Know Your Rights. Understand the Law.
Clear answers to the legal questions that affect everyday life, including your phone, school, job, privacy, police encounters, online activity, and more.
Four ways the law shows up in real life.
Police, renting, work, and more
Your rights with police, landlords, employers, and stores — and what to say in the moment.Your rights at school
From backpack searches to your education records — what schools can actually do.Your rights online
Memes and copyright, doxxing, deepfakes, VPNs, and when a post becomes a crime.Your rights as a new adult
Your first job, first paycheck, first contract — the fine print, explained.Quick ways to learn the law.
“If the police don’t read me my rights, my case gets thrown out.”
Not quite. Miranda only affects statements made during custodial questioning — not the whole case.
Can your school search your backpack?
The two-part test every school search must pass. Read →New answers to everyday legal questions.
What Is FERPA? Who Can See Your Grades and School Records
FERPA is the federal law that keeps school records private. See who can view your grades, what changes at 18 or in college, and how to file a complaint.
What Happens If You Miss Jury Duty?
If you miss jury duty, a court can order you to explain and fine you: up to $1,000 in federal court. See state penalties and what to do next.
What Is the Minimum Wage for Teens?
The federal minimum wage for teens is $7.25 an hour, or $4.25 for the first 90 days if you are under 20. Your state may require more. Compare six states.
Is It Illegal to Use a VPN?
No, it is not illegal to use a VPN in the United States. Piracy, hacking, and fraud stay illegal with one on, and school and streaming rules still apply.
Is It Illegal to Record a Conversation?
It is not illegal under federal law to record a conversation you are part of, but some states require everyone's consent. See the rules by state.
Is It Illegal to Make a Deepfake of Someone?
It depends on what it shows. Sexual deepfakes of anyone under 18 are serious crimes, and publishing an intimate fake of an adult is a federal crime.
