FindLaw's Top 10 Legal Issues of 2008

FindLaw Reveals Its List of Top Legal Issues on Consumers' Minds in 2008

EAGAN, Minn., Dec. 22, 2008 FindLaw.com, the most-visited legal Web site, is sharing its list of most popular consumer legal issues of the year at: http://www.findlaw.com/2008Top10. The list was formulated based on popularity searches and tabulated from FindLaw's most visited legal topics, top consumer legal questions on FindLaw Answers (http://answers.findlaw.com), the site's popular Q&A community, and most searched lawyers on FindLaw.com. Although there are many legal topics that help drive hundreds of thousands of visitors to FindLaw each day, including divorce, real estate, personal injury and traffic violations, the 2008 list showcases some of the biggest movers and timely legal topics facing consumers.

“There were many topics in the news this year that made people want to learn more about their legal rights and options,” said Stephen Noel, vice president of FindLaw.com. “Our site provides helpful, non-biased information for consumers about the common legal issues of the day. FindLaw helps empower and educate people with legal needs so they can make informed decisions about current issues in their lives.” FindLaw's Top 10 Legal Issues on Consumers' Minds Include:

• Home Foreclosure & Renter's Rights – Although home foreclosure and other debt management topics like bankruptcy are popular news topics, the actual process can be long, daunting and fraught with legal complexity.
• Politics & Obama – In addition to the law, consumers could not get enough of the lawmakers themselves.
• Voters Rights – An historic election piqued the interest of those curious about their right to vote and the Electoral College.
• Digital Distractions – Cell phones, text messaging and iPods became a hot topic after the MetroLink accident and an epidemic rise in the number of teens admitting to texting while driving.
• Dog Laws – Urban space laws, wealthy dog estates and dog bites all contributed to a spike in searches related to dogs and the law.
• Highly Regulated Products – A handful of products that fall into the grey area between toys and dangerous regulated goods were big movers this year, including Airsoft Guns, tinted windows and pocket bikes.
• Grandparents' Rights – Family law is always popular, but the rise in searches about the rights of grandparents to see their grandkids was notable.
• Creating a Will – With more than 60 percent of Americans without a will, it continues to be a prevalent issue because people are learning the hard way that when someone dies without a valid will, the state determines how assets will be divided.
• Who keeps the Ring? – Property rights issues for unmarried couples who split can be messy. Not just the ring, but all of the belongings may call into question legal entitlement.
• Teen Rights – The web has empowered teens to search out information about their legal rights as they strive for independence. Curfew laws, emancipation and search and seizure top the list.
• For more information about FindLaw's top 10 list, including consumer and legal commentary, go to http://www.findlaw.com/2008Top10.

FindLaw, part of Thomson Reuters, is a leading provider of free intelligent legal information, online marketing and client development services providing the legal industry and consumers with the knowledge to act. The FindLaw team of designers and engineers create results-oriented Web sites for individual attorneys and law firms. FindLaw Web sites are strategically designed to attract and retain clients, as well as support lead generation by leveraging dynamic content and industry leading marketing tools. Attorneys can also be prominently listed on www.FindLaw.com, home to the largest online directory of lawyers that assists consumers in finding an attorney by practice area. FindLaw.com is the most popular legal Web site with nearly four million consumers visiting each month for free information about a legal topic, to solve a legal problem, or to find a lawyer.

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