Oops…That’s Illegal!: A Handbook for the Wildly Curious

by Mike Mandell

From the popular creator of @LawByMike, a hilarious guide to all your legal questions--from the obscure to the downright absurd.  Could you be arrested if you let your kids have a few sips of wine with dinner? Is it illegal to lie on your dating profile? Can a python be an emotional support animal? Most people don’t know the majority of our country’s laws, so they don’t know how to avoid breaking them, what their actual rights are, or when they can seek legal recourse. Lawyer Mike Mandell is here to change that, by answering your most burning legal questions...and some you didn’t even know you had! OOPS…THAT’S ILLEGAL! is a book of legal insight from a practicing lawyer who’s seen it all. Using the same light heartedness and humor that made his social account @LawByMike so popular, Mandell covers a wide range of topics from police encounters (Is it illegal to do a U-turn at a DUI checkpoint?) to party fouls (What’s the penalty for streaking?) to legal disputes (Can I sue my own lawyer for doing a bad job?). Funny, informative, and sprinkled with little-known legal facts throughout, OOPS…THAT’S ILLEGAL! is sure to help even the most upstanding citizens when they come face-to-face with their next legal dilemma.

256 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication June 16, 2026

Reviews

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mike Mandell’s Oops… That’s Illegal is a genuinely funny and entertaining read. Written by a lawyer, the book tackles legal questions that border on the absurd, breaking down how the law actually interprets them in a way that’s both accessible and laugh-out-loud amusing.

I had a lot of fun learning how everyday (and not-so-everyday) scenarios are viewed through a legal lens. Many of the questions were things I’d wondered about but never thought to ask, and the wide range of topics keeps the book fresh throughout. Mandell’s humor and personality really shine, making this an unexpectedly educational and highly enjoyable nonfiction read.