There are state specific legislative issues across the US that can directly affect your business, and we have previously written on sources to monitor for these issues. There are also numerous federal laws that can affect your business. With almost 10 federal regulations finalized each day, it is important for you to stay well-informed on the federal laws the govern your industry.

One way to monitor such laws is the Legal Information Institute (LII) sponsored by the Cornell Law School. The “first law site on the internet,” the institute has provided free access to federal legal resources since 1992. It contains both historical primary sources such as the US Constitution, as well as current sources on federal statutes and regulations. In addition, the institute contains “topical” pages that serve as explanatory guides for 100 areas of law.

With the rise of the Gig Economy and the flexible workforce, along with the increasing scrutiny of the use of independent contractors, understanding labor laws has become a key focus for continued success. The Department of Labor (DOL) Wage & Hour Division has links to key labor statutes and regulations such as the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Family & Medical Leave Act, that can provide valuable insight into pertinent labor requirements.

The DOL has also created a series of eLaws Advisors to walk you through key employment issues. “The eLaws Advisors are interactive e-tools that provide easy-to-understand information about a number of federal employment laws. Each Advisor simulates the interaction you might have with an employment law expert. It asks questions and provides answers based on responses given.”

There are times when researching federal legal issues requires a more in-depth, hands on approach. For example, property ownership details and land conflict information can date back hundreds of years. Access/Information has experience conducting exhaustive in-person searches of the National Archives and Records Administration for land disputes dating back to the 1800s.

Do you need more in-depth information about federal legal issues that might be impacting your business? Contact us to discuss the types of research and services that we can provide.