Description
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.
Table of Contents
PrefaceChapter 1: There Are No Secret Books: You Can Understand the LawChapter 2: The Supreme Law of the Land: Constitutional LawChapter 3: First Freedoms: Constitutional RightsChapter 4: Your Day in Court: The Litigation ProcessChapter 5: Hot Coffee and Crashing Cars: Tort LawChapter 6: A Deal's a Deal: Contract LawChapter 7: You Are What You Own: Property LawChapter 8: Crime Doesn't Pay: Criminal LawChapter 9: Protecting the Innocent, Freeing the Guilty: Criminal ProcedureConclusionIndex of Legal CasesIndex of Subjects
