20 Best Books About Law (2023 Update)

In this fifth 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 fourth edition, there have been many important developments on the legal front. the supreme court has issued important decisions on presidential powers, freedom of religion, and personal liberty. police shootings and the rise of black lives matter has impacted the court system too. the rise of arbitration at the expense of jury trials has affected the rights of consumers, and internet law remains in a state of constant change. this fully updated fifth edition of law 101 accounts for all these developments and more, as feinman once again provides a clear introduction to american law. the book covers all the main subjects taught in the first year of law school, and discusses every facet of the american legal tradition, including constitutional law, the litigation process, and criminal, property, and contracts law. to illustrate how the legal system works, feinman draws from noteworthy, infamous, and even outrageous examples and cases. madison that gave the supreme court the power to declare state and federal law unconstitutional. 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 legislature, or even casual fans of "court-television" shows, law 101 is a clear and accessible introduction to the american legal system.

New york times bestseller – notable book of the year – editors' choice selectionone of bill gates’ “amazing books” of the yearlonglisted for the national book awardthis “powerful and disturbing history” exposes how american governments deliberately imposed racial segregation on metropolitan areas nationwide (new york times book review). widely heralded as a “masterful” (washington post) and “essential” (slate) history of the modern american metropolis, richard rothstein’s the color of law offers “the most forceful argument ever published on how federal, state, and local governments gave rise to and reinforced neighborhood segregation” (william julius wilson). exploding the myth of de facto segregation arising from private prejudice or the unintended consequences of economic forces, rothstein describes how the american government systematically imposed residential segregation: with undisguised racial zoning; public housing that purposefully segregated previously mixed communities; subsidies for builders to create whites-only suburbs; tax exemptions for institutions that enforced segregation; and support for violent resistance to african americans in white neighborhoods. a groundbreaking, “virtually indispensable” study that has already transformed our understanding of twentieth-century urban history (chicago daily observer), the color of law forces us to face the obligation to remedy our unconstitutional past.

“a thorough, careful examination of the ins and outs of self-representation . . . the text is as interesting as practical.” –library journal “a valuable read for every entrepreneur. knowing the legal system will not only put you at ease, but will immensely help in making you a better and more effective client when working with an attorney.” –entrepreneur if you’re having problems with a business deal that’s soured, an unresponsive landlord, or the guy who totaled your car, you can turn to the courts for relief. but if you think there is only one way to proceed, think again. in this country, there is a tradition of self-help law that is as much a part of our heritage as mom, apple pie, and the american flag. it’s called pro se—legal self-representation—and it may be the answer for you. in this, the updated second edition of how and when to be your own lawyer—one of the most successful self-help law books ever published—authors robert schachner and marvin quittner, esq., provide the average person with a no-nonsense guide to using the american legal system. written in plain english, how and when to be your own lawyer leads you through the maze of legal processes principles—step by step—from making a realistic appraisal of your case to collecting a judgment. it provides information on drawing up a complaint, using a law library, devising strategy, assembling evidence, filing motions, and preparing and presenting your case in court, including advice on how to deal with an opposing attorney when proceeding pro se. the authors also offer clear explanations of legal terms and historical background that helps to make sense of many puzzling aspects of the law, all highlighted by real-life case histories.

Joel trachtman's book presents in plain and lucid terms the powerful tools of argument that have been honed through the ages in the discipline of law. if you are a law student or new lawyer, a business professional or a government official, this book will boost your analytical thinking, your foundational legal knowledge, and your confidence as you win arguments for your clients, your organizations or yourself.

Which was the last country to abolish slavery? which is the only amendment to the u.s. constitution ever to be repealed? how did king henry ii of england provide a procedural blueprint for criminal law? these are just a few of the thought-provoking questions addressed in this beautifully illustrated book. roffer as he explores 250 of the most fundamental, far-reaching, and often-controversial cases, laws, and trials that have profoundly changed our world–for good or bad. it covers such diverse topics as the code of hammurabi, the ten commandments, the trial of socrates, the bill of rights, women's suffrage, the insanity defense, and more. roffer takes us around the globe to ancient rome and medieval england before transporting us forward to contemporary accounts that tackle everything from civil rights, surrogacy, and assisted suicide to the 2000 u.s. presidential election, google books, and the fight for marriage equality. organized chronologically, the entries each consist of a short essay and a stunning full-color image, while the "notes and further reading" section provides resources for more in-depth study. justice may be blind, but this collection brings the rich history of the law to light.

What are your rights if the car you bought is useless? if your ex-boss refuses to let you take along your rolodex? who gets custody of the children after a divorce? do you worry about laws governing your use of the internet? what rights are accorded to the elderly, disabled, and other social minorities? how can you successfully sue in small claims court? or write your own will? the law pervades every individual's life, yet few know just what their rights are, how to use them, and what to do when they're violated. with expert assistance from everybody's guide to the law, all your legal questions and concerns will be answered in simple everyday language that demystifies the law and arms you with the right information to make the best decisions. while a host of web sites and books claim to help you understand the law, this fully revised and updated edition of the essential home legal reference is your one-stop guide. comprehensive, accurate, and with no hidden gimmicks or programs to sell you (unlike most online "resources"), this superbly readable, indispensable addition to any home library provides up-to-date and easy-to-understand practical legal information most people need to know. praised by critics and embraced by the public, everybody's guide to the law remains the standard by which all other home legal guides aspire to, but have never managed to meet.

Inspiration for the original series the lincoln lawyer – the #1 tv show on netflix lincoln lawyer mickey haller is back on the job in this heart-stopping thriller from a renowned #1 new york times bestselling author. "one of the finest legal thrillers of the last decade" –associated press on the night he celebrates a big win, defense attorney mickey haller is pulled over by police, who find the body of a former client in the trunk of his lincoln. haller is immediately charged with murder but can't post the exorbitant $5 million bail slapped on him by a vindictive judge. mickey elects to represent himself and is forced to mount his defense from his jail cell in the twin towers correctional center in downtown los angeles. all the while he needs to look over his shoulder–as an officer of the court he is an instant target, and he makes few friends when he reveals a corruption plot within the jail. but the bigger plot is the one against him. haller knows he's been framed, whether by a new enemy or an old one. as his trusted team, including his half-brother, harry bosch, investigates, haller must use all his skills in the courtroom to counter the damning evidence against him. even if he can obtain a not-guilty verdict, mickey understands that it won't be enough. in order to be truly exonerated, he must find out who really committed the murder and why. in his highest stakes case yet, the lincoln lawyer fights for his life and proves again why he is "a worthy colleague of atticus finch . . . in the front of the pack in the legal thriller game" (los angeles times). a cbs the doctors book club pick a people book of the week selection

For over seventy years, there has been one book that law students have read to prepare for what they were about to encounter. that book is the bramble bush. after all these years and many imitators, the bramble bush remains one of the most popular introductions to the law and its study.llewellyn introduces students to what the law is, how to read cases, how to prepare for class, and how justice in the real world relates to the law. although laws change every year, disputes between people haven't altered all that much since llewellyn first penned the bramble bush, and the process of moving from private dispute to legal conflict still follows the patterns he described.moreover, the steps of a legal dispute, from arguments to verdict, to opinion, to review, to appeal, to opinion have changed little in their significance or their substance. cases are still the best tools for exploring the interaction of the law with individual questions, and the essence of what law students must learn to do has persisted. if anything, many of the points llewellyn argued in these lectures were on the dawning horizon then but are in their mid-day fullness now.

"do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law." this oft-misunderstood phrase, which forms the basis for crowley's practice of magick, is found in the book of the law. dictated to crowley in cairo between noon and 1:00p.m. on three successive days in april 1904, the book of the law is the source book and key for crowley students and for the occult in general. the holy text that forms the basis of crowley's belief system, thelema, was transmitted to him by the entity known as aiwass over the course of three fateful april days in 1904. with his wife rose as the medium for what would become known as the cairo working, crowley dutifully transcribed the communications on hotel stationery. this work contains the corrected text of the 1938 edition with a facsimile of the handwritten manuscript.

An instant new york times bestseller!“ stirring…lithwick’s approach, interweaving interviews with legal commentary, allows her subjects to shine… inspiring.”—new york times book review“in dahlia lithwick’s urgent, engaging lady justice, dobbs serves as a devastating bookend to a story that begins in hope.”—boston globedahlia lithwick, one of the nation’s foremost legal commentators, tells the gripping and heroic story of the women lawyers who fought the racism, sexism, and xenophobia of donald trump’s presidency—and wonafter the sudden shock of donald trump’s victory over hillary clinton in 2016, many americans felt lost and uncertain. it was clear he and his administration were going to pursue a series of retrograde, devastating policies. what could be done? immediately, women lawyers all around the country, independently of each other, sprang into action, and they had a common goal: they weren’t going to stand by in the face of injustice, while trump, mitch mcconnell, and the republican party did everything in their power to remake the judiciary in their own conservative image. over the next four years, the women worked tirelessly to hold the line against the most chaotic and malign presidency in living memory. there was sally yates, the acting attorney general of the united states, who refused to sign off on the muslim travel ban. and becca heller, the founder of a refugee assistance program who brought the fight over the travel ban to the airports. and roberta kaplan, the famed commercial litigator, who sued the neo-nazis in charlottesville. and, of course, stacey abrams, whose efforts to protect the voting rights of millions of georgians may well have been what won the senate for the democrats in 2020. these are just a handful of the stories lithwick dramatizes in thrilling detail to tell a brand-new and deeply inspiring account of the trump years. with unparalleled access to her subjects, she has written a luminous book, not about the villains of the trump years, but about the heroes. and as the country confronts the news that the supreme court, which includes three trump-appointed justices, will soon overturn roe v. wade, lithwick shines a light on not only the major consequences of such a decision, but issues a clarion call to all who might, like the women in this book, feel the urgency to join the fight. a celebration of the tireless efforts, legal ingenuity, and indefatigable spirit of the women whose work all too often went unrecognized at the time, lady justice is destined to be treasured and passed from hand to hand for generations to come, not just among lawyers and law students, but among all optimistic and hopeful americans.

An instant new york times bestseller!“ stirring…lithwick’s approach, interweaving interviews with legal commentary, allows her subjects to shine… inspiring.”—new york times book review“in dahlia lithwick’s urgent, engaging lady justice, dobbs serves as a devastating bookend to a story that begins in hope.”—boston globedahlia lithwick, one of the nation’s foremost legal commentators, tells the gripping and heroic story of the women lawyers who fought the racism, sexism, and xenophobia of donald trump’s presidency—and wonafter the sudden shock of donald trump’s victory over hillary clinton in 2016, many americans felt lost and uncertain. it was clear he and his administration were going to pursue a series of retrograde, devastating policies. what could be done? immediately, women lawyers all around the country, independently of each other, sprang into action, and they had a common goal: they weren’t going to stand by in the face of injustice, while trump, mitch mcconnell, and the republican party did everything in their power to remake the judiciary in their own conservative image. over the next four years, the women worked tirelessly to hold the line against the most chaotic and malign presidency in living memory. there was sally yates, the acting attorney general of the united states, who refused to sign off on the muslim travel ban. and becca heller, the founder of a refugee assistance program who brought the fight over the travel ban to the airports. and roberta kaplan, the famed commercial litigator, who sued the neo-nazis in charlottesville. and, of course, stacey abrams, whose efforts to protect the voting rights of millions of georgians may well have been what won the senate for the democrats in 2020. these are just a handful of the stories lithwick dramatizes in thrilling detail to tell a brand-new and deeply inspiring account of the trump years. with unparalleled access to her subjects, she has written a luminous book, not about the villains of the trump years, but about the heroes. and as the country confronts the news that the supreme court, which includes three trump-appointed justices, will soon overturn roe v. wade, lithwick shines a light on not only the major consequences of such a decision, but issues a clarion call to all who might, like the women in this book, feel the urgency to join the fight. a celebration of the tireless efforts, legal ingenuity, and indefatigable spirit of the women whose work all too often went unrecognized at the time, lady justice is destined to be treasured and passed from hand to hand for generations to come, not just among lawyers and law students, but among all optimistic and hopeful americans.

Do you know your legal rights and responsibilities if you’re buying or selling a home, applying for a job, or getting a divorce? if you want to protect both yourself and your family from the many legal problems that have become commonplace in today’s society, you don’t need a law degree—all you need is a basic understanding of the law. whether you’re a consumer, employee, or small business owner, law for dummies will help you discover your legal rights, responsibilities, and obligations in a wide range of areas. you can use this book to answer specific questions about the law as it relates to particular areas of your life or you can use it as a guide to low-cost or no-cost sources of legal advice, including government agencies and nonprofit organizati ons. law for dummies is packed with the tools and resources you need to make informed legal decisions. you’ll become familiar with a variety of laws that can affect you personally—from retirement, health care, and housing laws to personal finance, employment, divorce, and privacy laws. you’ll also discover how to: make sense of the u.s. legal system resolve legal problems as quickly as possible with a minimum amount of money and stress correct errors on your credit report prepare wills and other legal documents avoid legal hassles when running a business protect your rights at work collect child support if you’re like many americans today, you probably feel overwhelmed by the rules, regulations, and red tape that seem to govern and complicate every aspect f your daily life. with law for dummies you can boost your legal know-how and solve a number of everyday legal problems that may come your way.

Do you know your legal rights and responsibilities if you’re buying or selling a home, applying for a job, or getting a divorce? if you want to protect both yourself and your family from the many legal problems that have become commonplace in today’s society, you don’t need a law degree—all you need is a basic understanding of the law. whether you’re a consumer, employee, or small business owner, law for dummies will help you discover your legal rights, responsibilities, and obligations in a wide range of areas. you can use this book to answer specific questions about the law as it relates to particular areas of your life or you can use it as a guide to low-cost or no-cost sources of legal advice, including government agencies and nonprofit organizati ons. law for dummies is packed with the tools and resources you need to make informed legal decisions. you’ll become familiar with a variety of laws that can affect you personally—from retirement, health care, and housing laws to personal finance, employment, divorce, and privacy laws. you’ll also discover how to: make sense of the u.s. legal system resolve legal problems as quickly as possible with a minimum amount of money and stress correct errors on your credit report prepare wills and other legal documents avoid legal hassles when running a business protect your rights at work collect child support if you’re like many americans today, you probably feel overwhelmed by the rules, regulations, and red tape that seem to govern and complicate every aspect f your daily life. with law for dummies you can boost your legal know-how and solve a number of everyday legal problems that may come your way.

A fully illustrated introduction to the world of law, for people who haven't read anything about law before. this book is an entertaining and thought-provoking guide to what laws are, who makes them and how people enforce them. it covers crime and punishment as well as social and citizenship issues such as politics and international law, using a mixture of debates, cartoon strips and clear diagrams. part of usborne's award-winning 'for beginners' series, including 'politics for beginners' and 'philosophy for beginners'.

In this groundbreaking book, scalia and garner systematically explain all the most important principles of constitutional, statutory, and contractual interpretation in an engaging and informative style with hundreds of illustrations from actual cases. is a burrito a sandwich? is a corporation entitled to personal privacy? if you trade a gun for drugs, are you using a gun in a drug transaction? the authors grapple with these and dozens of equally curious questions while explaining the most principled, lucid, and reliable techniques for deriving meaning from authoritative texts. meanwhile, the book takes up some of the most controversial issues in modern jurisprudence. what, exactly, is textualism? why is strict construction a bad thing? what is the true doctrine of originalism? and which is more important: the spirit of the law, or the letter? the authors write with a well-argued point of view that is definitive yet nuanced, straightforward yet sophisticated.

“only the people” can save america will you? by doing this the people will move our courts back to “courts of justice” and take 100% control of our government. – watch the video “power of the grand jury.” the duty of the “common law grand jury is to right any wrong. – if anyone's unalienable rights have been violated, or removed, without a legal sentence of their peers, the grand jury can restore them. – in addition, if a dispute shall arise concerning this matter it shall be settled according to the judgment of the grand jurors, the sureties of the peace. – in a us supreme court stunning 6 to 3 decision justice antonin scalia, writing for the majority, confirmed that the american grand jury is neither part of the judicial, executive nor legislative branches of government, but instead belongs to the people. it is in effect a fourth branch of government “governed” and “administered” directly by and on behalf of the american people, and its authority emanates from the “bill of rights” and has the power to enforce law and remove people from public office. – frequently asked questions:q: once i register what happens next? – q: do i have to serve when i get the call? a: no. – q: when i am called how long will i be needed for? a: usually 1-3 days, you will be given that information and the dates in order to decide if you can participate. – q: what do i do now? after you register you will be taken to an “orientation page” and you will be instructed further, please read carefully that page.

Have you ever… felt anxious, stressed or overwhelmed about law school? worried about paying off your student loan debt? missed workouts, meals or calls to loved ones because of studying or finishing "one more thing"? as a former big – law associate (and current in-house counsel), i've had to find better ways of managing the stress and anxiety of law school, getting a job, passing the bar exam, working at large law firms, and paying off over $200,000 in law school loans. i wrote this book to share tools, tips and insights from my own journey in law (and life) to help you on yours. – this essential "surthrival guide" includes: the surthrival toolbox – tools that you can start using today to survive & thrive – interviewing guide – unique perspective on how to best prepare and maximize your odds of success – life after law school – advice on everything from taking the bar exam, working in big – law, and changing firms to going in-house – partner perspectives – current and former big – law partners provide their candid views on what it's really like once you've actually made it – beyond big – law – guest contributors offer insight on clerkships, government service, public interest law, smaller firms, solo – plus custom worksheets, tools & templates not found anywhere else! about the author adam hunt worked as an associate at a vault top 5 law firm following his graduation from northwestern law. he has held various in-house counsel roles since 2014, and is passionate about helping law students and legal professionals achieve greater well-being in their own lives.*100% of all proceeds received by the author from sales of this book are being donated to seo law, a program of sponsors for educational opportunity, inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing supplemental educational and career support to young people from underserved and underrepresented communities. ***​​​​​​​what current law students are saying about surthriving law school (and beyond…)" most of the popular law school prep books focus on how to achieve on exams and assignments. i really like that this book explores wellness, which is critical for success not just in academic work but in all aspects of life."" i really wish i read this while i was applying to law school and as a 1l."" someone finally took the time to consolidate advice and wisdom that i can reference beyond my 1l experience."" the post-law school tips and guide is extremely beneficial to read as a 3l about to begin their legal journey."" i like the structured advice based on the life cycle of a law student. the bullet points and briefly stated advice is what people want these days in our busy world."" this book has it all! … for those who haven't committed to school yet, this book offers a fresh perspective on making the commitment and deciding if law school is for you. for those of us almost through it, the book sheds light on the next steps while encouraging balance and mindfulness throughout the journey."

There are two kinds of knowledge law school teaches: legal rules on the one hand, and tools for thinking about legal problems on the other. although the tools are far more interesting and useful than the rules, they tend to be neglected in favor of other aspects of the curriculum. from classic ideas in game theory such as the “prisoner’s dilemma” and the “stag hunt” to psychological principles such as hindsight bias and framing effects, from ideas in jurisprudence such as the slippery slope to more than two dozen other such principles, farnsworth’s guide leads readers through the fascinating world of legal thought. each chapter introduces a single tool and shows how it can be used to solve different types of problems. the explanations are written in clear, lively language and illustrated with a wide range of examples. the legal analyst is an indispensable user’s manual for law students, experienced practitioners seeking a one-stop guide to legal principles, or anyone else with an interest in the law.

For nearly 130 years, black's law dictionary has been the gold standard for the language of the law. the greatly expanded 11th edition, with new material on every page, is at once the most practical, comprehensive, scholarly, and authoritative law dictionary ever published. with clarity and rigor, it defines more than 55,000 law-related words and phrases, recording their historical and present-day nuances. this edition introduces 3,500 new terms, including accountability, anticipatory self-defense, cyber force, islamic law, jewish law, legal moralism, legal reasoning, moral equality, peacekeeping, remotely piloted warfare, right to rebel, and umbrella clause. more than 900 latin maxims have been added, newly translated, and carefully indexed for this edition, making black's law dictionary the most thorough and reliable source for these essential and often elusive items. headwords are given their dates of earliest known use in english-language sources, giving dictionary users a greater sense of historical context. black's law dictionary is the only legal dictionary to provide such data. the extensive bibliography lists the more than 1,000 classics of legal literature that are briefly quoted throughout the dictionary to amplify the user's understanding of legal terminology. each of the more than 6,000 quotations locates a critical and otherwise hard-to-find explanation of the terms under discussion. editor in chief bryan a. garner, the world's leading legal lexicographer, has assembled an unmatched roster of academic and practicing contributors who have vetted every term for accuracy. never has such a distinguished lineup of legal talent been arrayed in support of a legal reference work. if you're using an edition that was current when you were in law school, you're out of date. if you think a dictionary is useful mainly as a doorstop, you haven't browsed the pages of this 11th edition. once you do, you'll find it hard to put down.

This book contains 30 detailed chapters, plus addenda and additional material that set out everything a law student must do to excel in law school …an absolute requirement for getting a good law job. it is completely updated, with an analysis of hundreds of legal resources and the realities of law school and the legal profession. its 800 pages are an exhaustive and unique compendium of materials, advice, and precaution for the law student or soon-to-be law student.