Nolo.com
Encyclopedia
Nolo, formerly known as Nolo Press, is a publisher in Berkeley, California
that produces do-it-yourself
legal books and software that reduce the need for people to hire lawyer
s for simple legal matters such as making wills or writing business partnership contracts. In 2011, the company was purchased by Internet Brands
, Inc.
The company was founded in an attic in 1971 by Ralph Warner (who received his bachelor's degree
from Princeton University
in 1963 and his degree in law from the Boalt School of Law at the University of California, Berkeley
) and family law
attorney Ed Sherman. The company published Sherman's first book, How to Do Your Own Divorce in California, after they discovered that other publishers wouldn't (fearing prosecution for practicing law without a law licence). , Warner remains with the company, having stepped down as its President in 2004. Sherman later founded his own legal publishing business, Nolo Press Occidental, a separate company from Nolo.com.
The company's name is derived from the legal phrase Nolo contendere
, meaning "it will not be disputed" or "I choose not to dispute". The word "nolo" itself could be taken to mean "I will not", "I choose not", or "I would prefer not to". The company recommends getting professional legal help for disputable or difficult matters.
The company's logo shows the scales of justice
tilted (in the favor of the reader). Some older Nolo publications feature an unofficial mascot
, a shark
depicted wearing a necktie
and carrying a briefcase
– showing the company's fondness for poking fun at their fellow members of the legal profession. This mascot was often accompanied by the motto
"Don't feed the lawyers. Just say Nolo."
The Nolo shark officially retired in 2006 on the company’s 35th anniversary.
In 2006, Nolo began publishing a directory of attorneys, which is asserted to operate on the principle that both participating lawyers and consumers are better served by a relatively short list of qualified attorneys under each category (business law, real estate, etc.), with lots of information for side-by-side comparisons.
Publication of Nolo's first book, How to Do Your Own Divorce in California, was condemned by the Sacramento Bar Association
, which led to a huge increase in its sales.
In 1997, the Texas Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee (a committee of the Texas Supreme Court
) opened investigations on Nolo and similar publishers, inquiring as to whether their publications constituted the practicing law without a licence
. Saying that the investigation was "the first step toward widespread state censorship", Nolo sued, seeking a declaratory judgment
that its publications were legal. It was joined in the action by the American Association of Law Libraries
and the Texas Library Association. In response, the Texas Legislature
enacted HR 1507, which expressly exempted websites and textbooks from accusations of practicing law without a license, providing they "clearly and conspicuously state that the products are not a substitute for the advice of an attorney". In light of this, the court committee dropped its contest of Nolo's suit.
Berkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
that produces do-it-yourself
Do it yourself
Do it yourself is a term used to describe building, modifying, or repairing of something without the aid of experts or professionals...
legal books and software that reduce the need for people to hire lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
s for simple legal matters such as making wills or writing business partnership contracts. In 2011, the company was purchased by Internet Brands
Internet Brands
Internet Brands is a new media company based in El Segundo, California that operates online media, community, and e-commerce sites in vertical markets. The company also develops and licenses internet software and social media applications....
, Inc.
The company was founded in an attic in 1971 by Ralph Warner (who received his bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
from Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
in 1963 and his degree in law from the Boalt School of Law at the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
) and family law
Family law
Family law is an area of the law that deals with family-related issues and domestic relations including:*the nature of marriage, civil unions, and domestic partnerships;...
attorney Ed Sherman. The company published Sherman's first book, How to Do Your Own Divorce in California, after they discovered that other publishers wouldn't (fearing prosecution for practicing law without a law licence). , Warner remains with the company, having stepped down as its President in 2004. Sherman later founded his own legal publishing business, Nolo Press Occidental, a separate company from Nolo.com.
The company's name is derived from the legal phrase Nolo contendere
Nolo contendere
is a legal term that comes from the Latin for "I do not wish to contend." It is also referred to as a plea of no contest.In criminal trials, and in some common law jurisdictions, it is a plea where the defendant neither admits nor disputes a charge, serving as an alternative to a pleading of...
, meaning "it will not be disputed" or "I choose not to dispute". The word "nolo" itself could be taken to mean "I will not", "I choose not", or "I would prefer not to". The company recommends getting professional legal help for disputable or difficult matters.
The company's logo shows the scales of justice
Scales of Justice
Scales of Justice can refer to:* Justice* Scales held by Lady Justice symbolizing the measure of a case's support and opposition* Scales of Justice , a 1983 Australian television drama* Scales of Justice , a 1990 American series...
tilted (in the favor of the reader). Some older Nolo publications feature an unofficial mascot
Mascot
The term mascot – defined as a term for any person, animal, or object thought to bring luck – colloquially includes anything used to represent a group with a common public identity, such as a school, professional sports team, society, military unit, or brand name...
, a shark
Shark
Sharks are a type of fish with a full cartilaginous skeleton and a highly streamlined body. The earliest known sharks date from more than 420 million years ago....
depicted wearing a necktie
Necktie
A necktie is a long piece of cloth worn for decorative purposes around the neck or shoulders, resting under the shirt collar and knotted at the throat. Variants include the ascot tie, bow tie, bolo tie, and the clip-on tie. The modern necktie, ascot, and bow tie are descended from the cravat. Neck...
and carrying a briefcase
Briefcase
A briefcase is a narrow box-shaped bag or case used mainly for carrying papers and other documents and equipped with a handle. Lawyers commonly use briefcases to carry briefs to present to a court, hence the name...
– showing the company's fondness for poking fun at their fellow members of the legal profession. This mascot was often accompanied by the motto
Motto
A motto is a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottoes of governments...
"Don't feed the lawyers. Just say Nolo."
The Nolo shark officially retired in 2006 on the company’s 35th anniversary.
In 2006, Nolo began publishing a directory of attorneys, which is asserted to operate on the principle that both participating lawyers and consumers are better served by a relatively short list of qualified attorneys under each category (business law, real estate, etc.), with lots of information for side-by-side comparisons.
Complaints from lawyers
Although the company's products conspicuously recommend the reader should engage a lawyer for difficult or contended matters, the company has nevertheless drawn the ire of some legal organizations.Publication of Nolo's first book, How to Do Your Own Divorce in California, was condemned by the Sacramento Bar Association
Bar association
A bar association is a professional body of lawyers. Some bar associations are responsible for the regulation of the legal profession in their jurisdiction; others are professional organizations dedicated to serving their members; in many cases, they are both...
, which led to a huge increase in its sales.
In 1997, the Texas Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee (a committee of the Texas Supreme Court
Texas Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of Texas is the court of last resort for non-criminal matters in the state of Texas. A different court, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, is the court of last resort for criminal matters.The Court is composed of a Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices...
) opened investigations on Nolo and similar publishers, inquiring as to whether their publications constituted the practicing law without a licence
Practice of law
In its most general sense, the practice of law involves giving legal advice to clients, drafting legal documents for clients, and representing clients in legal negotiations and court proceedings such as lawsuits, and is applied to the professional services of a lawyer or attorney at law, barrister,...
. Saying that the investigation was "the first step toward widespread state censorship", Nolo sued, seeking a declaratory judgment
Declaratory judgment
A declaratory judgment is a judgment of a court in a civil case which declares the rights, duties, or obligations of one or more parties in a dispute. A declaratory judgment is legally binding, but it does not order any action by a party. In this way, the declaratory judgment is like an action to...
that its publications were legal. It was joined in the action by the American Association of Law Libraries
American Association of Law Libraries
The American Association of Law Libraries "is a nonprofit educational organization with over 5,000 members nationwide. AALL's mission is to promote and enhance the value of law libraries to the legal and public communities, to foster the profession of law librarianship, and to provide leadership in...
and the Texas Library Association. In response, the Texas Legislature
Texas Legislature
The Legislature of the state of Texas is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Texas. The legislature is a bicameral body composed of a 31-member Senate and a 150-member House of Representatives. The Legislature meets at the Capitol in Austin...
enacted HR 1507, which expressly exempted websites and textbooks from accusations of practicing law without a license, providing they "clearly and conspicuously state that the products are not a substitute for the advice of an attorney". In light of this, the court committee dropped its contest of Nolo's suit.