Nolo vs. Texas -- Self-Help Law and First Amendment Rights Protected

Berkeley, CA -- October 1, 1999

Nolo is proud to declare victory after a two-year struggle against an official committee of the Texas Supreme Court bent on banning Nolo's products from Texas. In a letter sent to Nolo's Texas attorney, Pete Kennedy, dated September 21, 1999, the Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee announced its decision to drop the investigation of Nolo and other self-help legal publishers. The Committee's decision to fold its cards was based on a Texas statute, HB 1507, which recently became law (June of 1999). This statute exempts publications and products such as Nolo's from being prosecuted for unauthorized practice of law.

To get the benefit of the new statute, Nolo and other publishers are supposed to put statements on their products that the product is not a substitute for advice from a lawyer. Although it always seemed obvious to us that consumers can tell the difference between a book and a lawyer, we are happy to accommodate the Texas legislature in this matter.

Nolo's victory is also the victory of the George/Donaldson law firm (Nolo's Texas lawyers) and the many people and organizations throughout the country who supported Nolo and its constitutional right to publish and distribute self-help legal products in Texas. We especially wish to thank the American Association of Law Libraries, the Texas Library Association, and the five individual Texas citizens who joined with Nolo in a lawsuit against the committee which proved to be an important factor in getting the new statute, HB 1507, through the Texas Legislature.

About Nolo.com The established leader in self-help legal materials since 1971, Nolo.com's affordable, jargon-free books, software, legal forms, and Web resources have helped individuals and small businesses master a variety of legal issues and life transitions, including divorce, estate planning, real estate, personal finance, intellectual property, and starting and running a small business. Nolo.com is committed to using the latest innovative technology to deliver legal solutions to consumers and small businesses. Nolo.com's website (http://www.nolo.com) offers comprehensive, plain-English legal information as well as a wide array of electronic and traditional legal tools such as downloadable eForms, eGuides, eBooks, online calculators, books, and software packages.

Media Contact Clark Miller, Nolo, 510-704-2251, clark@nolo.com