Problem/Objective: Tobacco control issues can have complex legal ramifications. The public health and tobacco control communities often face legal hurdles, such as when they draft ordinances, ballot initiatives, referenda, and other policies; analyze procedural requirements; interpret laws, court orders, and settlement agreements; and defend smoke-free laws.

Methods: We will describe the role of law in tobacco control by noting common legal impediments in enacting smoke-free policies, identifying areas where the public health and tobacco control communities often need legal technical assistance, and providing information about legal resources available to the public health and tobacco control communities.

Results: The audience will recognize common areas in which the public health and tobacco control communities can benefit from legal assistance and will be able to identify organizations and resources that can provide such assistance.

Conclusions: The Tobacco Control Legal Consortium's affiliated law centers and its publications can help advocates address the legal issues and challenges involved in drafting, enacting, and defending smoke-free laws and policies.