Very good book for the beginning litigator
345372
This book has great advice on how to draft pleadings and motions, how to plan and execute a strategy concerning discovery, and even has advice on client intake.
1633183
I thoroughly enjoyed this little book.  Using very well written bite-size pieces, it provides an easy but effective introductory overview of legal systems, processes, and reasoning, as well as other related tidbits.  The illustrations are a nice touch too.  I recommend it to any layperson (like me) interested in getting a feel for these things.  And who knows, many law students and lawyers may benefit from it too.

The last words in the book perhaps sum it up: " ... a lawyer must love the law."
3204362
This book is awesome, especially for a Pro Se litigant. Purchase of the companion book (Fed. Civil Forms) gives you a code to access the forms online, so you can download them in Word and save hours of typing. It's sort of dry reading, but interesting in how the court system works.
3160347
While modeslty priced this book provides a good review of US intellectual property laws, including copyright, patent, and trademark law. While comprehensive treatment of even a single subject would require many  volumes, this book does provide excellent coverage of US intellectual  property laws.
I highly recommended this book for law students searching  for a study aide (I have done just that for my Intro to IP class).  I also  highly recommend this book for attorneys not well versed in intellectual  property who are looking for a comprehensive primer.
Becaues this book  contains numerous citations it could also be very useful as a quick  reference or deskbook for intellectual property practitioners and law  professors.
345481
I thought this book was written very well, interesting and easy to understand. The class I was in was very challenging, so the book was very useful while studying and it clarified some of the lecture presented in class. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking to broaden their knowledge in civil litigation. I think they would find this book informational and the read would be enjoyable as well. The only problem is this book is based on Federal Rules and not your State or Local Rules, therefore to have a better understanding of your State Rules, you will have to reference your State Rule Book for applicable rules to you. Also, some of the Federal Rules mentioned in this text were in different parts of the current Federal Rule book, since this text is an older edition.
4267851
This is a basic reference book for starting a law practice.  It contains advise both useful and advise that I thought was a bit out of left field.  The point is though, that there was more than enough practical useful advise to justify the expense of the book.

I bought the book when I started my practice and have recommended it to at least a dozen starting lawyers.
3345320
A great book for both the novice and seasoned lawyers who need a refresher. Great tips on presentation skills and how to be at ease and do well in the courtroom.
3223424
This 15th Edition of "Legal Research" is a comprehensive guide on how to go about searching out legal information.  The book is designed to inform the user on what you should know before you embark on your research, how you should go about your research, and what you should do with that research.

You'll learn what sources are used to perform your search; most are paid for services but there are some limited use free sites.  You'll learn how to perform a search using Boolean search methods.  You'll also be taught the difference between a criminal and civil case and what statues, federal, state, and other types of law exists.  Once you have mastered the basics, you'll learn how to interpret statues, how to Shepardize a case (meaning how to find every other case that references the case that supports your research), etc., etc., etc., and finally how to write a legal memorandum. The last chapter provides a good exercise example and there is an excellent glossary in the back.

This book is intense and is probably not a text you will understand the first time reading it.  I know that if I am going to apply this knowledge, I will have to re-read the book.  It is also clear from this book that you will probably be spending a lot of time in a law library doing your own research unless you have access to those expensive sites like Lexis or Westlaw.  There are free legal websites that you can use for your research but for most cases they will not provide sufficient information without the use of a law library.

Although, "Legal Research" is a comprehensive guide, it is really not a good idea to use this book as a replacement for a lawyer except in small claims court.  In my opinion, this book is useful for when you need to formulate your case before taking it to a lawyer or for when you want to decide if your case is legally worth pursuing.  Paralegals just starting in the legal field can also use it as a refresher guide that will walk them through the legal process and how to compose that first legal memorandum.  If you have no legal experience, this is not a book that you can read once and then easily do research as you will find you need to refer to it constantly.

I am very impressed by the details and sources this book provides on such an intense subject.  It certainly demystifies legal research for the lay person as long as you are willing to put in the time to learn the process.
748691
The authors of this book have been instrumental in the founding of the ABA certified Paralegal program at DeAnza College and education of paralegal students there.  This book serves as an excellent introduction to the concepts of Constitutional Law.  It is very well-written and the online companion (with the nifty quizzes) are a superb benefit.  This book is well worth the money.
2831994
For anyone preparing to testify, or for those who testify on a regular basis, this book will be of great help.  The text deals with basic philosophy as well as reasoning behind the typical attorney thinking.  But, the strongest aspect of the cook involves the many examples used to illustrate concepts and techniques.
1529947
The Tax and Legal Playbook is well laid out, and thorough. I wouldn't recommend skipping any chapters even if you think you have a firm grasp on each chapter's content.

I enjoyed Mark's style of introducing concepts and expanding on them in detail as the book progresses. Whether you're just starting out in a business venture, or have several years under your belt, you can pick this book up and find several strategies that can help you.
107723
Great book and a good start to anyone who wants to find out how to defend a DUI case.
1960227
I find this book useful for law students and particularly for practitioners.  It not only gives a birds eye view of employment law, but covers potential claims a lawyer may file.  While its analysis and coverage is shallow (hence, the 4 stars), it's just enough to help a lawyer dive into deeper issues through Westlaw or Lexus Nexus.  Overall, I recommend this book.
3563627
Overall, this book is very good, which covers many areas in detail, and it is very useful for a beginner.
4398146
This book is a great source of legal reference for people who want to have a better understanding of crimes, penalty and criminal procedure.
This book provides numerous essential legal terms and phrases about Crimes, Penalty And Criminal Procedur. I like how the book is written in a very clear way. The author make sure that the readers can understand every details of this book. Thanks to DR. PETER JOHNSON for this great legal book. I found many useful things that I need to learn about crimes, penalty and criminal procedure while going through it.
As a final point, this book is informative and great. I highly recommended it.
2722592
"Rules of the Road: A Plaintiff Lawyer's Guide to Proving Liability" by Rich Friedman and Patrick Malone, Trial Guides, LLC, Portland, OR, second Ed., 2010. ISBN0-978-1-934833-17-9, HC 188/335 pages.  20 Chapters, 14 Appendices A-N, & Index 13 pgs.

A Revised & Updated 2nd. Edition clarifying definition of Rules of the Road and distinguishing between Rules & Principles, Etc. A somewhat tedious but well rounded syllabus written by established professional plaintiff lawyers that provides a succinct explanation of essential elements to formulating a winning strategy and combat obstacles encountered in modern-day litigation.  Special emphasis is given on steps to maximize legal methodologies following a specific but flexible format governed by adherence to an overall plan by creating indisputable standards for judges, juries and defendants to focus the reasoning and decision-making of the judge and jury.

The Appendices are informative and based on case material on discovery requests, bad faith opening statements and a formula on how to establish a foundation for winning liability case of diverse types, and a dissertation on establishing "standard of care".

Overall, this is a good read for a targeted audience where the opponent's gambit is combative, with ploys of ambiguity, confusion and complexity that may be effectively thwarted using Rules of the Road including appropriate response to Motion in Limine.
215723
My sister is planning to take legal action against a landlord in Los Angeles. As a long-term Nolo fan, I ordered this book to help her out. We're thrilled with it.

We had a series of questions before filing her case in small claims court:
  * Should we sue?
  * What court should she sue at?
  * What types of damages can she sue for?
  * How do we fill out the forms?
  * How do we present the case?
  * How do we maximize our chances of collecting if we win?

The book is organized to answer these questions in almost that exact order. It turns out there are several issues regarding what court branch you should choose to file the case (and in Los Angeles, there are more than 50 court houses!) There are different causes of action (motor vehicle, premises liability, general negligence, intentional tort, contracts, etc) each of which are claimed somewhat differently. The book walks you through each of these, explains the issues, and makes recommendations on how to proceed.

Every case is unique. Did you move into an apartment, only to discover that there was a homeless man living under the bedroom, apparently with the landlord's blessing? Did the landlord deny it? What kind of damages can you claim? Can you get your deposit back if you pack up immediately and move out? Do you need witnesses? This book will walk you through all of these decisions, and help you present a clear, solid case without filing errors.

This book really shines when it comes to the forms. After the 286 pages of text comes more than 140 pages of forms-just about every form you might need is included. Step by step instructions are included for the key forms, and when things get really complicated, the author describes the multiple paths you may pursue. Computer manuals should be written this clearly!

Anyhow, thanks to this book, we put together a really clean case. Now we wait...but knowing the landlord, her case will not be presented nearly as well. Thanks again, Nolo! Highly recommended.