Summer 2006

Recent concerns about spam have caused the federal government to create new legislation, dubbed Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act, which restricts senders from addressing messages in a false and misleading way. Its first conviction: a man who accessed unsecured Wi-Fi networks in his car to send spam advertising pornographic websites. Junk e-mail complaints top 130,000 per day and are handled by the Federal Trade Commission. Communications Lawyer: The Journal of Media, Information, and Communications Law explores the new act and how it is regulated, how it is enforced, and clarification of definitions surrounding the new act.

Natural Resources & Environment

In the wake of Hurricane Katrina and other natural disasters our world is faced with each day, Natural Resources & Environment’s entire Spring 2006 issue is dedicated to exploring the law’s role in catastrophic events. Equally interesting is the cover art, which illustrates the effects of the Great Chicago Fire in 1871. With over $200 million in property losses, the nation sprung into action and relief supplies arrived before the flames went out. How does this compare to our actions in Hurricane Katrina? How can we prepare ourselves for another natural disaster? Find out in the current issue of Natural Resources & Environment.

Litigation Journal

While most female lawyers feel that it is impossible to have a personal life and succeed in their careers, Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman on the Supreme Court of the United States, proves that it’s not while offering advice to women who are trying to balance them both. In this interview with Justice O’Connor by her former intern Chief Justice Ruth McGregor, she shares that when it comes to her family and friends “No professional responsibility ever takes precedence when they need her attention.” Check out the Spring 2006 edition of Litigation Journal to read more advice from Justice O’Connor.

Bar Leader

In a recent study, Bar Leader worked with Erin Pruitt, a teacher with a genetic retinal disorder, to examine various bar association websites to see just how accessible they were to those with visual impairments. Overall, the unscientific study revealed that some sites that claimed to be accessible actually were not. At least 1.5 million visually impaired Americans use computers on a regular basis. What happens when they need legal help and are unable to find it on their computers because of faulty sites? Is your firm or bar website accessible to everyone? How can you update your website? Find out in this issue of Bar Leader.

Bar Leader

As many other countries view America as the “Land of Opportunity,” more and more immigrants are moving to America in hopes of fulfilling a dream. According to Bar Leader, with this move comes barriers, such as culture and language. One group in particular, the Hmongs in western North Carolina, has felt extremely isolated from American culture and has grown to distrust the legal system. With these types of situations becoming more frequent, what are bars doing to bridge the gap?