LLMs and JDs - Best Single Intro to US Law?

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussions' started by Orson, Feb 23, 2005.

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  1. Orson

    Orson New Member

    UCLA Law school's Eugene Volokh is fielding suggestions on the best single lay introduction to US law.
    http://volokh.com/posts/1109111549.shtml

    Given the number of LLM students and JDs on the board, I thought I'd snip from his list and solicit further suggestions here!

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    Ed Whatley

    I liked Lawrence Friedman's class at Standford and would also recommend one of his books for an overview, perhaps Law in America: A Short History.

    2.23.2005 3:38am

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    Dennis Kim-Prieto (mail) (www):

    Toni M Fine's American legal systems: a resource and reference guide (ISBN 0870842668) is neutral and objective; it is easy to read and modestly useful as a reference guide. This item is soft on analysis and heavy on procedure. It offers a broad overview of the American legal system, but is more geared toward federal practice than state jurisprudence. Folks teaching foreign trained lawyers studying for LLMs in this country often recommend this volume.

    2.23.2005 10:55am

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    Steve Sheppard (mail) (www):

    At the risk of self-promotion, I suggest "American Law in a Global Context: The Basics" by George Fletcher and myself, published last month on Oxford University Press. We did not think there was a thorough survey of the US legal system, and wrote this to fill the gap. We discuss its major institutions, with frequent comparisons to the major European systems, covering the required areas of law school coursework and including the famous cases used to teach those courses. There are separate chapters on civil and criminal procedure and how legal analysis works in the common and civilian systems.
    Good luck,
    Steve Sheppard

    2.23.2005 11:05am

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    Bob Kelly (www):

    "Law 101" by Rutgers Law - Camden professor Jay Feinman, is an excellent readable introduction to the American legal system. It's written for the general reader but useful as well to law students. Feinman's 2004 book, "Un-making Law," is also a good read but is a work of advocacy.

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    "Law 101 "and the Feletcher volume above I will check out. My suggestion - which had to be emailed (being unable to post directly, despite registering) - was Charles Rembar's "Law of The Land: Evolution of the American Legel System" (1981).
    He focuses on fundamentals of our legel system as developed historically, from trial by combat down to courtroom conflict.

    On befriending a Polish exchange student, doing her MA in American Studies, I readily recommended it.

    -Orson
     
  2. nosborne48

    nosborne48 Well-Known Member

    I am sure that they are all good books. Just don't rely on anything they say in making a legal decision!

    I have a pet thought for the layperson who wants a solid introduction to American law: Do the first year of a California Bar qualifying D/L program and pass the Baby Bar. This covers criminal, tort, and contracts at a professional level and would also serve as an introduction to parts of constitutional law and property.

    Naturally, there would be the significant risk that the law bug would bite and the student would feel compelled to finish his J.D. but hey! life is a gamble, right?
     
  3. DesElms

    DesElms New Member

    My thoughts, exactly... except I would counsel to go ahead with the second year and end-up with a perfectly-legitimate-even-if-unaccredited Bachelor of Science in Law (B.S.L.), as Northwestern California University School of Law offers for a mere approximately $7,000 (including texts and other fees).
     

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