10 Best Legal Reference Books

The only current authorized edition of the classic work on parliamentary procedure–now in a new updated edition Robert’s Rules of Order is the recognized guide to smooth, orderly, and fairly conducted meetings. This 12th edition is the only current manual to have been maintained and updated since 1876 under the continuing program established by General Henry M. Robert himself. As indispensable now as the original edition was more than a century ago, Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised is the acknowledged “gold standard” for meeting rules. New and enhanced features of this edition include: * Section-based paragraph numbering to facilitate cross-references and e-book compatibility * Expanded appendix of charts, tables, and lists * Sample rules for electronic meetings * Helpful summary explanations about postponing a motion, reconsidering a vote, making and enforcing points of order and appeals, and newly expanded procedures for filling blanks * New provisions regarding debate on nominations, reopening nominations, and completing an election after its scheduled time * Dozens more clarifications, additions, and refinements to improve the presentation of existing rules, incorporate new interpretations, and address common inquiries Coinciding with publication of the 12th edition, the authors of this manual have once again published an updated (3rd) edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised In Brief , a simple and concise introductory guide cross- referenced to it.

A short, concise and user-friendly guide to the essential procedures of conducting a meeting, written by the authors of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised , the only authorized edition of the classic work on parliamentary procedure Originally published in 1876, General Henry M. Robert’s guide to smooth, orderly, and fairly conducted meetings has sold over six million copies in eleven editions. Robert’s Rules of Order is the book on parliamentary proceedings, yet those not well versed on what has now become a rather thick document can find themselves lost-and delayed-while trying to locate the most important rules. The solution? Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised in Brief. Written by the same authorship team behind the officially sanctioned Robert’s Rules of Order , this short and user-friendly edition takes readers through the rules most often needed at meetings–from debates to amendments to nominations. With sample dialogues and a guide to using the complete edition, Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised in Brief is the essential handbook for parliamentary proceedings.

There ‘s no place like home! Ready to say goodbye to your landlord? With help from Nolo ‘s Essential Guide to Buying Your First Home, you’ll not only find the right house for you, you’ll have fun doing it. Learn how to: * research the local market and listings * choose a house, condo, co-op, or townhouse * create a realistic budget * qualify for a loan you can truly afford * borrow a down payment from friends or family * protect yourself with inspections and insurance, and * negotiate and close the deal successfully. You’ll find insights from 15 real estate professionals―agents, attorneys, mortgage specialists, a home inspector, and more. It’s like having a team of experts by your side! Plus, read real-life stories of over 20 first-time homebuyers. Download the Homebuyer ‘s Toolkit Dozens of customizable forms that will help you find your dream home, crunch the numbers, interview real estate professionals, inspect the house thoroughly, and more― more details inside.

In this fifth edition of his bestselling classic, Jay Feinman provides an authoritative and up-to-date overview of the American legal system. In the years since the publication of the fourth edition, there have been many important developments on the legal front. The Supreme Court has issued important decisions on presidential powers, freedom of religion, and personal liberty. Police shootings and the rise of Black Lives Matter has impacted the court system too. The rise of arbitration at the expense of jury trials has affected the rights of consumers, and internet law remains in a state of constant change. This fully updated fifth edition of Law 101 accounts for all these developments and more, as Feinman once again provides a clear introduction to American law. The book covers all the main subjects taught in the first year of law school, and discusses every facet of the American legal tradition, including constitutional law, the litigation process, and criminal, property, and contracts law. To illustrate how the legal system works, Feinman draws from noteworthy, infamous, and even outrageous examples and cases. We learn about the case involving scalding coffee that cost McDonald’s half a million dollars, the murder trial in Victorian London that gave us the legal definition of insanity, and the epochal decision of Marbury vs. Madison that gave the Supreme Court the power to declare state and federal law unconstitutional. A key to learning about the law is understanding legal vocabulary, and Feinman helps by clarifying terms like “due process” and “equal protection,” as well as by drawing distinctions between terms like “murder” and “manslaughter.” Above all, Feinman reveals to readers of all kinds that despite its complexities and quirks, the law can be understood by everyone. Perfect for students contemplating law school, journalists covering legislature, or even casual fans of “court-television” shows, Law 101 is a clear and accessible introduction to the American legal system.

The foundational work on Critical Race Theory ―now under fire from the Trump administration Why did the president of the United States, in the midst of a pandemic and an economic crisis, take it upon himself to attack Critical Race Theory? Perhaps Donald Trump appreciated the power of this groundbreaking intellectual movement to change the world. In recent years, Critical Race Theory has vaulted out of the academy and into courtrooms, newsrooms, and onto the streets. And no wonder: as intersectionality theorist Kimberle Crenshaw recently told Time magazine, “It’s an approach to grappling with a history of white supremacy that rejects the belief that what’s in the past is in the past, and that the laws and systems that grow from that past are detached from it.” The panicked denunciations from the right notwithstanding, CRT has changed the way millions of people interpret our troubled world. Edited by its principal founders and leading theoreticians, Critical Race Theory was the first book to gather the movement’s most important essays. This groundbreaking book includes contributions from scholars including Derrick Bell, Kimberle Crenshaw, Patricia Williams, Dorothy Roberts, Lani Guinier, Duncan Kennedy, and many others. It is essential reading in an age of acute racial injustice.

The only current authorized edition of the classic work on parliamentary procedure–now in a new updated edition Robert’s Rules of Order is the recognized guide to smooth, orderly, and fairly conducted meetings. This 12th edition is the only current manual to have been maintained and updated since 1876 under the continuing program established by General Henry M. Robert himself. As indispensable now as the original edition was more than a century ago, Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised is the acknowledged “gold standard” for meeting rules. New and enhanced features of this edition include: * Section-based paragraph numbering to facilitate cross-references and e-book compatibility * Expanded appendix of charts, tables, and lists * Sample rules for electronic meetings * Helpful summary explanations about postponing a motion, reconsidering a vote, making and enforcing points of order and appeals, and newly expanded procedures for filling blanks * New provisions regarding debate on nominations, reopening nominations, and completing an election after its scheduled time * Dozens more clarifications, additions, and refinements to improve the presentation of existing rules, incorporate new interpretations, and address common inquiries Coinciding with publication of the 12th edition, the authors of this manual have once again published an updated (3rd) edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised In Brief , a simple and concise introductory guide cross- referenced to it.

Barron ‘s Dictionary of Legal Terms includes over 2,500 terms in clear, easy-to-understand English and translates “legalese” for the layperson. This updated edition includes new terms to incorporate recent changes in laws and judicial interpretations. This pocket-sized guide is an ideal book for quick reference or to learn more about the law. It includes: * More than 2,500 legal terms * Jargon-free definitions and explanations * Hundreds of examples to illustrate the definitions This compact guide cuts through the complexities and is ideal for consumers, business proprietors, legal beneficiaries, investors, property owners, litigants, and all others who have dealings with the law.

Admirably clear, concise, down-to-earth, and powerful–all too often, legal writing embodies none of these qualities. Its reputation for obscurity and needless legalese is widespread. Since 2001 Bryan A. Garner’s Legal Writing in Plain English has helped address this problem by providing lawyers, judges, paralegals, law students, and legal scholars with sound advice and practical tools for improving their written work. Now the leading guide to clear writing in the field, this indispensable volume encourages legal writers to challenge conventions and offers valuable insights into the writing process that will appeal to other professionals: how to organize ideas, create and refine prose, and improve editing skills. Accessible and witty, Legal Writing in Plain English draws on real-life writing samples that Garner has gathered through decades of teaching experience. Trenchant advice covers all types of legal materials, from analytical and persuasive writing to legal drafting, and the book’s principles are reinforced by sets of basic, intermediate, and advanced exercises in each section. In this new edition, Garner preserves the successful structure of the original while adjusting the content to make it even more classroom-friendly. He includes case examples from the past decade and addresses the widespread use of legal documents in electronic formats. His book remains the standard guide for producing the jargon-free language that clients demand and courts reward.

Professors Fischl and Paul explain law school exams in ways no one has before, all with an eye toward improving the reader’s performance. The book begins by describing the difference between educational cultures that praise students for ‘right answers,’ and the law school culture that rewards nuanced analysis of ambiguous situations in which more than one approach may be correct. Enormous care is devoted to explaining precisely how and why legal analysis frequently produces such perplexing situations. But the authors don’t stop with mere description. Instead, Getting to Maybe teaches how to excel on law school exams by showing the reader how legal analysis can be brought to bear on examination problems. The book contains hints on studying and preparation that go well beyond conventional advice. The authors also illustrate how to argue both sides of a legal issue without appearing wishy-washy or indecisive. Above all, the book explains why exam questions may generate feelings of uncertainty or doubt about correct legal outcomes and how the student can turn these feelings to his or her advantage. In sum, although the authors believe that no exam guide can substitute for a firm grasp of substantive material, readers who devote the necessary time to learning the law will find this book an invaluable guide to translating learning into better exam performance.

The criminal justice system is complicated, understand it and your rights This book demystifies the complex rules and procedures of criminal law. It explains how the system works, why police, lawyers, and judges do what they do, and what suspects, defendants, and prisoners can expect. It also provides critical information on working with a lawyer. In plain English, The Criminal Law Handbook covers: * search and seizure * arrest, booking, and bail * Miranda rights * arraignment * plea bargains * trials * sentencing * common defenses * working with defense attorneys * constitutional rights * juvenile court * preliminary hearings * appeals * public defenders * victims’ rights This edition is completely updated, covering the latest in criminal law, including U.S. Supreme Court cases.