The Study of Law is a sweeping, intelligent overview of all the key concepts covered in a typical introduction to law course. A critical thinking approach encourages students to interact with the materials through hypotheticals, examples, and well-designed questions. The text is divided into two parts, reflecting the order of topics addressed in a typical course. The first part, “Introduction to the Legal System,” presents the sources and classification of law, the structure of the court system, and an overview of litigation. The second part, “Basic Legal Concepts,” covers the fundamental analysis and interpretation of the law as well as substantive law. The chapters on substantive law use carefully edited cases to teach students how to read and analyze the law. The Study of Law teaches students the basic skills necessary to understand statutes and court cases, and effective pedagogy reinforces the accessible and well-organized text. Appendices address the U.S. Constitution, Fundamentals of Good Writing, and NetNotes.
The Third Edition features updated cases and incorporates new developments in the law. Legal reasoning exercises similarly reflect new cases, and Web exercises accompany this revised edition.
Hallmark features of Study of Law:
• comprehensive, intelligent overview of all key concepts covered in a typical introduction to law course
• critical thinking approach
o introduces students to the study of law
o encourages interaction with the materials through hypotheticals, examples, and well-designed questions
• two part structure mirrors course outline
o “Introduction to the Legal System”
sources and classification of law
the structure of the court system
an overview of litigation
o “Basic Legal Concepts”
the basics of analysis and interpretation of the law
chapters on substantive law
• Teaches the basic skills necessary to understand statutes and court cases
• Strong pedagogy
o reinforces well-written text
o presented in an accessible, well-organized format
• substantive law chapters use edited cases to show students how to read and analyze the law
• helpful Appendices
o U.S. Constitution
o Fundamentals of Good Writing
o NetNotes
The revised Third Edition presents:
• updated cases and new developments in the law
• refreshed Legal reasoning exercises that reflect new cases
• Web exercises
Summary of Contents
Part I. The American Legal System
Ch. 1. Introduction to the Study of Law
Ch. 2. Functions and Sources of Law
Ch. 3. Classification of the Law
Ch. 4. Structure of the Court System
Ch. 5. Civil Litigation and Its Alternatives
Part II. Substantive Law and Ethical Issues
Ch. 6. Constitutional Law
Ch. 7. Torts
Ch. 8. Contract Law
Ch. 9. Property and Estate Law
Ch. 10. Laws Affecting Business
Ch. 11. Family Law
Ch. 12. Criminal Law and Procedure
Ch. 13. Ethical Dilemmas Facing Attorneys
Appendix A. The Constitution of the United States
Appendix B. NetNotes
Fundamentals of Good Writing?
Katherine A. Currier
Katherine A. Currier, J.D., is the chair of the Department of Paralegal and Legal Studies at Elms College. She has developed and taught many paralegal courses, including Legal Reasoning, Research, and Writing; Introduction to Legal Studies I and II; Law Office Computer Literacy; Law Office Applications; Interviewing, Counseling, and Negotiating; and Law and Literature. Her publications include an article on legal ethics as applied to paralegals and the column “Computer Corner” that appears in The Paralegal Educator. Professor Currier is actively involved in the development of paralegal education at both the regional and the national levels, particularly through her work with the American Association for Paralegal Education (AAfPE) and the American Bar Association Approval Commission on Legal Assistants. Professor Currier has served on the national board of AAfPE, first as its parliamentarian and then later as the elected representative of four-year paralegal programs. She has also served many years as the AAfPE publications chair, charged with the final responsibility for overseeing the Journal of Paralegal Education and Practice and The Educator. Professor Currier frequently speaks at both the AAfPE Northeast regional meetings and the annual AAfPE conferences on topics as diverse as the use of computer shareware, paralegals and the unauthorized practice of law, creative teaching techniques, and conducting legal research on the Internet. Professor Currier has also served as chair of the American Bar Association Approval Commission, the body charged with conducting site visits of paralegal programs that are seeking their initial ABA approval or reapproval. Katherine A. Currier graduated magna cum laude with her B.A. in Political Science from Carelton College in 1971, with her M.A. in Political Philosophy from
Thomas E. Eimermann
Thomas E. Eimermann is Emeritus Professor of Political Science and former Director of the Legal Studies Program at Illinois State University. Dr. Eimermann helped establish the paralegal program there in 1976 and taught Introduction to Paralegal Studies and Legal Research and Writing courses in that program. Professor Eimermann has served as President and as a member of the Board of Directors of the American Association for Paralegal Education. ; He has also served on the Certification and the Advanced Certification Boards of the National Association of Legal Assistants, as well as being a member of the Illinois State Bar Association Committee on the Delivery of Legal Services, and a member of the Hearing Board of the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission. As a consultant for the Illinois Department of Corrections, he designed a Uniform Law Clerk Training Program used in Illinois prisons.
He earned his B.A. in Political Science at North Central College. He went on to receive an M.A. and a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign campus. ; In addition to this book, Professor Eimermann has co-authored two other paralegal texts with Katherine Currier. ; His other publications include three editions of Fundamentals of Paralegalism and journal articles on paralegals, jury behavior, and free speech issues.
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