Do You Speak ERISA?
Very little about ERISA is simple. In fact, even the statute's numbering system is complicated. The ERISA statute was slated to be codified in Title 29 of the federal code. By the time Congress finally passed the statute in 1974, however, many section numbers of Title 29 had been assigned to other statutory provisions. To resolve this dilemma, ERISA's section numbers had to be reassigned to different Title 29 section numbers. ERISA § 502, for example, became 29 U.S.C. § 1132.
Many ERISA practicioners "speak ERISA" and refer to the original section numbers. Some case opinions and legal publications also refer to the ERISA section numbers, leading to confusion for the uninitiated. In any event, it's just another thing that makes this area of the law is a little more unusual.
There is a great cross-reference table, published on-line by BenefitsLink.com, that sets forth the matching ERISA and Title 29 section numbers. It also provides the full ERISA statute for easy reference.