Introduction to Law

Description

PART ONE: THE LEGAL SYSTEM
1. Introduction to Law
2. The U.S. Legal System
3. The Courts and Legal Personnel
4. Finding the Law: Legal Research
5. Using the Law: Analysis and Legal Writing

PART TWO: LEGAL PRINCIPLES
6. Constitutional Law
7. Tort Law
8. Family Law
9. Estate Planning: Wills, Trusts, and Probate
10. Contract and Property Law
11. The Law of Agency, Business Organizations, and Bankruptcy
12. Civil Procedure Before Trial
13. Alternative Dispute Resolution
14. Criminal Practice: Criminal Law and Juvenile Law
15. Criminal Procedure Before Trial
16. Rules of Evidence
17. The Trial

Appendix I: The United States Constitution
Appendix II: Law-Related Careers, the Paralegal Profession, and the Law Office
Appendix III: Mock Trial
Appendix IV: Basic Legal Citation Reference Guide
Appendix V: Ass’n for Molecular Pathology v. Myriad Genetics, Inc
Appendix VI: Federal Rules of Evidence
Appendix VII: Supplemental Court Decisions
Appendix VIII: Creating Research Strategies
Glossary
Index

Introduction to Law, Fifth Edition, teaches students the basic legal concepts related to substantive and procedural law, introduces them to cases, statutes, and the constitution, and develops their legal vocabulary and analytical skills. The text’s teaching and learning package includes an Instructor’s Manual, PowerPoint Slides, and Test Bank, as well as study resources for students through a companion website.

Teaching and Learning Experience:

• Provides an overview of the legal system, an introduction to substantive and procedural law, and the opportunity to develop a strong legal vocabulary, while keeping students’ interest
• Explains the application of legal principles through the inclusion of interesting cases and the wide use of common hypothetical cases
• Helps students build analytical and critical thinking skills through thought-provoking exercises, assignments, and features

For courses in Paralegal Studies, Legal Studies, Pre-Law, and Business Programs

Introduction to Law, Fifth Edition, teaches students the basic legal concepts related to substantive and procedural law, introduces them to cases, statutes, and the constitution, and develops their legal vocabulary and analytical skills. The text’s teaching and learning package includes an Instructor’s Manual, PowerPoint Slides, and Test Bank, as well as study resources for students through a companion website.

Teaching and Learning Experience:

• Provides an overview of the legal system, an introduction to substantive and procedural law, and the opportunity to develop a strong legal vocabulary, while keeping students’ interest
• Explains the application of legal principles through the inclusion of interesting cases and the wide use of common hypothetical cases
• Helps students build analytical and critical thinking skills through thought-provoking exercises, assignments, and features

Provides an overview of the organization and operation of the legal system, as well as an introduction to some of the basic concepts of substantive and procedural law, and the opportunity to develop a strong legal vocabulary, while keeping students’ interest:

• Updated! Updates to the law and new exhibits containing current legal forms and court documents.
• New! Broader view of some of the substantive and procedural areas of law. 
• Updated! Updated information on the current impact of technology in law practice.  

Explains the application of legal principles through the inclusion of interesting cases

and the wide use of common hypothetical cases:

• New! Discussion of new court cases illustrating current trends in the development of our laws.
• New! Several recent cases, mostly from the U.S. Supreme Court, are presented in most chapters.
• New! A Table of Cases follows the Table of Contents, offering students a useful reference tool.
• New! Appendix V contains a new case and more current case, Ass’n for Molecular Pathology v. Myriad Genetics, Inc. 

Helps students build analytical and critical thinking skills through thought-provoking exercises, assignments, and features:

• New! More practice in building critical thinking skills with additional case questions and end-of-chapter exercises.
• New! An Ethical Concerns: What Should the Lawyer Do? feature in each chapter encourages students to consider ethical ramifications of daily experiences of legal professionals.

For courses in Paralegal Studies, Legal Studies, Pre-Law, and Business Programs

Introduction to Law, Fifth Edition, teaches students the basic legal concepts related to substantive and procedural law, introduces them to cases, statutes, and the constitution, and develops their legal vocabulary and analytical skills. The text’s teaching and learning package includes an Instructor’s Manual, PowerPoint Slides, and Test Bank, as well as study resources for students through a companion website.

Teaching and Learning Experience:

• Provides an overview of the legal system, an introduction to substantive and procedural law, and the opportunity to develop a strong legal vocabulary, while keeping students’ interest
• Explains the application of legal principles through the inclusion of interesting cases and the wide use of common hypothetical cases
• Helps students build analytical and critical thinking skills through thought-provoking exercises, assignments, and features

Hallmark Features

Provides an overview of the organization and operation of the legal system, as well as an introduction to some of the basic concepts of substantive and procedural law, and the opportunity to develop a strong legal vocabulary, while keeping students’ interest:

• Updated! Updates to the law and new exhibits containing current legal forms and court documents.
• New! Broader view of some of the substantive and procedural areas of law.
• Updated! Updated information on the current impact of technology in law practice.
• Numerous charts and tables illustrate and clarify legal concepts.
• Legal vocabulary is identified in boldface type. The key terms are defined in the margins of the text where the terms appear, and are also listed at the end of each chapter for review.
• A “Technology Corner” box in each chapter provides a list of Internet sites that are relevant to the material in the chapter.
• A “Chapter Summary” is included in every chapter. The summaries are short overviews of the major concepts covered in the chapter.
• Basic “Questions for Review” follow each chapter summary. These questions are designed to assist the student in focusing on the most important concepts in the chapter.
• “A Point to Remember” features in most chapters offer practical information on the skills and concepts that will help students in their legal studies.
• A complete Glossary at the end of the text contains definitions for all highlighted key terms used in the text. 

Explains the application of legal principles through the inclusion of interesting cases and the wide use of common hypothetical cases:

• New! Discussion of new court cases illustrating current