Introduction to the Legal System of the United States [Paperback]

E. Allan Farnsworth (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 28, 1999 | ISBN-10: 0379213737 | ISBN-13: 978-0379213737 | Edition: 3

In this classic text, translated into over a dozen languages, constitutional scholar and Columbia Law School professor E. Allan Farnsworth provides a clear explanation of the structure and function of the U.S. legal system in one handy reference. An Introduction to the Legal System of the United States is designed to be a general introduction to the structure and function of the legal system of the United States, and is especially useful for those readers who lack familiarity with fundamental establishments and practices.

This text also gives the reader a clear understanding of how to research the law, the importance of case law versus statutes, and the difference between private and public law. It illustrates issues that may be confusing or troublesome and provides a solid general overview.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The book is an excellent text when one considers the apparent primary purpose of the work...The book is a good, brief, introductory text on the Legal System of the United States...As an introductory work, the selection of topics is interesting to note. The author did not attempt to prepare a work on "American Government." The book does not discuss the political or economic systems that rule and govern the United States. Discussions of capitalism, political parties, and the executive branch of government are not included. The work does provide, however, discussions of lawyers, legal education, the legal profession, the judicial system, case law, the legislative system, and statutes. There is also some discussion of the distinctions between private law and public law.

"...One of the interesting examples in the book, is the chapter on "Case Law." The author does a good job of explaining the importance of case law in the United States legal system. The chapter discusses the role that courts play, the use of precedent in case law, the form that decisions take, and even a brief discussion of how decisions are reported. As an added feature, the appendix to the work gives the reader two examples of reported case decisions. This would allow the interested reader to experience the difficulty in trying to read, understand, and analyze court decisions.

"...It should be extremely useful to foreign audiences, beginning course in paralegal training, or any setting where the reader is seeking introductory level material..."

Ronald W. Eades, Professor of Law, University of Louisville, Kentucky
Law Books in Review

About the Author

Allan E. Farnwsorth is formerly the Alfred McCormack Professor of Law at Columbia Law School.

Product Details

• Paperback: 195 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; 3 edition (June 28, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0379213737
• ISBN-13: 978-0379213737
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #418,903 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Leagal System of United States, May 2, 2011

By 

A. Lee Gregg "JD student" (Georgia, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Introduction to the Legal System of the United States (Paperback)

This book is very informative about the legal system of the United States. There are charts, listings of courts for each state in the US. It was written for the serious law student who wants to know the sequence of events in our legal system. A good reference book.

4.0 out of 5 stars Informative and dry, April 14, 2010

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MobyM - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Introduction to the Legal System of the United States (Paperback)

I bought and read this book before going to law school. I think I had seen it on the Harvard law recommended reading list, or something like that, and decided to give it a try. Apparently the book is mostly intended for legal practitioners from other countries who want an introduction to American law. However, as an American with basically no knowledge of any law, American or otherwise, I still found this to be a solid introduction to the legal system of the United States. It is a very dry book, but I still managed to read it from cover to cover, and I learned a ton along the way. Each section also provides great recommendations for what else to read on that topic. This is a very informative and straightforward introduction. For pre-law American students looking for a more friendly introduction, I would recommend first reading "Whose Monet? an introduction to the american legal system."