Customer Reviews

Introduction to Law (West Legal Studies Series)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I ordered this book as a requirement for an introductory paralegal course and was at first a little aprehensive about the books thickness. I started out knowing absolutely nothing about the law, the government, or the internal workings of the legal system. This book teaches the beginnings of modern law and the influences of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government. The basics of many common areas of law are also covered such as contracts, probate, property, torts, criminal law, family law, and many more. This book teaches a great amount of useful information in an easy to read and easy to understand format. Plenty of possible real life scenarios are used as examples as well as real cases to help you dive deeper into the subject you are trying to grasp. This is the first school textbook I've ever actually enjoyed reading from. Key terms are boldened for easier reference and studying. For anyone interested in learning about a variety of beginning law topics, it is definately an investment worth making.

I have purchased a number of law-related books from Amazon, but this book is by far the standout of the bunch. It systematically covers all of the major topics covered in the courses offered at every law school in the US comprehensively, even explaining the case briefing process. This new edition incorporates actual case law, allowing you to sample the work done at law school before actual signing your loan check and taking the plunge. Dunham clearly explains all of the basic terminology and principles underlying the first year of law school, providing the law student-to-be a firm foundation and a peace of mind before starting classes. I recommend this book without reservation to ANYONE interested in law school or interested in bulking up on their knowledge of the substance and form of law in the United States.

Let me begin by saying that I have the "fourth edition" however my understanding is that there has not been that many changes with each edition. A colleague of mine has a much earlier edition (black and yellow cover), and yet when we compared them, they are very similar in content, layout, etc.

I am a court interpreter, and found this book to be a great resource. Each chapter covers a substantial amount of information that will fortify a court interpreter's kowledge and insight into the court proceeding that we may be working with. I found the bold headings as well as the chapter reviews especially helpful. I use this book quite often in my preparation once I know what type of case that I am assigned to work. For practicing court interpreters, this book will be a very nice addition to your library that you will likely use throughout your career.

This book is pricey!! But for anyone interested in a legal career, it is the book to have. The fact that it uses contemporary cases to explain how the law works is a plus.

I saved $100 by purchasing this used book that was in great condition as promised. I would recommend parents and students to shop on-line for books to avoid the overpriced college bookstores.

Received book in a timely manner. It was exactly as advertised. I would definitely purchase from seller again.

The book arrived earlier than expected and is in excellent brand new condition as described. I never had to contact the seller and it was a smooth transaction.

Pros:
-Introduction to legal terminology.
-Some relevant cases.
-Broad range of subject matter.

Cons:
-Poorly edited; many typographical/grammatical errors.
-Questions are relatively poorly written and unclear with regard to what the author is really looking for in an answer.
-Any attempt at an induction of legal theory from this text is a no-no. Case in point (one of the case brief introductions): "The following edited version of the Miranda decision demonstrates how the court came to identify the rights so crucial to a fair prosecution."

No court identifies rights; they define them. Also, the qualifier "so crucial" seems rather sloppy in this context. The court did not find special legal binoculars that helped them to better see the objective rights as they are written into the moral mana of the heavens; rather, the court better delineated the application of a right which the legislature (and indirectly, the people) decided was necessary for the proper functioning of society.

Overall, though, so long as one does not understand the text as any type of authority, it provides good background knowledge of the interrelationship between some of the most common legal terms and their application in the real world.

This book did not teach me nearly as much as I'd hoped. It gives a very superficial outline of a lot of topics, but somehow when I finished, I didn't feel like I'd learned anything.