I’m currently a senior in high school planning to attend law school, and I’m trying to choose an undergraduate major. I’ve heard that your major matters less for admissions than your GPA, so I’m considering communications, political science, English, history, or another field I genuinely enjoy.
I’m especially interested in communications because it seems like it could build useful skills for law, but I’m unsure what the coursework and career options are like outside of law school.
For current law students, practicing lawyers, and recent graduates:
● What did you major in, and would you choose it again?
● Is choosing a less difficult major to protect your GPA a good strategy, or is there value in studying political science or another law-related field?
● If you studied communications, did you find it useful for law school or your career?
● What do you wish you had known before choosing your undergraduate major?
I’m hoping to balance enjoying my studies, maintaining a competitive GPA, and developing useful skills for law school and beyond. I’d appreciate any honest advice!
Thank you!

I got a ticket today for going 66 in a 35. Clayton county, GA. I don’t believe I was because I was pulling out of a residential and onto a service rd and had only gotten .4 miles down the street. I was also sandwiched in between cars as it was traffic. However, I don’t have hard evidence. I’m torn between paying $750 for an attorney or $300 for a ticket. I’m not sure what the attorney would do in this situation or if I would still be paying a fine and getting points at the end of it all.

This summer I took my vehicle to get serviced at Honda. They were keeping it over night and someone from sales reached out for me to trade it in. I’m pregnant and was looking for a van so we started that process. I was coming the next day to get everything out of my vehicle to transfer to the new van. However, the manager gave the go-ahead to have the detail team clean it out. Including everything I own in it, all thrown in the dumpster.
In this, was my late brother’s personal belongings/funeral cards/pictures, etc. Truly irreplaceable things that now are causing significant distress and more grief. So on top of cutting out 2 car seats, throwing away mine and my children’s belongings, there were things in there I cannot replace and are causing emotional distress.
Honda wants me to give them a dollar amount to this and I am having a hard time wrapping my head around it all because the approximately $2500 in items can be replaced. It’s the belongings of my brother’s that is causing me to be sick to my stomach thinking about never getting back.
How do I put a dollar amount on this emotional turmoil??

Nearly 20 years ago I was involved in a fatal car accident, non dui, through a very questionable and sloppy court case, I was found guilty of vehicular manslaughter. I served my sentence and have been trying to move my life past it. In an effort to gain some closure I contacted my defense lawyer asking for my case file. This is where things get really out of pocket for me:

The lawyer emailed me back saying that he didn’t think he would have a file so old

8 days later he emailed me back saying he found the file and that it was “surprisingly large”, I told him I wanted to pick it up

4 days after that I get a spam text message from a political candidate that started with “hello KILLER”

5 days after that when trying to make plans to pick up the file, he replied that the only thing left in the file is a few pictures and the accident reconstruction report from the expert HE hired, but no other documents regarding the case, and that it appeared as if someone had already accessed it, I’ve asked him why and who twice now and he has not responded to the questions, also was not at the office when I was trying to pick up the file

He also gave me a case number. When trying to search for the case on the court website, I was only able to find the original case number and information (the original case number got to pre trial conference and was dismissed due to prosecution expert not showing up, then reopened under a new number). On the court website there is no sign of the second case number or the resolution to the case.

Can someone please help me make sense of this before paranoia gets the best of me

I just moved into a new apartment in NYC this past June. Everything was fine until about a month ago my neighbors started smoking weed every night at 2am. The smell is so bad that I end up coughing and my heart is racing in the middle of the night. I’ve lost sleep, and the smell is all over my hair, clothes, sheets.

At my previous apartment, I dealt with the EXACT same thing. Weed smokers leaking into my apartment in the middle of the night.

I am at my end. Between this apartment and the last I’ve been dealing with second hand smoke over the last 3 years and I’m ready to sue somebody.

What are my legal options? And how can I address this in the quickest way? I cannot afford to move again and I live in a large building where management does not care about anything.

I recently had a dispute with a major cruise operator over compensation offered for itinerary disruptions. The company resolved my individual complaint, but I'm curious about the legality of the underlying practice, particularly if it's applied systematically to other customers.

Before sailing, passengers were notified they'd receive a future cruise voucher worth "60% of your paid cruise fare."

The issue is how the company calculated that amount. Using hypothetical figures to illustrate:

- Invoice explicitly lists a $5,000 "Cruise Tour Fare" and "Adjusted Cruise Fare Total."

- Compensation offer promises 60% of the paid cruise fare ($3,000).

- Company instead issues a $2,250 voucher.

- When challenged, the company explains that $1,250 was internally allocated to land accommodations and excluded from the calculation.

The invoice did not separately itemize that $1,250 deduction, and the compensation offer did not disclose that any portion of the invoiced cruise fare would be excluded.

I challenged the discrepancy, pointing to the company's own invoicing terminology and the original compensation language. They quickly agreed to increase our vouchers to the expected amount, but made no admission that their original calculation was incorrect or that other passengers were affected.

My concern isn't the individual dispute, which is resolved. It's the possibility that the company routinely promises compensation using terminology that appears to establish one amount, then calculates it using a less favorable internal accounting definition that customers have no reasonable way of knowing.

I'm curious about the legal implications:

1. Could this qualify as a deceptive trade practice under Section 5 of the FTC Act or state consumer protection laws, even without evidence of intentional deception?

2. Does the fact that the company corrected my compensation after being challenged have any bearing on whether the original practice was deceptive?

3. If the same calculation was systematically applied to hundreds or thousands of passengers, would that materially change the legal analysis?

4. Is this something worth reporting to the FTC or a state attorney general, despite my individual complaint being resolved?

I'm a Georgia resident. I'm not particularly interested in pursuing litigation, but I am interested in whether this is merely a questionable contractual interpretation or potentially an unlawful consumer practice.

Hypothetical question only

Hello, reddit I had a question for the lawyers. My boyfriend over heard his boss saying she may fire him because his leasing office at his apartment won’t take the pay stubs she’s been trying to give them for months to register him as a tenant. (That’s a different story he’s been there for a year living with family but they moved out and now he’s by himself paying all the bills) she already barely pays him enough for him to pay his bills and he started calculating and noticed she wasn’t paying him the right amount. We do live in a free will state as far as reasons a job can fire you but is there anything he can do he’s been looking for a job and the job market where he lives is not good at all. She knows he’s struggling already to pay his bills since she only pays him 90-100 dollars weekly. What can be done?

Hi everyone! I'm going through a divorce in California and representing myself.
We were married for 2 years, no kids or shared assets, and he makes about 60% more than me. I filed for divorce in December 2025 after finding out he was cheating.
During our marriage, I had knee surgery covered by his employer's insurance. In May 2026, while our divorce was still pending, he removed me from his health insurance without notifying me. I only found out when I showed up for a medical appointment and was told my coverage was inactive.
I've since lost access to my surgeon and have had to pay additional medical expenses.
I didn't initially request spousal support but left the option open. Our divorce is close to being finalized, and we have a court conference coming up.
My questions:
Was he legally allowed to cancel my insurance while we're still married and the divorce is pending?
Can I request reimbursement for medical expenses or ask for spousal support now?
Is there anything I can do before our upcoming court conference?
I've handled all the paperwork myself and would really appreciate any advice, especially from California family law attorneys or anyone who's been through something similar. Thank you!

So I (M17) got a petty misdemeanor ticket of 39 in a 30, yes I know its bad. my dad told me not to do it again and he said he aint mad he was a teen before too. But anyways before I told him I set a court date up and he said all i need to do is show up and talk it out with them and try keeping it off my record. My question is, what do I say? Do I just write a argument as to why I want to get it as a non moving violation or take a driving diversion class? And if writing a argument is smart should i also mention that i turn 18 in less than a month (the court date is in a few months but at that time that'll be true) a very much wish to transition into adulthood with a clean record?

I am making a rpg inspired by Metaphor:Refantazio, Final Fantasy VII, and Deltarune. It is called the FINAL FANTAZIO. It is very on the nose I will not lie but I like the title but I am not opposed to changing it. But if I can avoid a situation like this I would love to know. Thank you!

I was involved in a minor accident about 3 months ago in WA state. Admittedly i was partially at fault. I was uninsured at the time and very panicked about the implications thereof, so I gave my personal name, not legal, on accident. There was no police report filed, and the guy contacted his insurance. Well, yesterday, after no contact from anyone, a debt collector cold called me at work. They tell me "I" owe 9k in damages, using the personal name.

Which is already strange, as based on pictures & inspection at the time, even 6k would've been a high estimate. It was a rather common sports cars, worth at the low end 22k, high end 40k, so I doubt it was a total loss.

Would it be a bad Idea to fix my name in their records? Or should I contact a lawyer and fight it? What else should I even do for more information. I have never done anything with collections before.

Fair warning, my knowledge mostly comes from getting Better Call Saul, mesothelioma TV ads, and random $1.20 payouts I've gotten.

On BCS, in the course of his exploits, Saul happens upon a situation in an assisted living home that's ripe for a class action suit. I imagine this is dramatized, but it left me wondering how a case like that would even be identified in real life, especially since lay people don't usually even know what would constitute a viable case.

How do lawyers and law firms find these cases? Do they actively investigate and seek them out? Do they wait for people to come to consultations with appropriate cases? Some combination of both?

We live in completely non smoking bldg. Downstairs neighbor doesn't respect the rules and is addicted to cigs. He smokes constantly on his patio and the smoke comes up to my windows and my asthma is triggered. I asked him to stop or go down the street, no go.

I reported him to bldg mgt and they (spineless) said they'll put out a warning to all units. He laughs at the warnings.

His patio is about 7 ft above the sidewalk facing the street. He's put two large umbrellas on the patio which provides some cover. If I'm walking down the street I can see him if he's standing on the patio. If he sits down I wouldn't be able to. But from my window above I can put my iphone out the window an inch or two, angle it down and see into his patio.

My question is whether he has an expectation of privacy on the patio. The neighbors on both sides of him would have a clear view into his patio (they're at the same level). But I worry that I'd be sued for invasion of privacy as if the patio is now 'private' as opposed to 'public'.

Talked with LAPD who said it's not a crime.

What say you folks who have either gone through something like this or are privy to the law.

Thanks!

Hi. First time posting, located in Portland OR. I am very sure I have a case, but I worry about going without income while pursuing litigation. What can a person pursuing legal action against their employer usually expect when they still work for that employer? I know I need to take a consult but I’m terrified of this process while navigating a mortgage and two kids in daycare.

We had some smoke and water damage from a furnace issue last winter.
Called insurance and they hired a restoration crew to clean the place out.

Apparently they found asbestos and gutted the house to the ground, wooden floors, plumbing, electrical, etc. over kill if you ask me. They even took my water tank?

Unfortunately they didn’t take out a demo permit. The building official told me we’ve not activated a 50/50 rule because we’re in a flood zone. Meaning we have to convert our raised ranch to be FEMA compliant. So we have to either raise the whole house, or fill in the second floor which is making me lose half the square footage of my home which is my workshop where I run 100% of my business.

My plan was to build a top floor to compensate for the loss of the bottom. Well, the town won’t let me because they have a height restriction of 30’ and I’m at 22’.
We can’t build off the side, we’d have to build in the backyard but we have a septic system. Building outwards and pouring foundation is way more expensive than building up.

This has caused me so much grief it’s unbelievable. Not quite sure what to do. The town’s building official told me that if the demo company would have pulled a permit, they would have warned them about triggering the rule.

In this era of zero consequences, is it worth reporting a lawyer who defrauded/exploited his brother on his deathbed? Yes, I have evidence and medical records to show the person was very incapacitated (several opioids or narcotics for pain alleviation as they were dying and reporting an 11/10 pain.)

I booked a VRBO for 45 days while I’m having some construction done on my home. The listing says it has “fast internet” in the title description. I went by today to get some things moved in and did several speed tests. The average download speed was 33.4 mbps.

The hamburger place down the street has 281.1, and my normal residence has an average of 542 this evening. I’m thinking of canceling and finding a new spot and demanding a refund even though the site says I’m not due one.

I just can’t see that it’s going to be a pleasant stay for myself, the wife, & 3 kids all with devices streaming and game consoles, smart tvs etc.

From Google:

In the United States, the legal definition of "fast internet"—officially regulated as broadband—is legally defined by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) as a minimum speed of 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload (100/20 Mbps).
This federal standard serves as the official legal benchmark for advertising transparency, infrastructure grant allocation, and regulatory tracking.

Tl;dr 33.4mbps advertised as “fast internet”?!

(Please excuse me I used some mild ChatGPT to help me formulate my thoughts and clean it up… I am just frazzled at this. I apologize.)

I apologize for the length in advance as well, but there are several separate incidents, and I want to provide enough background for an informed legal opinion. I’m not looking for relationship advice or for anyone to decide who was morally right or wrong. I’m specifically interested in potential civil liability under Texas law.

BACKGROUND

I had an on-and-off romantic relationship with a man spanning approximately four years, beginning around 2022. We were never married.

Throughout our relationship, there were gifts, trips, entertainment, concert tickets, travel expenses, personal belongings, and money spent by both parties. Some experiences included flying, boating, and other recreational activities.

My understanding was that ordinary gifts and expenses voluntarily incurred during our relationship were not loans. I am not aware of any general written agreement requiring me to reimburse him for the relationship or its associated expenses.

The relationship has left me with damages to my vehicle, mental trauma, and financial loss myself. The road I’ve chosen to take is that each time I made a decision to return so I’m having to “eat my crap” so to speak and just move on. I am an adult and I own my decisions.

The relationship became extremely contentious and involved allegations of abuse, law enforcement, criminal proceedings, protective-order issues, and financial disagreements.

Now, in 2026, he is repeatedly demanding that I compensate him for what he calls “damages.” I have asked him to identify exactly what he believes I legally owe and why.

1. PREGNANCY AND DISPUTED FINANCIAL AGREEMENTS — 2023

During the relationship, I became pregnant. We disagreed significantly about continuing the pregnancy, and I ultimately underwent an abortion after considerable pressure to do so.

There were discussions about his financial responsibility for medical expenses, travel, possible complications, and counseling. I proposed a written agreement addressing those issues.

He subsequently characterized the proposed agreement and related financial requests as attempted extortion. I dispute that characterization.

There were also significant emotional consequences and therapy expenses associated with the pregnancy and subsequent events.

I mention this because he has previously made accusations involving harassment, defamation, and improper financial demands, and I’m uncertain whether he considers these part of his current claim for damages.

1. PHYSICAL ASSAULT, DENTAL INJURIES, AND CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS — 2024

In August 2024, we had a physical altercation during which he struck me in the mouth, causing significant injuries to multiple lower teeth.

The incident was reported to law enforcement, he was arrested, and criminal proceedings followed.

The dental injuries required extensive treatment, including orthodontic work, evaluation of damaged nerves, and restorative procedures. The overall treatment costs were estimated at approximately $15,000, with some treatment continuing well after the incident.

Some eligible expenses were covered through the Texas Crime Victims’ Compensation Program, so I recognize that I cannot simply collect those same reimbursed expenses a second time.

There were also mental-health and counseling expenses associated with the relationship and the reported assault.

Other safety-related incidents occurred during this period, including an incident in which I allege he interfered with the steering wheel while I was driving.

I am including this background because he now describes himself as having suffered substantial financial and personal damage from our relationship, while I also experienced documented injuries and financial consequences.

It is worthy to note, ultimately these charges were not pursued and for some reason unknown to me the county chose not to indict.

1. PROTECTIVE ORDERS, CONTACT, AND A SUBSEQUENT ARREST — 2024–2025

Following the physical altercation, there were protective-order and no-contact issues.

Despite the legal proceedings and restrictions surrounding contact, communication between us continued at different points because he said he was willing to financially help cure the damages to my mouth.

During one subsequent incident, I allege he invited me to meet with him and discussed helping me obtain dental treatment for the injuries described above.

When I arrived, law enforcement became involved (as in he had them there waiting and I did not know he didn’t remove the CTW), and I was arrested in connection with a trespass allegation. I disputed the circumstances because I maintained that I had been invited. He was also arrested because he was in violation of his EPO.

This created additional legal and financial consequences for me.

There were also disagreements regarding personal property, communications, and whether contact had been authorized.

Some matters were dismissed or otherwise resolved, while other legal matters had separate procedural histories. I would provide actual dispositions and records privately to an attorney rather than attempt to summarize all the criminal proceedings in a public forum.

1. HIS CLAIM FOR CRIMINAL-DEFENSE ATTORNEY FEES

This is one of my principal questions.

He has repeatedly referred to expenses he incurred retaining legal representation because of complaints or allegations involving me.

One particular matter involved disputed allegations of sexual misconduct while I was drunk and unable to consent properly. He contends that a report I made was false. I dispute his characterization of the underlying events.

He has referenced an attorney retainer of approximately $2,000–$2,500.

During a recent conversation, he also mentioned approximately $22,000 in connection with the cost of going to trial. It is unclear to me whether that was an expense actually incurred or an estimate of what a trial could have cost.

He appears to believe that because he incurred expenses defending himself or responding to legal proceedings, I should reimburse him. It is worthy to note that the charges were never formally filed in court and I just had a temporary protective order on him.

There is no civil judgment against me ordering reimbursement of these expenses that I am aware of.

My question is whether hiring a defense attorney, without more, creates an enforceable claim against the person who made a complaint.

If he alleges the complaint was false and has tried to manipulate me several times to agree with that narrative, what would he have to establish through an appropriate civil cause of action before recovering those expenses?

1. CONCERT TICKET DISPUTE — JUNE 2026

In June 2026, he transferred a concert ticket to me through an electronic ticketing platform.

There were disagreements about attending the event, transportation, lodging, and other related costs.

At one point, I offered to send him a difference in price. I later reconsidered that offer after additional expenses and disagreements arose between us.

He subsequently accused me of stealing his ticket or tickets, despite having transferred a ticket directly to my account as a gift.

I recognize that a promise to pay and an outright gift can have different legal consequences, which is part of why I am asking.

Would a prior discussion or offer to pay an additional amount potentially create an enforceable contract? What evidence would be necessary to establish the terms, particularly when the parties disagree about the circumstances?

1. PERSONAL BELONGINGS AND ALCOHOL

He has also accused me of stealing or retaining personal belongings, including alcohol and other items he left behind.

There is a disagreement over property from the relationship and what he believes should have been returned or compensated.

I understand that personal property can be legally distinguishable from gifts and shared relationship expenses.

I would like clarification on how Texas law treats belongings left with a romantic partner, disputed gifts, proof of ownership, demands for return, and claims for the value of allegedly unreturned property.

I would also like to understand whether someone must establish ownership, possession, and actual value rather than simply demand an arbitrary amount of money.

1. GIFTS, TRAVEL, ENTERTAINMENT, AND OTHER EXPENSES

During our relationship, he spent money on gifts, entertainment, travel, outings, and shared experiences.

He has referred to the significant amount of time and money he spent because of our relationship.

He has also suggested that gestures or expenditures are not really “free” given what he believes happened between us.

However, I do not understand expenses voluntarily incurred during a romantic relationship to automatically create a debt when the relationship deteriorates.

As far as I know, there was no running account or agreement under which I was obligated to repay every expense he incurred.

Can someone retroactively recharacterize relationship expenditures as recoverable damages, even if those expenditures were originally presented as gifts, shared experiences, or voluntary spending?

1. RECENT DEMANDS FOR MONEY — SEPTEMBER–OCTOBER 2026

More recently, he has repeatedly brought up money and demanded repayment before considering further interaction or reconciliation. My offer has been simple, I just no longer want drama and would like him to stop badmouthing me.

Some of his statements have included:

“Start with paying me back.”

He has also said words to the effect of:

“I’m gonna hound you about it until it’s actually paid.”

During another conversation, he said he was not coming after me for money, while continuing to insist that I compensate him for his losses.

He has accused me of stealing, trespassing, causing legal expenses, making false accusations, and otherwise damaging him.

He has also raised past relationship conduct and boundary disputes, but I have not been given a clear explanation of how each accusation translates into a particular sum recoverable under civil law.

I have disputed owing an unspecified debt and told him that if he believes he has a legitimate legal claim, he should identify the amount, factual basis, and legal grounds and pursue it through the appropriate channels.

For accuracy, communication between us has been intermittent and at times mutual. I’m not representing that every interaction was unsolicited.

I have not agreed to an open-ended obligation to compensate him simply because he considers the relationship damaging.

1. MY OWN FINANCIAL LOSSES

For context, I have also incurred significant expenses and consequences as a result of incidents involving this relationship, including dental treatment, counseling, legal proceedings, travel, and other matters.

I understand that my alleged losses do not automatically eliminate a valid claim he might have against me.

Likewise, I question whether his alleged losses automatically establish a claim against me.

I am not asking the group to calculate who suffered more or to determine whether one person should compensate the other for the overall failure of the relationship.

I simply want to know what financial obligations, if any, would actually be enforceable.

SPECIFIC LEGAL QUESTIONS

1. Under Texas law, what potential causes of action could a former romantic partner assert to recover gifts, travel expenses, tickets, or other expenses incurred during the relationship? Could unjust enrichment apply?

2. Can a person recover criminal-defense attorney fees from someone who made an allegedly false complaint? What additional legal elements would need to be proved?

3. How would the law distinguish a transferred concert ticket, a conditional promise to reimburse part of its cost, and an ordinary gift?

4. What must a plaintiff establish to recover the value of allegedly retained personal belongings? Would proof of ownership, conversion, or a demand for return be necessary?

5. Is claiming to have experienced financial or emotional “damages” sufficient to support a civil lawsuit, or must the person identify a particular legally recognized cause of action, causation, and measurable losses?

6. What statutes of limitations would potentially apply to alleged debts, property disputes, defamation, or other civil claims arising from events in 2023–2026?

7. At what point, if any, might repeated demands for money or statements about continuing to “hound” someone raise harassment concerns, particularly where there is a history of protective-order proceedings and intermittent mutual contact?

8. Am I legally obligated to respond to informal demands for payment, or may I decline further personal negotiations and request that any actual claim be communicated through an attorney or the courts?

9. Given the overlap with prior criminal matters, would it be more appropriate to consult a civil-litigation attorney, criminal-defense attorney, or someone experienced in both?

I am not claiming that it is impossible for him to have a legitimate claim. If an actual debt or civil cause of action exists, I want to understand what the law requires and what defenses may be available.

However, I do not believe the mere fact that a relationship was contentious, expensive, or emotionally damaging automatically means one party owes the other reimbursement.

What actual legal leverage, if any, does this person appear to have under Texas law, and what would he need to prove before he could recover money from me?

Thank you to any Texas attorneys willing to provide general guidance.

What law is this ?.. I am a nurse in colorado springs and on October 10th i was arrested at work because one of my clients is schizophrenic and he called the police on himself making threats to himself and everybody in the building.. I guess due to the violent things he said they had to identify everybody in the facility.. I was arrested because I missed court on October 8th.. I spent the weekend in jail and early Monday morning I’m thinking I’m getting released, but they tell me that I’m getting transferred to a different jail.. on the way to the jail, the police officer pulled over, took off my handcuffs, gave me my property back & said the county is not accepting your warrant, therefore we cannot hold you in jail and had no choice but to turn around and take me home.. due to the situation, I lost my job and now my license is on the line because I “abandoned” my clients which is abuse in the nursing field & i could potentially get charged for it.. all because the arresting officers did not verify with the courts that my warrant WAS NOT ARRESTABLE before they took me to jail.. I know this is a civil matter, but what is the best way to go about this because this is unacceptable. What do I do next?

Do the bright legal minds of this forum believe the IFJ has a chance concerning tailored legal advice in respect to free speech?

I moved to Washington from Texas last June, and I started a new teaching job in July. This is part of the offer letter:

“The pay for this position is $95,880 annually and the position is classified as Exempt. Upon receiving your Washington State Special Education Teaching Certification, your compensation will adjust to $125,000.”

I got my teaching certificate transferred to the state of Washington on October 6th. I sent it over to HR that same day, and I just received the following in an email from them:

“Unfortunately, your certification is in early childhood special education. This certification does not allow you to provide case management responsibilities for the K-12 population we serve thus we cannot move you from the TA salary scale to the special education teacher salary scale.  
Given your experience and expected certification, we did start you off at a higher salary than typical. This is something we could consider re-negotiating at your 6 month review.”

They never mentioned anything in my offer letter about case management, nor did they mention anything about what type of teaching certificate I needed. They were aware that my teaching certificate in Texas was for Early Childhood Education BEFORE they sent me this offer.

How can they do this? Am I just screwed now?

How do lawyers argue in their personal lives. Obviously they have an advantage in arguments, but how do you keep it from bleeding into arguments with your spouses? Especially if they have inconsistencies in their statements.
And what is your favorite legal code section?