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Law, Plainly

One legal idea, explained in plain English, every other Sunday. Short enough to read with your coffee. Clear enough to forward to a client, a board member, or your family.

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  • About a 3-minute read

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What’s in each issue

The explainer

One question people actually ask about the law, answered plainly. Recent topics: who decides your electric bill, the 2026 estate tax, and when a president can go to war without Congress.

The term

One piece of legal jargon, translated into a sentence you could say out loud.

Cy presWhen a charitable gift’s purpose becomes impossible or impractical, a court can redirect the money to the closest similar purpose instead of letting the gift fail.

From practice

Now and then, a short Q&A with a working lawyer about how their corner of the law actually works.

Your question

Reply with the legal question people keep asking you. The best ones become future issues.

Recent explainers

Health Law

Social determinants of health

The conditions where people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that shape their health: income, education, health care, neighborhood, and community.

Read the explainerLaw School Notes

Presidential war power

Only Congress can declare war, but The Prize Cases held that a president facing invasion or rebellion must meet force with force without waiting for Congress.

Read the explainerEstate & Elder Law

Powers of attorney and guardianship

A durable power of attorney lets you choose, while you still can, who acts for you; without one, a court must hold a hearing and appoint a guardian or conservator.

Read the explainer

Who writes it

Irving Steel

I’m Irving Steel, a second-year student at Roger Williams University School of Law. In summer 2026 I was a legal intern at the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office. Before law school I founded an environmental nonprofit, co-founded a media company, and spent about six years in China.

I write Law, Plainly to practice the skill I care about most as a future lawyer: explaining the law clearly to the people it affects.

More about meExperience

One legal idea. Every other Sunday. Plainly.

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