Jessica Gillespie

MSLIS · Long Island University

Jessica Gillespie is a Legal Editor and Nolo’s Research Director. Her articles appear on Nolo.com, CriminalDefenseLawyer.com, and Lawyers.com.

Education. Jessica received a B.A. from the University of Virginia, an M.S. in Library and Information Science from Long Island University, and an M.A. in United States History from North Carolina State University. She also did doctoral work in history at the University of Tennessee, where she focused her research on Progressive Era reform movements in the Appalachian South.

Working at Nolo. Jessica joined the Nolo Editorial team in 2014. At Nolo, Jessica conducts legal research and writes and edits articles across many areas of practice, including estate planning, criminal law, and personal injury. She is also a coauthor of Nolo’s Legal Research: How to Find & Understand the Law and a cocreator of many of Nolo’s online legal forms, including the online LLC and online corporation formation services.

Before Nolo. In addition to her background in academia, Jessica has years of experience working in law libraries. Before coming to Nolo, Jessica managed the U.S., E.U., and U.N. documents collections at New York University’s Law Library and worked in the library of a large law firm in Richmond, Virginia, where she provided technical services support and research assistance to attorneys and staff.


Articles by Jessica Gillespie

Kentucky Marijuana Laws
The possession and sale of any amount of marijuana is illegal in Kentucky, and potential penalties vary by the amount possessed or sold.
Massachusetts Marijuana Laws
Learn about Massachusetts’s laws and penalties for marijuana use, cultivation, distribution, and trafficking.
Florida Marijuana Laws
The possession and sale of marijuana is illegal in Florida, and potential penalties vary by the amount possessed or sold.
Criminal Record Expungement in Alaska
Alaska doesn't have an expungement law. A person may get a record sealed in limited cases.
Utah Statutory Rape Laws
The age of consent in Utah is 18. Engaging in consensual sexual activities with a minor younger than 18 can be a crime.
Wyoming Statutory Rape Laws
Wyoming's statutory rape laws carry stiff penalties. Having consensual sexual relations with a minor—sexual intercourse or contact—may result in felony charges and lengthy prison sentences.
Massachusetts Statutory Rape Laws
People in Massachusetts who engage in sexual activity with someone under the age of consent (16 years old) may be convicted of statutory rape offenses.
Nevada Statutory Rape Laws
People who engage in sexual activity with children younger than 16 may be prosecuted for statutory rape crimes in Nevada.
Expunging or Sealing Adult Criminal Records in Nevada
In Nevada, many criminal records can be expunged or sealed so that the general public will not be able to access them. But not all records are eligible.
Expunging or Sealing Adult Criminal Records in North Carolina
In North Carolina, expunction can erase your criminal record under certain circumstances. But not all records can be expunged.