What Is a DOT Physical and Who Needs One

June 2026

If you drive a commercial motor vehicle for a living you already know that keeping your CDL current requires more than just passing a road test. It requires proving on a regular basis that you are physically fit to operate a vehicle that weighs tens of thousands of pounds at highway speeds. That proof comes in the form of a DOT physical examination — and understanding what it involves could be the difference between staying on the road and losing your medical certificate.

DNA Testing for Legal Matters — What You Need to Know

June 2026

When most people think about DNA testing they think about ancestry websites. But DNA testing plays a far more significant role in the legal system than most people realize — and when the results actually matter the difference between a legally admissible test and an at-home test can change everything. Here is exactly what legal DNA testing involves — when it is required — and what makes a test legally defensible in a Mississippi court.

What Is Reasonable Suspicion Testing and When Can an Employer Order One

July 1

Of all the types of drug and alcohol testing that employers conduct reasonable suspicion testing is the one that generates the most questions — the most uncertainty — and the most anxiety on both sides of the employer-employee relationship. Employers want to know exactly what they need to see before they can order a test. Supervisors want to know what to document. And employees want to know what their rights are. Here is everything you need to know.

What Is Post-Accident Drug Testing and When Is It Required

July 2026

When an accident happens in the workplace the immediate priority is always the safety and wellbeing of everyone involved. But once the emergency has been addressed DOT regulated employers face a critical compliance obligation that must be acted on immediately. Post-accident drug and alcohol testing has strict federal timeframes — alcohol testing within two hours — drug testing within 32 hours — and missing those windows is itself a serious violation. Here is everything employers need to know.

What Is a Background Check and What Does It Actually Show

July 2026

If you have ever applied for a job — rented an apartment — volunteered at a school or gone through an adoption process you have probably been told that a background check will be conducted. But do you actually know what a background check shows — what does not show up — and how far back it goes? Here is everything employers and individuals need to know about background checks and how they work in Mississippi.

What Is a Living Will and Why Every Adult Needs One

July 2026

There is a conversation most people put off having — not because they do not care about the outcome but because thinking about it feels uncomfortable. What happens if you are in a medical crisis and you cannot speak for yourself? A living will answers those questions before the crisis happens. It is one of the most important legal documents an adult can have — and one of the most commonly delayed. Here is everything you need to know.

What Is a DOT Drug Testing Panel and What Does It Test For

July 2026

If you are a CDL driver or an employer with a DOT regulated fleet you have probably heard the term five panel drug test. But what does that actually mean — what exactly is the DOT testing for — why these five substances and not others — and how is a DOT drug test different from a standard workplace drug test? Here is everything employers and drivers need to know about the DOT drug testing panel.

What Is Nicotine Testing and Why Are Employers Adding It to Their Drug Testing Programs

July 2026

When most people think about workplace drug testing they think about marijuana — cocaine — opioids and the other substances on the standard testing panels. Nicotine has never been part of those panels. But a growing number of employers throughout Mississippi are now adding nicotine testing to their pre-employment and ongoing screening programs — driven by healthcare costs — tobacco-free workplace policies and insurance incentives. Here is everything employers need to know.

What Is Fingerprinting and When Do You Need It

July 2026

Most people have had their fingerprints taken at some point — for a job application — a professional license — a volunteer position or some other purpose. But most people do not fully understand what fingerprinting involves — why it is more accurate than a name-based background check — or what happens to their fingerprints after they are collected. Here is everything you need to know about fingerprinting and when you need it.

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