Burnham's Introduction to the Law and Legal System of the United States, 3d (American Casebook Series and Other Coursebooks) [Paperback]

William Burnham (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0314253939 | ISBN-13: 978-0314253934 | Publication Date: April 19, 2002 | Edition: 3rd

Intended for law students, lawyers, and legal scholars from foreign countries; U.S. graduate and undergraduate college students; and members of the general reading public in the United States. For use as the text of an introductory course on U.S. law, as a reference, or for self-study.

Product Details

• Paperback: 625 pages
• Publisher: West Group; 3rd edition (April 19, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0314253939
• ISBN-13: 978-0314253934
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,213,202 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive!, December 13, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Introduction to the Law and Legal System of the United States (2nd Edition) (American Casebooks) (Paperback)

I have used the Burnham book for five years in my Introduction to American Law class of foreign LL.M students. This is the only book I have found that gives such a comprehensive introduction to American law. It provides an excellent survey. It is at once complete enough to use alone for a course, and at the same time useful as a foundation for special exploration of specific areas of interest.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Review of Intro to the Law and Legal System of the US 1999, December 13, 1999

By 

Roger F. Jacobs (Notre Dame, IN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Introduction to the Law and Legal System of the United States (2nd Edition) (American Casebooks) (Paperback)

I have recommended this book to every one of my colleagues who has taught the American legal system course in our London programe. When I heard of the publication of the second edition, I immediately asked my West representative to favor me with a desk copy. The task of finding materials suitable for lawyers pursuing a comparative master's degree at Notre Dame bedeviled me for several years. Almost every introductory text on the American legal system seemed to offer a basic understanding of American history in general and Constitutional history in particular. Books that treated fundamentals of the adversary system, or that described the legal profession or the judicial system, often contained little if any exposition of substantive areas of the law. Materials that described substantive legal areas often anticipated an understanding of the institutional regime that applied the law. The day Burnham's Introduction to the Law and Legal System of the United States crossed my desk was bright indeed. As I scanned the table of contents, I was struck at how it tracked the syllabus of the course I was preparing to teach. Its coverage of legal institutions was complete in five chapters. The basics of criminal and civil procedure were available, and eight additional chapters, each treating a legal subject area, were offered. Professor Burnham imaginatively arranged the material to facilitate coverage via a survey or in much greater depth responding to the background of the students or the amount of time available for the course. The book has now been used on several occasions. The students and I have found it to be a strong asset in learning about the American legal system. The book also serves as a marvelous inexpensive resource for foreign students to carry home with them.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not a sleeping pill, August 10, 2005

By 

T. Keller (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Burnham's Introduction to the Law and Legal System of the United States, 3d (American Casebook Series and Other Coursebooks) (Paperback)

Burnhams book on U.S. law and its legal system is great for anyone who wants to learn or study U.S. law. It is comprehensive in that it provides the basics on the most important parts of substantive and procedural law. For foreign law students and jurists in particular it gives a well written and very understandable introduction into U.S. law. Professor Burnham seems to intentionally adress "foreigners" in certain sections explaining the similarities, but also the existing differences between the common law system and the civil law system (as he defines the central European legal system). This makes many topics easier to understand for outsiders. The in depth explanation of the adversary system and its implications for some U.S. particularities is also valuable, as are the guidelines for legal reserch.

Buy this book for starting to learn U.S. law or as a reference book. I grab it now and then just because it actually offers good and informative reading.
(This review is based on the First Edition of the book)