Introduction to Law

From all books I have ever used in school on the subject of law, "Introduction to Law" is the most accessible and easy to understand. It covers all major points in plain and simple language. I usually come back to this book when I need a clear simple definition or an explanation of a concept. It is a great resource for anyone who is interested in paralegal studies. I have seen many students who are very much confused when it comes to U.S. court system (federal and state), 'Introduction to Law' does a good job explaining the system and drawing parallels and demonstrating connections between federal and state systems. Every chapter of this textbook includes the relative cases and ethical choices scenarios that introduce students to possible and most likely to occur real life scenarios.

I read this book for a class I took from Joanne Hames, one of the authors, at the paralegal program I attend. I found the book very well- organized and practical. The subject matter not only covers all the basics, but it also equips the paralegal to succeed in today's high-tech law office. Also, the "Ethical Choices" and "Paralegals on the Job" sections in each chapter make the book quite dynamic. The authors of this book are experienced attorneys who know the law and are abreast of everything relevant to the modern paralegal.

Both informative (covering the "high points" or notable and interesting aspects of law) and well-written so you can read it straight through and get a lot out of it. The best starting point I have seen for beginning to learn about law.

I love Introduction to Law by Joanne Banker Hames and Yvonne Ekern! You may wonder why I feel so passionate about a textbook? When I took an Introduction to Law course four years ago, a text like this wasn't available. I desired a text that would provide a good foundation and overview for my paralegal education. Since a good text was not available at the time, the instructor chose to put together a series of handouts to supplement his lectures. You can imagine how excited I was to come across such an excellent text as this one, that provides an overview of the law, as well as a reference, a refresher, and resource for years to come. The topics begin with the American Legal System and finish with the continually growing field of Law and Technology. Each chapter is organized to take the student on an interactive educational experience into the paralegal field. Chapter summaries are provided at the end of each section along with questions to review. Case law is incorporated into each chapter to deepen the student's understanding of the area of law discussed, as well as introduce the student to reading case law and applying it to the chapter topic. Case questions provide students the intellectual challenge to utilize abstract thinking skills necessary for a paralegal's success both in school and on the job.The text provides the necessary foundation for a paralegal program to build their curriculum from. It will constantly be referred to throughout the student's other courses. If you are just beginning your paralegal education; if you've just graduated and are looking for an excellent overview of the law; or if you are a teacher in search of the perfect text for your class; look no further.I hope this is the first of many paralegal texts to come from Yvonne Ekern and Joanne Banker Hames!