"The chapters in this book were originally prepared ... during the 2004-2005 academic year."--Acknowledgments.

In each of the first three editions of the bestselling Law 101, Jay Feinman gave readers an upbeat and vivid examination of the American legal system. Since the third edition was published in 2010, much has happened: several key Supreme Court cases have been decided, we've seen sensational criminal trials, and the legal system has had to account for the latest developments in Internet law. This fully updated fourth edition of Law 101 accounts for all this and more, as Feinman once again provides a clear introduction to American law. The book covers all the main subjects taught in the first year of law school, and discusses every facet of the American legal tradition, including constitutional law, the litigation process, and criminal, property, and contracts law. To accomplish this, Feinman brings in the most noteworthy, infamous, and often outrageous examples and cases. We learn about the case involving scalding coffee that cost McDonald's half a million dollars, the murder trial in Victorian London that gave us the legal definition of insanity, and the epochal decision of Marbury vs. Madison that gave the Supreme Court the power to declare state and federal law unconstitutional. A key to learning about the law is learning legal vocabulary, and Feinman helps by clarifying terms like "due process" and "equal protection," as well as by drawing distinctions between terms like "murder" and "manslaughter." Above all, though, is that Feinman reveals to readers of all kinds that despite its complexities and quirks, the law is can be understood by everyone. Perfect for students contemplating law school, journalists covering legislature, or even casual fans of "court-television" shows, Law 101 is a clear and accessible introduction to the American legal system. New to this edition: Featured analysis of: -the Obamacare case -Citizens United -the DOMA decision -the Trayvon Martin case As well as recent legal developments pertaining to: -online contracting -mortgages -police investigations -criminal sentencing

This brief book is designed to prepare students for their first year of law school, thereby decreasing their anxiety and increasing their chances of achieving academic success. Also appropriate for non-J.D. students, including LLM students from foreign countries and graduate students outside law school. Features: Gives student basic grounding in discrete non-legal topics that are important to the contemporary study of law Includes and“Test Your Understandingand” boxes to allow students to use what they are learning Friendly writing style Images and graphics help students remember material

101 Things You Need to Know about Internet Law is the first complete guide to Internet Law prepared for e-business people. Entertaining, jargon-free, and accessible, this book is a concise and comprehensive guide to the legal issues and answers involved in all facets of electronic commerce.Prospective e-business people will learn about contracts, taxes, rights, options, obligations, limitations, relations, liabilities, debt collection, advertising, billing, refunds, intellectual property protection, and eight-eight other essential bits of information. This book will save them time and money by helping them avoid common Internet legal problems.Jonathan Bick, an internationally published Internet lawyer and Internet law professor, uses his experience to help e-consumers and e-businesses successfully avoid difficulties in the ever-growing and ever-confusing world of Internet law.

1001 Legal Words You Need to Know explains and illuminates the most difficult and arcane vocabulary any American has to deal with-that of the law. This comprehensive but never condescending guide to the language of the American legal system carefully defines and explains every term with a sample sentence, and many entries have supplementary notes. In addition, the book includes a number of quick miniguides to legal troubleshooting that include information on understanding wills, trusts, and inheritance, granting someone the power of attorney, understanding contracts, what to do if you're sued, how to choose a lawyer, exploring law school, and enjoying cop and lawyer dramas. The backmatter contains an extensive list of legal aid organizations and a helpful bibliography of books about the law and lawyers for further reading.

Lawyer, Know Thyself explores what some consider to be a three-part crisis in the legal profession. Despite the many perks of being a lawyer - among them intellectual challenge, social status, and high salaries - job dissatisfaction, poor mental health, and substance abuse are surprisingly common among lawyers. In addition, the public arguably has less respect for attorneys than for any other professional group. Finally, there seems to be a crisis of professionalism among lawyers, as borne out by frequent complaints of incivility, combative litigation, and ethically questionable conduct.