Sources of American Law : An Introduction to Legal Research by Beau Steenken; Tina M. Brooks This text introduces first-year law students to the new kind of research required to study and to practice law. It seeks to demystify the art of legal research by following a “Source and Process” approach. First, the text introduces students to the major sources of American law and describes the forms the various authorities traditionally took in print. After establishing this base, the text proceeds to instruct students on the methods they will most likely use in practice, namely electronic research techniques and the consultation of secondary sources. Sources of Law incorporates screencasts currently hosted on YouTube that actively demonstrate the processes described in the static text. Finally, the text illustrates how the different pieces come together in the legal research process.

Legislative Research by Wanda Graham During the legislative process, many documents are prepared by Congress and its committees. Governmental and non-governmental entities track and record congressional activities, and many more entities chronicle and analyse the development of public policy. The wide availability of such information can be overwhelming to those involved in legislative research. The purpose of this book is to assist Members and congressional staff in identifying and accessing key resources used during legislative research.

Settling Disputes by Linda Singer Within the past few years, innovative methods have been developed not only to settle disputes out of court but also to supplement or replace the means by which legislatures, businesses, communities, therapists, and schools handle conflicts that once could be resolved only by litigation or force. Settling Disputes serves as an essential guide to the new settlement alternatives. This updated edition, in response to the rapid changes of the past five years, includes substantial new material that describes recent transformations in the way that courts and public agencies respond to disputes. The book discusses alternative dispute resolution from the viewpoints of potential participants and offers advice to those who are involved in disputes to help them analyze their situations and goals. Finally, it provides suggestions for professionals involved in dispute resolution and for those whose jobs in law, business, or government are affected by the new options for settling disputes.The dispute resolution movement continues to offer the most hopeful, powerful alternative to the business and personal costs of litigation or, worse, of violence. It has tremendous implications for the professional lives of Americans, for their private lives'as parents, spouses, neighbors, and consumers'and for their role as citizens.The first edition of Settling Disputes was awarded the 1990 Center for Public Resources Book Prize.

Guthrie's Guide to Better Legal Writing, 2/e by Neil Guthrie Lawyers like to think they are good writers. Their non-lawyer readers are more likely to describe their writing as turgid, pedantic, Latin-filled, jargon-ridden, misspelt, ungrammatical, and inelegant. Guthrie's Guide to Better Legal Writing won't solve all your problems, but it will help you make your prose clear, correct, and compelling. The focus is on communicating more effectively in email, letters, memos, blog posts, client updates, and social media, but there are some pointers on contractual drafting and written advocacy as well. A bit of strategy, some grammar and spelling, and a lot of style. The second edition of Guthrie's Guide incorporates significant new material based on reader queries and the author's on-going review of the legal writing that crosses his desk and screen.