November 15, 2007 State Lawyers Are Good For You (USA)
State Lawyers Are Good For You
By Frank Vanderlugt
State lawyers represent you. Sometimes referred to as the state’s "top cop", the Attorney General and his or her staff of attorneys aren’t actually police officers. Their job is to provide legal advice and support to law enforcement agencies.
Other times the AG’s office will investigate potential crimes that cross police jurisdictions or affect large numbers of people. Public corruption, white-collar crime, organized crime, and large drug investigations are just some of the items that the AG’s office might work.
In fact, it was a collaborative effort between several Attorneys General that brought about the class-action lawsuit in 1999 against Big Tobacco. After that success, various states began working together to address issues that crossed state lines, like environmental concerns.
The lawyers in the state attorney general’s office also provide legal services to all State agencies, boards, and commissions. So no matter which State agency or service you deal with, you’ve been affected by the actions of your State’s lawyers.
Another big area of responsibility is consumer affairs. Identity theft has become a huge concern, and state lawyers are at the forefront of drafting new legislation to strengthen consumer protections. Internet predation has been in the news lately, and lawyers in each state have drafted a wide variety of new laws to protect internet users, especially children.
Another area where your State’s lawyers might represent you is with your utility companies. The State is responsible for regulating many utility companies, and when disputes arise or requests for changes in the rate structure.
Your State’s lawyers protect your pocketbook in other areas as well. They keep an eye on businesses and business practices in your state, such as the sale of businesses or mergers and acquisitions. If these actions might reduce competition or result in a monopoly, potentially raising prices for consumers, the attorneys might step in on your behalf.
When the wave of foreclosures began to hit the nation, state lawyers across the country stepped in to provide assistance to homeowners in trouble, and make sure they were not further victimized by mortgage-rescue schemes or further deceptive loan practices.
In concert with this effort, many State attorneys focused attention on payday loan companies and their lending practices, which quite a few people considered predatory. These short-term, high-interest loans were aimed at the very people who could least afford them, and created credit trouble for many low-income borrowers.
There really is no area of your life that your State’s lawyers do not touch. They go to bat for you and protect your interests in many different areas of your life. Especially with consumer protections, your life would be vastly different today without the efforts of your State’s attorney general’s office and the lawyers that work there.
Frank j Vanderlugt owns and operates http://www.1800statelawyers.com 2 1800statelawyerscom
