Legal Studies: Background and Reference Sources

In Gold's experience, students who understand the principles of analytical thinking are able to understand arguments, to evaluate and reply to them, and ultimately to construct sound arguments of their own.

To help paralegals stay on top of ethics issues, the ABA Center for Professional Responsibility has updated The Paralegal's Guide to Professional Responsibility. The fifth edition reviews the ethics issues that are relevant to paralegals, legal assistants, secretaries, and other employees of law firms, corporations, and law-related organizations and offers guidance that can be adapted to practice in any jurisdiction. This edition encompasses all recent changes to the Model Rules, along with updated references to court decisions and other resources.

The Litigation Paralegal: A Systems Approach, fifth edition is an exceptional classroom text as well as a valuable post-classroom, on-the-job resource. The text and bundled workbook offer instructors a flexible course plan that guides the student through each step and major task of the litigation process. Educators and students alike will benefit from the clear presentation of material, the emphasis on ethics, the extensive coverage of electronic discovery and filing, as well as features such as the medical guide, numerous checklists, provocative quotations, and a wealth of practical assignments set in the context of one or more litigation cases

The United Nations estimates that four billion people worldwide live outside the protection of the law. These people can be driven from their land, intimidated by violence, and excluded from society. This book is about community paralegals - sometimes called barefoot lawyers - who demystify law and empower people to advocate for themselves. These paralegals date back to 1950s South Africa and are active today in many countries, but their role has largely been ignored by researchers. Community Paralegals and the Pursuit of Justice is the first book on the subject. Focusing on paralegal movements in six countries, Vivek Maru, Varun Gauri, and their coauthors have collected rich, vivid stories of paralegals helping people to take on injustice, from domestic violence to unlawful mining to denial of wages. From these stories emerges evidence of what works and how. The insights in the book will be of immense value in the global fight for universal justice. This title is also available as Open Access.

Paralegals and legal assistants need a thorough guide to all the rules and regulations dictating their job performance, as well as a repository of the many forms they see every day. The revised and updated 2015 Legal Assistant s Complete Desk Reference explores these myriad responsibilities and types of paperwork in six easy-to-use sections: PART I: A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A LEGAL ASSISTANT PART II: COURT SYSTEMS AND PROCEDURES PART III: PREPARING LEGAL INSTRUMENTS, DOCUMENTS AND COURT FILINGS PART IV: LEGAL RESEARCH AND WRITING PART V: TRIAL PREPARATION PART VI: AREAS OF PRACTICE This is a complete guide to the rules and regulations guiding paralegals and legal assistants, as well as the many different types of forms they are responsible for each day. This comprehensive handbook also explores the career opportunities open to paralegals and legal assistants, as well as some common areas of legal practice and what they entail. With a CD of writable sample forms and letters, a state-by-state resource guide, a glossary of common legal terms, and a thorough index, this is the guide you need to efficiently complete all your many duties. This updated edition contains new forms and additional samples."

Specifically designed and written for paralegal students, Basic Labor and Employment Law for Paralegals covers all of the essential elements of its subject in depth. With a logical three-part organization, and supported by dynamic pedagogy, you will find this concise paperback highly teachable and an asset to your students’ classroom experience. Basic Labor and Employment Law for Paralegals features : complete coverage of basic Labor and Employment Law in the United States , developed for paralegal students manageable three-part organization : Part I. Introduction to Labor and Employment Law traces the historical development of labor and employment law in America and explores the nature of the employment relationship Part II. Labor-Management Relations in the Union Setting looks at how American labor law regulates labor-management relations, methods of selecting collective bargaining representatives, unfair labor practices by employers and unions, economic weapons in labor disputes, And The formation and administration of labor contracts Part III. Employment Discrimination treats various forms of employment discrimination in American law And The methods and procedures for pursuing employment discrimination claims dynamic pedagogy in every chapter, including: marginal definitions fact scenarios that illustrate the concepts covered in the text, accompanied by fact-analysis questions discussion questions and exercises that give students practice applying new concepts case excerpts that encourage case analysis a detailed Instructor’s Manual that includes the following elements in each chapter: additional fact scenarios, case excerpts, and readings quiz and exam questions more discussion questions and exercises suggested writing assignments If you expect timely, thorough coverage and complete teaching support, you’ll want to take note of Basic Labor and Employment Law for Paralegals, specifically for your paralegal students.

The perfect mix of theory and practice make Practical Real Estate Law, fifth editon a must have resource for paralegal students and professionals dealing with real estate law and transactions. The intricacies of real estate law, both residential and commercial, are presented in an easy-to-understand format through numerous examples, checklists, and sample forms. This book includes critical topics such as closings, sales, loans, surveys, title insurance, and a chapter devoted to leasing with an emphasis on commercial leasing.

Based on the premise that skills are to be mastered, not memorized, this comprehensive text teaches through realistic case scenarios, practical exercises, illustrations, and examples. Led by an experienced practitioner and author, readers will make connections between law and fact, engage in critical analysis, and strengthen communication skills essential to interviewing and investigation. This timely and effective set of tools includes: A comprehensive and practical approach that builds a strong foundation for understanding interviewing and investigation, A dynamic pedagogy that uses new and updated illustrations, examples, hypotheticals, and Learn by Doing exercises in every chapter, An emphasis on the civil, criminal, and non-litigation contexts in which interviewing and investigation skills are needed, Four realistic case studies that provide realistic situations and facts for applying legal analysis, New coverage of electronic discovery (e-discovery), including references to changes to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, effective December 2006, A flexible, modular organization that adapts to a variety of teaching approaches, Ethical issues highlighted in a dedicated chapter focusing on the professional standards expected of a paralegal, Updated and extensive online resources for investigators in the Appendices. Book jacket.

Appropriate for Paralegal Studies, Legal Studies, and Pre-Law. By integrating the basics of legal research, legal analysis and legal writing, Hames and Ekern's Legal Research, Analysis and Writing, 2nd Edition clarifies the interrelationship of legal research, legal analysis and legal writing and allows students to experience the total legal research process. Its goal is to provide readers with the basic knowledge and tools needed to research and analyze a legal problem and to communicate the results of that research and analysis in different types of legal memoranda. Included in the text are numerous research and writing exercises, sample law book pages and writing memoranda, a discussion of current legal research techniques and an emphasis on proper citation in legal writing.

This survey book has all the materials one needs for a legal environment of business class or a business organizations class at the undergraduate or graduate school level. It takes a different, yet traditional approach to critical thinking that will appeal to a wide variety of teaching styles. In depth analysis helps to fully illustrate the law and provides material for critical thinking.

Basic Legal Research: Tools and Strategies, Seventh Edition by Amy E. Sloan is known for its clear, step-by-step instruction in the basics. Using a building-block approach, the textbook breaks material into discrete, readily comprehensible parts. Self-contained chapters on sources make the book flexible for any type of legal research course. Useful pedagogy throughout the text includes end-of-chapter checklists, clear examples, and summary charts. Helpful sample pages and examples of research sources guide students through the presentation.  Key Features: New narrated videos that walk students through research examples from the book Updated coverage of Westlaw, Lexis Advance, and Bloomberg Law - Completely revised material throughout, providing thorough instruction in the latest features and functions of the main research platforms Flexible organization that accommodates any approach to instruction in print and online research, including instruction focused exclusively on online sources Self-contained chapters on research sources that make the book adaptable to any type of legal research course Increased coverage of free and low-cost sources of information

Connecticut Legal Research was written for legal researchers at various levels, including first-year law students, paralegals, and Connecticut practitioners. For those just learning the basics of legal research, the book explains basic research skills and strategies and introduces Connecticut sources both in print and online. It also explains how to research analogous federal materials and the law of other states, allowing a student to use the book as the sole text in a legal research course. More experienced researchers will also benefit from having a text that brings together all of the print and online sources in Connecticut, and provides a step-by-step manual for researching each Connecticut source both in print and online. Researchers can use the book to find specific websites that contain Connecticut legal materials and follow the steps outlined to access those materials. This book begins with an introduction to the research process and a discussion of the relationship between legal research and legal analysis. Chapter one introduces the reader to the state and federal court systems, and outlines the basic process used for researching the law, and chapter two discusses research strategies and organization. The book then turns to secondary sources, recognizing that these sources are often the starting point for researching a new legal question, and provide a way for researchers to gain important background information on an unfamiliar legal topic as well as find references to key primary sources. Next, Connecticut Legal Research discusses primary authority, with chapters devoted to constitutions, statutes, case law, and administrative law. Also included in this portion of the book is a chapter devoted to researching the legislative history of a statute, and a chapter on updating case law using citators. An appendix discusses legal citation, with sections on both of the national citation manuals, the ALWD Citation Manual and the Bluebook. A second appendix provides a brief bibliography of sources for legal research and analysis. Connecticut Legal Research integrates the discussions of print-based and online legal research, recognizing that effective legal research often requires a combination of both formats. The goal of the book is to provide researchers with the tools needed to access each authority both in print and online, and to provide researchers with the background information needed to develop a research plan that integrates effectively all of the research formats available. The book also includes short excerpts from print and online sources. This book is part of the Legal Research Series, edited by Suzanne E. Rowe, Director of Legal Research and Writing, University of Oregon School of Law.

"The purpose of this research guide is to introduce the researcher, whether an attorney, scholar, law student, or information specialist researching in this field, to the primary and secondary resources available on environmental law, in print and online. Specifically, this guide will explore state and federal sources of primary law including the statutes, regulations, case law, and agency decisions. Finding tools such as Digests as well as citators designed to ensure the accuracy of sources will also be discussed. This book will cover most of the numerous secondary sources available because of the complexity of environmental law, particularly its regulatory structure at the federal level. These sources include books, legal encyclopedias, treatises, practice guides, dictionaries, law journals/periodicals, and news/current awareness sources. Online research is also important in the area of environmental law. It includes electronic subscription databases with comprehensive legal research platforms such as Westlaw, Lexis Advance, and Bloomberg Law, as well as the more specialized databases such as the Environment and Energy Daily online publications. Free internet sites, such as government agency websites, provide a wealth of information and documents beyond what is available through the commercial databases"--Provided by the publisher.

Intellectual property transactions underlie large segments of the global economy, from pharmaceuticals to computing, entertainment to digital content. This first-of-its-kind resource combines practical contract drafting and negotiation skills with substantive legal doctrine in the rapidly growing area of intellectual property transactions and licensing. Though primarily designed for classroom use, it is also a must-have legal reference work for every lawyer involved in the technology, biopharma, entertainment, media or financial services industries. It includes practical drafting models and explanations of key contractual provisions such as field of use, exclusivity, milestones, royalties, termination, indemnification and liability, and combines these with discussion of the latest cases interpreting these provisions. Numerous legal doctrines that affect the enforcement of IP agreements are also covered, including exhaustion, first sale, misuse, estoppel, antitrust and bankruptcy law, as well as chapters focusing on specialized fields such as trademark law, music licensing, technical standardization, and IP pooling. This book is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.

While high school and college students will find in American Governance clear and authoritative depictions of ideas that are core to the U.S. system of governance, their teachers will be able to use this resource as an extension of, or even as a substitute for, the textbooks supporting government and civics classes. Public library patrons as well as readers in institutional libraries (newsrooms, government libraries, etc.) will find answers in American Governance on all questions related to the variety of ways by which the American people govern themselves â?? from their constitutions and governments to the political norms and ideals that guide their actions as citizens and leaders; to local communities, civic associations, and political associations people form for collective deliberation and action; and to the relationships they form with their elected representatives.

American Law Yearbook gathers together the top legal stories of the previous year, discussed in concise entries written by legal experts. Contents include the U.S. Supreme Court docket as well as important lower court decisions and interesting cases in the public eye, in addition to biographies of notable legal figures.

The Bill of Rights is a comprehensive survey of all aspects of the U.S. Bill of Rights; from its origins to its role in modern American history. Special attention is given to the organic relationship of the Bill of Rights to the original Constitution, its ongoing interpretation and incorporation by the U.S. Supreme Court, and the political and social issues it has spawned. This new edition adds new coverage of recent challenges to and reinterpretations of The Bill of Rights regarding reproductive rights, same-sex marriage, and free expression in a digital age. Essays are divided under four broad headings: Overviews survey the history and significance of the Bill of Rights within the broader contexts of the principles of constitutional law and U.S. legal history. Amendments provide individual coverage of each of the first ten amendments. Issues cover subjects ranging from censorship, civil rights and liberties, due process and freedom of religion, to the right to counsel and Miranda rights. Court Cases offer nearly 300 articles on the individual court cases through which the rights in the Bill of Rights have been defined and extended. It is through these cases that the Supreme Court has provided authoritative interpretations of the Bill of Rights, thereby establishing doctrines and principles of constitutional law. Additional appendices include a glossary, a time line, an annotated bibliography, and a table summarizing the stances on the Bill of Rights taken by every justice who has sat on the Supreme Court, along with the complete texts of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution and its amendments and a comprehensive subject index.

The 20 chapters in Courts, Law, and Justice cover a wide range of sharply contested topics, including drug and gun control laws as well as the ins and outs of the criminal justice system as encountered by arrested suspects, during the trial process, and during the sentencing phase. This volume looks closely at Miranda rights and the impact of polygraphs and DNA testing; legal and procedural issues during prosecution, including exclusionary rules and double jeopardy; and sentencing and punishment for crimes, including for offenses such as DUI and sex offenses. The role of the victim during the prosecutorial process is also examined. Addressing such engaging topics as asset forfeiture, DNA evidence, double jeopardy, expert witnesses and "hired guns," eyewitness testimony and accuracy, insanity defense, the jury system, mandatory sentencing, plea bargaining, polygraphs, three-strikes laws, and more, the authors of this volume all closely examine the development of the justice system and consider the key opinions supporting or contesting the laws and policies used during investigation, prosecution, and sentencing. The Series The five brief, issues-based books in SAGE Reference′s Key Issues in Crime & Punishment Series offer examinations of controversial programs, practices, problems or issues from varied perspectives. Volumes correspond to the five central subfields in the Criminal Justice curriculum: Crime & Criminal Behavior, Policing, The Courts, Corrections, and Juvenile Justice. Each volume consists of approximately 20 chapters offering succinct pro/con examinations, and Recommended Readings conclude each chapter, highlighting different approaches to or perspectives on the issue at hand. As a set, these volumes provide perfect reference support for students writing position papers in undergraduate courses spanning the Criminal Justice curriculum. Each title is approximately 350 pages in length.

This book offers a set of alphabetically organized entries designed as a one-stop resource for high school and college students, members of the general public, and scholars interested in the numerous proposals that individuals have introduced to amend the U.S. Constitution. First published to universal acclaim, including a "Best Reference Book" citation from Library Journal, John Vile's award-winning Encyclopedia of Constitutional Amendments, Proposed Amendments, and Amending Issues has long served as the definitive work on this vast and essential subject. Expanded and updated, the new Third Edition of this landmark resource takes its place as the most comprehensive and up-to-date reference of its kind. With over 500 alphabetically organized entries, the Encyclopedia tells the whole story of constitutional amendments: the rigorous ratification process, the significance of the 27 amendments that made it into the Constitution, and the notable and sometimes preposterous topics of the thousands that did not. The third edition offers a new preface, updated research throughout, and over 75 new entries, including discussions of amendments currently under consideration, such as proposals to ban burning the U.S. flag, legalize school prayer, and compel the federal government to balance the budget. * Over 500 A-Z entries on amendments, proposed amendments, alternate constitutions, and amending issues * A chronology of the most popular amending proposals by year and key events and publications related to constitutional amendments * Primary documents, including the U.S. Constitution and its amendments * An extensive bibliography plus suggestions for further reading for each entry * A comprehensive index

"Explains legal terms and concepts in everyday language. Covers a wide variety of topics including specific legislation, persons, entities, movements, and events that have shaped the U.S. legal system and influenced public perception of American law"--

This 12-volume set provides information on more than 5,000 legal topics in American law. It includes completely revised articles covering important issues, biographies, definitions of legal terms and more. Legal issues are fully discussed, including such high-profile topics as the Americans with Disabilities Act, capital punishment, domestic violence, gay and lesbian rights, physician-assisted suicide and thousands more.

The Supreme Court has continued to write constitutional history over the thirteen years since publication of the highly acclaimed first edition of The Oxford Companion to the Supreme Court. Two new justices have joined the high court, more than 800 cases have been decided, and a good deal ofnew scholarship has appeared on many of the topics treated in the Companion. Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist presided over the impeachment trial of President Bill Clinton, and the Court as a whole played a decisive and controversial role in the outcome of the 2000 presidential election. UnderRehnquists's leadership, a bare majority of the justices have rewritten significant areas of the law dealing with federalism, sovereign immunity, and the commerce power.This new edition includes new entries on key cases and fully updated treatment of crucial areas of constitutional law, such as abortion, freedom of religion, school desegregation, freedom of speech, voting rights, military tribunals, and the rights of the accused. These developments make the secondedition of this accessible and authoritative guide essential for judges, lawyers, academics, journalists, and anyone interested in the impact of the Court's decisions on American society.