The Second Case in the World; Legal Analysis Made Simple; Thoughts on Stare Decisis, Relative Value and Ethics; Studying Lass: Looking Busy is Not Enough; Reading Cases; Briefing Cases; General Study Tips; Writing Lass' Exams: The Only Skill Worth Having; More Stuff on Exams; Fear and Loathing in the First Year; Pretrial Process; Trials; Legal Argument (Moot Court); Mechanics of Oral Argument; Legal Research: High Drama in Dull Places; Legal Writing; Second and Third Years; Career Choices; Lawyers Talk About What They Do.

This unique book is designed to introduce non-lawyers to what law is and how it is interpreted and made, and to prepare prospective law students for law school. Although primarily intended for those interested in going to law school, it is also very useful for those who simply want a working knowledge of how the American legal system actually works. The text is highly pragmatic, helping the reader understand not just theory but the realities of how law works and what lawyers actually do to assist clients in the real world. To that end, it contains a sample legal problem along with the necessary legal materials to address it and an illustrative answer.

The Legal Career Guide is designed as a hands-on manual to assist law students or young lawyers in making important decisions by helping them identify specific goals and evaluate opportunities as they arise, reflect on changes in personal situations that affect their aspirations, and assess new trends within the profession that will impact their chosen practice.

Sources of Judicial Power; Craftmanship; Common Law Adjudication; The Goals; Precedent; Judicial Lawmaking; Changing the Common Law; Statutory Interpretation; Understanding the Task; Understanding the Statute; More on Understanding; Subsequent Developments; Constitutional Interpretation; Background; Case for Originalism; A Middle Way?; Constitution and Precedent.