While instant messaging users are accustomed to more acronyms than they can probably keep track of, a helpful qualifying phrase for casual law bloggers who are not members of any state bar is "I am not a lawyer", or "IANAL".

It allows the writer to demostrate that, while he may not be qualified to appear as the counsel of record in most courts, he is likely more qualified to make common sense of some legal issue or development -- a characteristic sorely lacking among many legislators.