Legal

10/09/2026

Did you know that some states have medical-related provisions tied to vehicle window sun protection?

I recently looked into this topic and thought it was worth sharing, especially for Veterans, military families, and others who may be dealing with medical conditions affected by sunlight exposure.

Thank you to Maria DecenaTaylor for initially bringing attention to this subject.

South Carolina has a provision addressing medical exemptions related to window tint under S.C. Code § 56-5-5015(H)(1).

California also has related provisions under Vehicle Code sections 26708 and 26708.2. These provisions address certain removable sun-screening devices and certain UV-protective window materials in specific situations.

The rules and requirements appear to vary by state, so this is one of those topics that may be helpful to explore further if it applies to you or someone you know.

For anyone interested in learning more, official state sources are the best place to start.

South Carolina Code § 56-5-5015(H)(1)
California Vehicle Code §§ 26708 and 26708.2

Sometimes helpful information is simply information people did not know was out there, and I am always glad to share something that may help someone else.

10/09/2026

California just changed the legal landscape for kids, social media, and AI, and parents, schools, and legal professionals should be paying attention.

Governor Newsom recently signed a package of new child online safety laws aimed at social media platforms, AI companion chatbots, student data, age verification, and AI-generated sexual exploitation involving minors.

For legal professionals, the significance goes beyond technology policy.

These laws are another example of how quickly AI and online-platform regulation is moving from general guidance into specific compliance obligations.

A few of the most important changes include:

California is strengthening regulation of AI companion chatbots used by children, including crisis protocols, parental controls, safety-setting notifications, independent child-safety audits, and risk assessments.

Social media platforms face new restrictions on certain addictive features for users under 16, including autoplay and algorithmic feeds based on user history and profiles.

Privacy protections for children are expanding, including restrictions involving targeted advertising and the use of K-12 student information in AI systems.

California is also expanding child sexual exploitation laws to include digitally altered and AI-generated material depicting minors.

Age verification and age-assurance systems are becoming a larger part of the regulatory framework, which means businesses, schools, app developers, and parents are likely to see more age-related controls and notices.

For parents, one of the most important conversations may be the simplest one.

A fake image is not automatically harmless because AI created it.

Teenagers need to understand that creating, requesting, saving, or forwarding AI-generated sexual images involving minors can carry very serious consequences.

For schools and legal professionals, the growing use of AI also means paying closer attention to student data, consent, platform terms, retention practices, and how AI-enabled products are being used with children.

The larger takeaway for me is that AI regulation is becoming increasingly specific.

We are moving beyond conversations about whether AI should be regulated and into questions about how systems are designed, what data they can use, what safeguards must exist, and who is responsible when those safeguards fail.

That is going to matter more and more in legal practice.

10/09/2026

Yesterday, I introduced a client to a feature in MS Word and I thought he was going to kiss me!

Which feature? I showed him how to use the "Read Aloud” feature in Word: A Game Changer for Proofreading!

Read Aloud is a great feature to catch mistakes that might be missed simply reading on the screen, like missing words, or incorrect phrasing.

This feature is also available in Outlook. One caveat, "Read Aloud" is only available for Office 2019, Office 2021, and Microsoft 365.

It's very simple feature to use, this is how to use it:

1. On the Review tab, select Read Aloud.
2. To play Read Aloud, select Play in the controls on right hand of screen.
3. To pause Read Aloud, select Pause.
4. To move from one paragraph to another, select Previous or Next.
5. To exit Read Aloud, select Stop.

From the navigation bar on righthand bar that opens when in use, you can control speed of reading, and if the voice is male or female.

This is a super cool tip for both attorneys and paralegals.

***
Beyond Paralegals®A Legal Ex*****on Company.
Helping legal teams move complex work from strategy to completion for over 20 years. Built to Keep Legal Work Moving.

10/04/2026

My kids will never understand how we survived 9-hour road trips with absolutely NOTHING to do.

No iPad. No Netflix. No Wi-Fi. No headphones.

We stared out the window.

We picked two raindrops on the glass and watched them race each other for 20 minutes like it was the freaking Olympics.

Then somebody spotted a car with one headlight out and screamed “PADIDDLE!” like they had just won $10 million.

We’d count license plates. Argue over who got the window seat. Make up stupid games. And eventually just stare into the void.

And somehow we survived.

Meanwhile, my kids lose their minds when the Wi-Fi stops working for 30 seconds. 😂

10/04/2026

Mission Valley in (1964 & After)

Mission Valley Shopping Center captures San Diego life in 1964.

10/04/2026

The Sacramento Superior Court is accepting applications for a Deputy Clerk – Records Retention Center Unit position.

💼 Pay: $26.30–$31.95 hourly
📍 Unit: Records Retention Center
⏰ Application deadline: September 27, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.

This is a journey-level classification in the Deputy Clerk series that performs a wide range of specialized technical and clerical duties in support of the court. Apply now at bit.ly/saccourtsjobs
~~~~~
Image Description: A Sacramento Superior Court recruitment graphic with a dark blue and gold design. The headline reads “Distribution & Retention Deputy Clerk.” The graphic identifies the Records Retention Center Unit, lists the hourly salary range of $26.30–$31.95, and states that applications are due September 27, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. The Sacramento County Superior Court seal appears on the right side of the graphic.

10/02/2026

I stopped collecting random AI prompts and started building repeatable ChatGPT workflows.

I have been spending a lot of time learning how to use ChatGPT beyond one-off prompting, and this project brought a lot of that work together in one place.

I created a ChatGPT / OpenAI Prompt & Workflow Collection with 29 ready-to-use prompts covering 28 different workflows, plus one Master Router Prompt that can help determine which workflow fits the task.

The collection covers areas I use regularly, including research, fact-checking, decision support, writing, editing, presentations, spreadsheets, LinkedIn content, client preparation, negotiation, AI workflow design, deeper analysis, prompt restructuring, and quality control.

A few of the workflows included are:

Fact Checker
Deep Research Synthesizer
Devil’s Advocate
Go Deeper
Client Brief
Decision Support
Personal Voice
Humanizer
Red Pen
Tighten
LinkedIn Hook
LinkedIn Post Analysis
Negotiation
Presentation Builder
Infographic Builder
Prompt Master
Skill Audit
Spreadsheet Workflow
Conversation Handoff
Step-by-Step How-To

I also created a Master Router Prompt at the beginning.

Instead of having to remember which prompt to use, you can give ChatGPT your task and have it determine the minimum workflow or combination of workflows that makes sense.

One of the biggest things I continue to learn about AI is that the quality of the result depends on much more than asking a good question.

The instructions matter.
The source material matters.
The workflow matters.
The review process matters.
And knowing when human judgment needs to stay in the loop matters.

I am sharing the complete Word and PDF prompt collection with this post for anyone who wants to experiment with these workflows in ChatGPT.

Some of these may become full ChatGPT Skills later. Others are useful exactly as they are: reusable prompts that can be copied, adapted, and used whenever the situation comes up.

This was a fun one to put together, and I already know I am going to keep adding to it.

Find me on LinkedIn to download the information.
My Linkedin Profile is under: freitasnatalie

10/02/2026

School Voucher Rules - The Education Freedom Tax Credit (EFTC) is the first federal tax credit scholarship program in U.S. history, beginning January 1, 2027. For families in a given state to access EFTC scholarships, the governor (or whoever state law designates) must opt their state in, one year at a time.

The Treasury Department yesterday unveiled proposed rules for the nation’s first federal tax-credit scholarship program, set to launch Jan. 1 and help cover private- and public-school expenses.

Created under last year’s tax and spending law, the program offers taxpayers a nonrefundable, dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit of up to $1,700 annually—or $3,400 for married couples filing jointly—for donations to approved scholarship-granting organizations, which distribute funds to eligible families. Scholarships can cover private school tuition, tutoring, disability services, books, computers, and other education expenses. Families earning up to three times their area’s median income qualify, covering roughly 96% of students in participating states. The rules let states select which qualifying SGOs participate, but limit additional restrictions on how they distribute funds and require annual independent audits. At least 31 states have said they will participate (see where your state stands).

By 2030, officials estimate the program could generate nearly $26B annually, funding about 2.2 million scholarships. See how school vouchers work and the debate surrounding them.

EFTC participation, state by state

The Education Freedom Tax Credit (EFTC) is the first federal tax credit scholarship program in U.S. history, beginning January 1, 2027. For families in a given state to access EFTC scholarships, the governor (or whoever state law designates) must opt their state in, one year at a time. Here’s where every state stands.

https://eftccredit.com/states?utm_source=join1440&utm_medium=email&utm_placement=newsletter&user_id=66c4c623600ae150759eef69

Complete state-by-state breakdown of EFTC opt-in status, with governor details and decision dates.

10/01/2026

Yes! Who has a boss that radiates positive successful discussions and decisions!?