Before the Law: An Introduction to the Legal Process

This text introduces students to the purpose and practice of law through excerpts from recent and classic cases, and discussion of trends in legal studies. Selections from diverse, interdisciplinary sources include topics such as court opinions; sociological, psychological and anthropological analyses of legal phenomena; historical and philosophical approaches to law; and literary reflections.

As the founding members of the American Legal Studies Association the authors strive to promote legal education for undergraduates and have made the text as useful and easy to teach as possible.