your case around.
Understanding Truck Laws that are Often Violated
There’s a reason why so many car accidents involve semi trucks.
Semi trucks are governed by a handful of core tenants that aim to prevent drivers from being negligent. Due to the prospect of monetary gains however, many of these tenants are violated by drivers which can cause dangerous situations.
Laws that are most commonly violated and may have been linked to your accident include:
Illegal Truck Logs
A truck log is where drivers need to keep track of their hours to make sure that they’re not driving too much within a 24 hour period. Many times drivers exceed log limits or cheat on them which can lead to complacency behind the wheel.
Driving With an Overweight Trailer
Chances are that you’ve seen truck “weigh stations” placed off to the side of major freeways. In order to access certain roads, trucks must be under assigned weights and these weigh stations aim to keep truckers honest.
Still, some drivers forgo weight limits and may end up losing control of their rig.
Driving Without Proper Credentials
Many small trucking companies hire people to pull their trailers that can’t legally work or that haven’t gone through proper training to drive large trucks. This represents an obvious risk to other vehicles and has lead to a number of accidents over the years.
Wrapping Things Up and How to Find the Right Attorney
Our team hopes that the insight we’ve provided on semi truck wrecks has added some clarity to your situation. At the end of the day though, reading an article online is no substitute for talking to an actual attorney.
Where can you find a qualified attorney that specializes in semi truck accidents?
Right here on Halt.org.
Halt hosts a database of attorneys from all over the United States that are taking on clients with your exact legal concerns right now.
Every day you wait to hire an attorney, your chances of getting the compensation you’re entitled to get slimmer. Don’t wait any longer and use our free tools at Halt to get the legal help you need today.
Understanding The Role Of A Corporate Lawyer
There are many different types of lawyers out there. Some specialize in divorces, while others have worked their entire careers to defend those suspected of crimes. There is even a corporate lawyer. These types of lawyers primarily work with businesses and corporations. They have a few key duties and these duties are performed to aid the company that they’re working for. So, what is the role of a corporate lawyer? What duties will they handle on a daily basis? These questions will be answered in the guide below.
Commercial Transactions
First and foremost, it should be noted that corporations are often going to engage in commercial transactions. For instance, a company may attempt to acquire another. Or, they may try to merge with another business. This happens very often. In this type of situation, there are plenty of laws and regulations. This is where a corporate lawyer will come in very handy. With their help, the company heads will be able to determine whether or not the transaction will be legal and in their best interest. Working with a corporate lawyer to gain a better understanding of the legality of commercial transactions is a must.
Legal Rights And Duties
Another thing to note is that a corporate lawyer will be required to let the corporation know about their duties and legal rights. Corporate officers often have duties and responsibilities that must be fulfilled under law. In some situations, the officer may not fully understand their duties. A corporate lawyer can help. The lawyer will work directly with the corporate officer to ensure that they’re fully aware of their duties and responsibilities. This will decrease the likelihood that the officer is going to get themselves into legal trouble in the near future.
Working On Certain Lawsuits
There are some corporate lawyers who will be required to defend their clients in a courtroom. In this type of situation, they’ll find themselves questioning witnesses and presenting evidence. There are plenty of situations in which a corporation can be sued. It is very common for a business litigation lawyer to find themselves in this type of situation. They may need to argue that their client did not infringe on the copyrights or patents of another company. A corporate lawyer is really a jack of all trades. They’ll be working diligently to ensure that their client is protected from various risks. Without their help, the company may find itself in a troubling situation with no viable way out any time soon.
Other Duties
The list of duties that corporate lawyers perform really goes on and on. For instance, there is a good chance that the corporate lawyer is going to help structure the business. They’ll also help with the planning of the business. When it comes time for the business to file its taxes, the corporate lawyer will be brought into the fold to help. This type of lawyer needs to have a wealth of knowledge in many key areas. Without their knowledge, they’ll never be able to help their clients overcome the unique challenges that they face.
Don’t Go It Alone! 5 Dangerous Pitfalls of Filing Bankruptcy Without a Lawyer
Are you considering filing bankruptcy?
If so, you’re not alone. Over 700,000 people file bankruptcy a year in the United States.
If you’re having serious financial issues, don’t file your own bankruptcy. Check out five of the most dangerous pitfalls of filing bankruptcy without a lawyer.
1. Understanding the Paperwork
When you’re filing bankruptcy on your own, you may struggle to properly understand and complete all the necessary paperwork. The paperwork is quite lengthy and you want to ensure that it’s all done correctly.
Without an attorney, you will be left to figure it all out on your own. Having someone who understands these proceedings like a lawyer will make sure that you file the proper paperwork right away. If you don’t file all the paperwork correctly, you risk your case being dismissed.
2. You’ll Receive More Oversight From the Courts
When you don’t have a lawyer while going through bankruptcy proceedings, you can expect extra attention from the courts. The trustee and others associated with your case will want to make sure that you have correctly presented everything.
With that being said, you can expect the process to take longer when you file pro se.
3. Knowing How to Handle Contested Disputes
When filing bankruptcy without an attorney, you may not understand how to correctly handle contested disputes.
You want and need an attorney like https://rodneyokano.com/bankruptcy-lawyer-las-vegas/ that you can trust to handle these disputes. You will not receive special treatment just because you are representing yourself, therefore you should have proper representation.
If you experience these disputes, you need an experienced lawyer who can defend you through the proceedings.
4. Using Bankruptcy Exemptions Incorrectly
Bankruptcy exemptions are items that a debtor can usually keep. Items such as household items, reasonable clothing items, and pensions. It’s important to know what exemptions you can and cannot claim.
This is not a time to play guessing games. Proper research must be done to make sure that you fully understand bankruptcy exemptions. Having a bankruptcy attorney can help you with this process.
5. Not Following the Rules After You File
Filing for bankruptcy involves more than just filling out the paperwork. There are certain things to do after you file bankruptcy. You will be required to attend a 341 meeting. During this meeting, you meet with the trustee and potentially your creditors to discuss the debts owed.
It’s important to know and understand that you may be required to attend credit counseling or another type of debt education course in order to receive your bankruptcy discharge.
Filing Bankruptcy without a Lawyer Isn’t Ideal
Facing your financial difficulties is not something that you should have to do on your own. Instead of filing bankruptcy without a lawyer, team up with an experienced attorney to ease your mind and ensure everything is handled properly.
Instead of wondering how to file bankruptcy yourself, hire an experienced attorney. Browse our legal category page to find the right lawyer near you.
Can You Bet on the Super Bowl? Here’s How to Legally Win Big
If you’re suffering through bankruptcy or tough financial times, you might be considering other ways to make some quick cash.
Or maybe you’re just looking for the next big payday.
How about gambling? Depending on your luck, the Super Bowl can either win you a lot of money or leave you in a worse situation than before you placed your bet.
You don’t have to go big. If you’re looking to place a bet on the Super Bowl, here’s everything you need to know about it.
Make Sure It’s Legal
Check your state and federal laws for gambling.
If you live in a state with legalized gambling, chances are you are safe to place your bet.
But what if you’re not in a state with legalized gambling? Find an online betting site.
Your research isn’t over if you find an online site that you like. Make sure the site is licensed at the state level to be legal under federal law.
Online betting isn’t a free pass for gambling. Discover more here about online betting.
Verify that the site is reputable and legal. Make sure they honor their payouts. After you’ve confirmed you’ve found a good online betting site, do your research about the game.
To Win, You Have to Consider the Odds
If your favorite team is in the Super Bowl, but they aren’t favored to win, you need to place your bet on the opposing team.
Put your pride in check. Wear your team’s colors. Cheer for your favorite to win.
But to win money, your money needs to go where the odds are in your favor.
Research everything about the game:
- Teams
- Players
- Coaches
- Past winning history
- Injuries
- Game Day temperature
- Superstitions
With your fortune on the line, no detail is too small for research.
Know what plays into the odds for each team to win. Use this education to make your best-educated decision on your bet.
Bet on More Than the Game
The overall winner-loser isn’t the only thing worth your wager.
Prop bets can be your friend in the Super Bowl gambling game. People place these bets on specific events within the game.
So, even if you lose you wager on the winner, you could still win money on prop bets.
These kinds of bets can be sports-related: total passing yardage, stats per specific players, or the win-loss spread.
Prop bets can also get more fun and silly.
Look for bets about:
- The number of time announcers will say specific things during the game
- How many Super Bowl commercials will involve cute animals?
- Will the halftime performer be shirtless?
Have fun with your Super Bowl bet. It doesn’t have to all be about the winner or loser.
Research Your Bet On the Super Bowl
The best way to bet on the Super Bowl is to do it safely and legally. Do your research ahead of time.
But if your gamble doesn’t pay off, use a lawyer to help minimize the damage. Search our database of available lawyers for any legal situation.
Order in the Court! The History of Law You Never Knew
For nearly 100 years, as the Equal Right Amendment has been languishing in New York State’s legislative body, it’s become a history lesson for many students. It’s a case study in how things that have so much broad support could be stonewalled for decades because of legal technicalities.
There is such a long and complicated history of law in the United States that there’s much you might not even know.
Here are just five major examples of unseen legal history in the country.
1. Women Broke the Barrier in Iowa
While you might have expected women to make history in big coastal cities as is usually the case. However, the first woman admitted to the bar got her start in Iowa.
Arabella Mansfield became a lawyer only after suing the State Bar of Iowa just to have the chance to sit down and take the exam. This was seen as a place for men only, whether or not there was a stated law. They blocked her until she finally passed the bar exam and got admitted in 1869.
While men were once the only people allowed to take up space in law schools and law offices, women started to take their rightful place. As more women made their place in teaching and studying law visible to others, it spread across the country.
As many men ended up fighting in the civil war, the presence of women in law exploded during this era.
2. The Youngest Lawyers Couldn’t Even Vote
Danya Hamad made history when just a few years ago she became the youngest lawyer currently practicing in the country. This 15-year old girl ended up becoming the youngest lawyer in the United States. She was ousted as the youngest graduate of her school in 2018 by her equally prodigious brother.
Danya got into law because she wanted to change the world. With her work, she inspired millions of young people to achieve their goals.
However, she wasn’t the youngest lawyer ever to practice in the country. It turns out that in 1986, Stephen Baccus become a Miami Law graduate who ended up becoming the youngest person ever to practice.
Upon graduating from Capital, Danya Hamad will be the youngest person practicing law in the country.
3. Not All State Practice Equally
Upon looking at the figures for incarceration rates across the country, it’s clear that there are some serious disparities in how the law is practiced. Some states are considered more reasonable and fair while others tend not to be.
As more progressive policies define the difference between offenses that should be considered criminal and which should not, states move at different paces. Medical marijuana is one of the most visible examples. As states make it medicinally available, they tend to move toward recreational legality and even expunging records for arrest over time.
However, drive a few hours in the wrong direction and what is perfectly legal in one state is an offense that can result in an arrest in another. Rather than leaving it up to elected officials and representatives, it’s up to individuals to follow the laws from state to state. With everything from a civil rights case to a personal injury case, it’s there are sets of laws governing differently from state to state.
The states that are considered most reasonable and fair are South Dakota, Vermont, Idaho, New Hampshire, and Minnesota. It turns out their assessment of the least fair states have led us to consider Florida, California, Illinois, Missouri, and Louisiana.
4. Salaries Vary Wildly
Across the country, lawyers earn very different salaries that depend on where they live. As the cost of living and the demand differs between each place, there are going to be different rates that each type of lawyer is going to get paid.
If you’re an intellectual property lawyer in rural Idaho, you’ll earn much less than you would if you worked in Silicon Valley or in New York City.
Top attorneys across the country are able to charge $1,500 an hour for their time while many others struggle to find clients. One of the biggest factors in cost is going to be where someone is located, how big the market is, and the cost of living in that place.
California, Washington, D.C., and New York are where attorneys make more than $150,000 a year. However, if you go out to Montana, you’re going to find that lawyers are making much less, closer to around $80,000 a year.
Even within states, hourly rates can vary vastly. In cities like Phoenix, you could be getting around $65 an hour for your services. However, across the state of Arizona, you’re going to make less than $50 per hour.
5. Lawyers in Government
Historically, lawyers have made up a huge majority of people who are elected to office. When most people guess the profession of a politician, they typically think that the person is a lawyer or has some experience in law. While things might have changed, they stay the same in a lot of ways.
In the middle of the 1800s, walking through the halls of Congress, you’d bump into lawyer after lawyer. Given we were in the midst of writing and legislating our first sets of laws, it’s important to have a lawyer to guide us. However, in the last hundred years, we’ve devoted our efforts to ensure that laws are fair and that the people who are impacted by laws are protected.
Where lawyers once figured as 80% of Congress, they now make up less than 40% of members of Congress. While we don’t know exactly the impact that has had on lawmaking, there are going to be some inevitable impacts.
Having people in Congress who come from all walks of life ensures that a broad swath of perspectives is considered at all times.
The History of Law is Filled With Strange Facts
If you’re looking at the history of law, you’ll see lots of surprising facts and figures. From the history of criminal law to the history of immigration law, there are barriers being broken constantly.
To see how four women made history in UK law, check out our guide to how.
4 Women Legally Challenge UK’s Universal Credit
In the United Kingdom, what is referred to as Universal Credit is a social security benefit that was brought into law in 2013. The credit replaces six means-tested tax credits and benefits already in place which were called the Income-Based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Housing Benefits, Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, and the Income Based Employment and Support Allowance Income Support. To learn more about this call the Universal Credit contact number.
At the end of 2018, four women launched a challenge to the Universal Credit. These four women put this to the high court on the grounds that it was “irrational and discriminatory”. The women allege that the new law is flawed and leaves some families much worse off than the previous tax credits and benefits. They claim that those families left out are receiving hundreds of pounds less per year under the Universal Credit.
The women contend that the law negatively affects working families that have children. Their contention is that the flaw is in the way the payments are calculated. This means that around ten thousand families will be negatively affected because of this.
The four-women state that Universal Credit leaves them and others with their situation with an extremely fluctuating income. This puts them in a position not to be able to budget their income properly each month. They used the words “rigid, inflexible assessment system”.
Claire Woods, one of the plaintiffs says that she racked up tons of debt and was forced to rely on a food bank. Woods says, “I am competent, managing my own finances and am someone who wants to work for professional and personal development, but the assessment period problem meant my income fluctuated so much that it was impossible.”
Danielle Johnson one of the other four women is a part-time school kitchen worker. She states that she gets 500 pounds less per year since Universal Credit was implemented. Johnson says, “I have never been this financially unstable before, to the point of being unable to afford my rent and having to go into overdraft when buying food, It is getting me into a vicious cycle of debt.”
The flaw really comes to the forefront when the wages paid to claimants’ are given on or close to the first day of their Universal Credit monthly assessment period. This is used to determine how much to pay the claimant in that month.
Let’s say a claimant gets paid one or two days earlier than normal because their regular payment date ends up being on a holiday or a weekend, the system reads that they received two paychecks in one period and then nothing in the next period. Basically, the Universal Credit assessment system sees these particular claimants as making more money than they actually are within that period. What this translates into is those people might lose out on up to 258 pounds per month.This legal action is the second one to get to the higher court in regards to the Universal Credit and alleged flaws. The first one which was decided in June of 2018, found that the Universal Credit discriminated against severely disabled people.
