Hi yourself - yeah, it really is like fifty smaller countries here. The reason why we have to qualify individually for each state is because the laws are different. My expertise in Illinois law is proven now, but there's no reason to think I know anything about, for example, the state laws in California (and indeed, I'd be hopeless; the only thing I do know is that they're complicated as fuck).
That said, the broad principles ARE the same from state to state - in fact, they're the same as yours, as after we cast off the harsh, cruel shackles of British rule we kept the same system of law we had while you tyrants were in charge. I definitely studied British cases in law school for fundamental principles of contract, tort, property, and criminal law.
