The Missouri Bar

Britney Spears Makes a Comeback

The big news in entertainment is Britney Spears' successful comeback after a year filled with divorce, a shaved head and loss of custody of her two young sons.

Spears' young life - she turns 27 this week - highlights major legal family issues. Her father is the conservator of her estate. She pays child support to her ex-husband after navigating a nasty divorce and custody battle.

The Law in Your Life offers podcasts on several of these topics. Find out what you need to know about these important issues before they happen to you:

Conservatorship

Missouri Child Support

Child Custody/Parenting Coordination

Law in Your Life #43: Military Legal Issues

Military families face tough legal issues when a soldier leaves on a tour of duty. What issues can the military help them with? When should they hire a private attorney to meet their needs. This week, The Missouri Bar's Military Law Committee Chair, Terry Jarrett, discusses these important issues with Law in Your Life host Angela Wilson. Issues include child custody, divorce, talking with your landlord and more. (Internet Explorer users click twice.)

Download audio to your computer. (MP3, approx 9.5 meg)
Note: in some browsers, the file may not begin playing until full file is downloaded.

Download audio to your computer. (MP3, approx 9.5 meg)
Note: in some browsers, the file may not begin playing until full file is downloaded.

Law in Your Life #29: Student Loan Forgiveness

New laws could mean you pay less on your student loans - or those loans could be forgiven. It's part of the College Cost Reduction Act of 2007. What loans are eligible? And who can apply? This week Steve Murrell with The Missouri Bar explains the new student loan repayment and forgiveness programs, and how they can work for you. (Internet Explorer users click twice.)

Download audio to your computer. (MP3, approx 11.9 meg)
Note: in some browsers, the file may not begin playing until full file is downloaded.

Here are some Web sites that can also help you find out if you qualify:

Visit the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) at www.nslds.ed.gov to view all or your federal student loans. 

Equal Justice Works  http://www.equaljusticeworks.org/resource/ccraa

Read the law review article authored by Georgetown Professor Phil Shrag that provides detailed descriptions of IBR and Loan Forgiveness for Public Service Employees: http://www.law.georgetown.edu/news/documents/Forgiveness.pdf.

Use the IBR monthly repayment calculator: http://www.finaid.org/calculators/ibr.phtml

Use the ICR monthly repayment calculator: http://www.finaid.org/calculators/icr.phtml
 
Federal direct consolidation loan information and applications: http://loanconsolidation.ed.gov/

Committee on Education and Labor US House of Representatives
http://edworkforce.house.gov/micro/ccraa.shtml

National  Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators
Summary of the College Cost Reduction and Access Act (HR 2669)
http://www.nasfaa.org/publications/2007/G2669Summary091007.html

National  Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators
Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Public Service Loan Forgiveness
http://www.nasfaa.org/PDFs/2007/FAQPublic.pdf

Download audio to your computer. (MP3, approx 11.9 meg)
Note: in some browsers, the file may not begin playing until full file is downloaded.

Here are some Web sites that can also help you find out if you qualify:

Visit the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) at www.nslds.ed.gov to view all or your federal student loans. 

Equal Justice Works  http://www.equaljusticeworks.org/resource/ccraa

Read the law review article authored by Georgetown Professor Phil Shrag that provides detailed descriptions of IBR and Loan Forgiveness for Public Service Employees: http://www.law.georgetown.edu/news/documents/Forgiveness.pdf.

Use the IBR monthly repayment calculator: http://www.finaid.org/calculators/ibr.phtml

Use the ICR monthly repayment calculator: http://www.finaid.org/calculators/icr.phtml
 
Federal direct consolidation loan information and applications: http://loanconsolidation.ed.gov/

Committee on Education and Labor US House of Representatives
http://edworkforce.house.gov/micro/ccraa.shtml

National  Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators
Summary of the College Cost Reduction and Access Act (HR 2669)
http://www.nasfaa.org/publications/2007/G2669Summary091007.html

National  Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators
Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Public Service Loan Forgiveness
http://www.nasfaa.org/PDFs/2007/FAQPublic.pdf

Law in Your Life #28: IRS Scams

The 2008 IRS Dirty Dozen names the top scams consumers will face this year. This week host Angela Wilson talks with IRS spokeswoman Catherine Murphy about three scams on the list relating to economic stimulus payments, phishing and tax preparerer fraud. For the complete Dirty Dozen list, visit the IRS Web site. (Internet Explorer users click twice.)

Download audio to your computer. (MP3, approx 7.5 meg)
Note: in some browsers, the file may not begin playing until full file is downloaded.

Download audio to your computer. (MP3, approx 7.5 meg)
Note: in some browsers, the file may not begin playing until full file is downloaded.

Missouri DWI Laws Face Change

A recent ruling from Missouri's high court means that people arrested for DWI could face misdemeanor charges, rather than felony charges. The ruling came as a result of a conflict within laws on the books. The Kansas City Star has more details on the recent ruling.

What should you know before your DWI case goes to court? What are your rights if you are pulled over at a checkpoint? In this recent podcast, Columbia attorney Robert Murray discusses your rights when it comes to breathalysers, taking tests to walk straight lines and what you need to know about Missouri's legal limit. Murray focuses his practice on DWI cases, and also gives listeners an example of what to say to an officer if you are pulled over.

Bankruptcy Fears

Bankruptcy is in the news, with filings by prominent tech companies, furniture and retail stores, manufacturers and more making headlines daily. With the slowing economy, massive stock losses and home mortgage pitfalls, some Missourians find themselves wondering if bankruptcy is the answer. In this Law in Your Life podcast, attorney Janice Harder discusses the pros and cons of individual bankruptcy.

Nation's High Court Tackles Gun Laws

The U.S. Supreme Court will decide if strict gun bans in the nation's capital are lawful, or a violation of an individual's right to bear arms. The court's decision could have an impact on gun laws throughout the United States, according to this CNN story.

What gun laws are on the books in Missouri? In this enlightening Law in Your Life podcast, attorney Kevin Jamison explains your rights as a gun owner. Jamison has written extensively on the topic in his book, Missouri Weapons and Self-Defense Law, and also helped produce the video, Missouri Concealed-Carry and Self-Defense Law.

Law in Your Life #26: Missouri Public Defenders

Missouri is fast losing public defenders, which make it more difficult for some cases to work through the court system. What's the cause? What does this mean for Missourians? Today host Angela Wilson discusses this timely issue with attorney Cathy Kelly. (Internet Explorer users click twice.)

Download audio to your computer. (MP3, approx 10.1 meg)
Note: in some browsers, the file may not begin playing until full file is downloaded.

Download audio to your computer. (MP3, approx 10.1 meg)
Note: in some browsers, the file may not begin playing until full file is downloaded.

Law in Your Life #25: Retrospective Law

Recently, the Missouri Supreme Court struck down a Missouri law that prohibited sex offenders from living within 1,000 feet of a school or child care facility. Why? Because it violated the state's constitution when it comes to retrospective law. This week, host Angela Wilson discusses the case and how retrospective law impacts all Missourians with St. Louis attorney Chet Pleban. (Internet Explorer users click twice.)

Download audio to your computer. (MP3, approx 30 meg)
Note: in some browsers, the file may not begin playing until full file is downloaded.

Download audio to your computer. (MP3, approx 30 meg)
Note: in some browsers, the file may not begin playing until full file is downloaded.

Law in Your Life #23: Missouri Gun Laws

This week, host Angela Wilson discusses Missouri's conceal and carry law, Castle Doctrine and practical matters of owning weapons with attorney Kevin Jamison, author of the comprehensive book Missouri Weapons and Self-Defense Law. Jamison is also the instructor of a two-disc video, Missouri Concealed-Carry and Self-Defense Law.   (Internet Explorer users click play twice.)

Download audio to your computer. (MP3, approx 30 meg)
Note: in some browsers, the file may not begin playing until full file is downloaded.

For additional resources on weapons laws in the Show-Me State, visit these sites:

Western Missouri Shooters Association

Kevin L. Jamison Law

Download audio to your computer. (MP3, approx 30 meg)
Note: in some browsers, the file may not begin playing until full file is downloaded.

For additional resources on weapons laws in the Show-Me State, visit these sites:

Western Missouri Shooters Association

Kevin L. Jamison Law