Law 101: Everything You Need to Know About American Law 6th Revised edition

"Law 101 provides an authoritative and up-to-date overview of American law and the American legal system. It explains the basics of the law-the rules, principles, and arguments that lawyers and judges use. Written to be accessible to the ordinary reader,it uses many intriguing examples of cases to illustrate key terms and ideas. Law 101 covers the topics that are fundamental to an understanding of US law and taught in every law school: constitutional law, civil liberties, civil procedure and the litigation process, property law, contract law, tort law, criminal law, and criminal procedure and the criminal justice system. It is perfect for anyone considering law school or a career related to law, or for the general reader who is looking for an explanation of everyday legal problems or highly publicized legal issues. The book contains an index of key legal concepts and of important judicial decisions discussed"--
An authoritative and up-to-date introduction to the American legal system.In this sixth edition of his bestselling classic, Jay Feinman provides an authoritative and up-to-date overview of the American legal system. In the years since the publication of the fifth edition, there have been many important developments on the legal front. The Supreme Court has become more conservative and is in the process of handing down important decisions that will change the law on affirmative action, abortion, gun rights, presidential power, and religious rights. Feinman covers all of this and expands his discussion of originalism, the guiding philosophy of many conservative jurists serving on the federal bench now. He also addresses the rapidly changing legal landscape in a variety of issue areas: race and the criminal justice system, cryptocurrency, and tort reform, among others.This fully updated edition of Law 101 accounts for all these developments and more, as Feinman once again covers all the main subjects taught in the first year of law school. Drawing from noteworthy, infamous, and even outrageous examples and cases, he discusses every facet of the American legal tradition, including constitutional law, the litigation process, and criminal, property, tort, and contract law. A key to learning about the law is understanding 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, Feinman reveals to readers of all kinds that despite its complexities and quirks, the law can be understood by everyone. Perfect for students contemplating law school, journalists covering legislatures, or even casual fans of "court-television" shows, Law 101 is a clear and accessible introduction to the American legal system.