Law 101 ─ Everything You Need to Know About American Law

"An engaging introduction to just about every aspect of law."---The American Lawyer

"All the benefits of that first year of law school without the tedium, the terror, and the sleep deprivation.... These legal lessons are presented in a style nearly always engaging and very often humorous."---Jurist

"An entertaining and informative introduction to the law....For journalists, those interested in the law, and fans of television law dramas, this book should be required reading."---Library Journal

"A layperson's introduction to the legal subjects that assault every first-year law student. From constitutional law to contracts to Dickensian procedures that guide civil suits, the book gives an approachable overview of the cases and concepts that combine to form our legal system." Newark Star-Ledger

"Though the book is aimed at laypersons, it offers a good refresher course to update legal practitioners and paraprofessionals in areas where they do not specialize. A good read overall for those interested in the law."---Booklist

"Law 101 attempts to teach you how to think like a lawyer-without requiring that you dedicate three years and tens of thousands of dollars to the task. The result? A practical book that is also a pleasure to read."---The Trenton Times

The first two editions of the best-selling Law 101 provided readers with a vividly written and indispensable portrait of our nation's legal system. Now, in this third edition, Jay M. Feinman offers a fully updated survey of American law that incorporates fresh material on 2009 Supreme Court cases, the legal response to the war on terror (including the Guantanamo detainees and electronic surveillance), and to the latest developments in Internet law.

In a book brimming with legal puzzles, interesting anecdotes, and thought-provoking questions, Jay M. Feinman's clear introduction to the law provides us with a solid understanding of the American legal tradition and covers the main subjects taught in the first year of law school. Readers are introduced to every aspect of the legal system, from constitutional law and the litigation process to tort law, contract law, property law, and criminal law. Feinman illuminates each discussion with many intriguing, outrageous, and infamous cases, from the scalding coffee case that cost McDonald's half a million dollars, to the sensational murder trial in Victorian London that led to the legal definition of insanity, to the epochal decision in Marbury v. Madison that gave the Supreme Court the power to declare state and federal laws unconstitutional. He broadens the reader's legal vocabulary, clarifying the meaning of everything from "due process" and "equal protection" in constitutional law to the distinction between "murder" and "manslaughter" in criminal law. Perhaps most important, we learn that though the law is voluminous and complex, it is accessible to all.

Everyone who wants a better grasp of current legal issues---from students contemplating law school, to journalists covering the legislature or the courts, to fans of Court TV-will find here a wonderful source of information: a complete, clear, and colorful map of the American legal system.

He serves as Distinguished Professor of Law. Rutgers University School of Law. Camden. He is the author of five previous books, including 1001 Legal Words and Delay. Deny. Defend: Why Insurance Companies Don't Pay Claims and What You Can Do About It.