Law 101: Fundamentals of the Law

Reviewed by Marcus Ellison, Adjunct Faculty, Trine University on 4/22/21

Comprehensiveness rating: 4 see less

The textbook covers a wide variety of general legal areas. Each chapter can stand alone however, some are focused more on the nuances of New York state law and would best be suited for courses that require that. Other chapters however only cover general legal principles or broad federal and constitutional law areas. It is worth the time to browse the table of contents as there are several stand-alone chapters that would work in a variety of legal subject matter area courses. There are also numerous citations and references throughout the textbook.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

The text is accurate in its assertions and materials shared as of the time it is written. Each chapter has in-text citations and a list of references at the end of the chapter that supports the information that is cited and referred to throughout the text.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 4

The content varies in that some of it covers specific areas and sections of the law that may need to be updated or refreshed frequently. However, other chapters cover broad-based legal principles and historical legal traditions that are timeless. Each chapter is independent of other chapters so it would be easy to use parts of this book for a wide variety of legal courses depending upon need.

Clarity rating: 4

This book is written at a level that would be suitable for undergraduate students seeking a basic understanding of the American legal system or anyone wanting a basic understanding of how the law works. Some chapters have very practical steps that cover basics such as finding legal counsel and how cases progress through the legal system. The text is plain-spoken about most legal topics and not full of jargon and overly technical terminology.

Consistency rating: 5

The book is consistent in terms of terminology and framework. Each chapter can be used and read as a stand-alone unit separate from the other chapters in the text.

Modularity rating: 5

Each chapter of the book covers a unique area that can be studied separately from the other chapters. There are citations, references, and appropriate appendices again broken up by each chapter.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 4

The book as a whole has a logical flow even though each chapter covers a unique area of law. Some chapters focus on legal specifics, in particular the sections that are heavy on New York State-specific law. Other sections are much more broad-based in focus and or cover more practical and background-oriented aspects of the law.

Interface rating: 5

The text is laid out well with an appropriate amount of white space. The tables, charts, and visual cues are appropriate to the subject material.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

The text is free from grammatical and spelling errors.

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

The textbook is not insensitive or offensive in any way and it has a chapter that focuses on discrimination law that is well-written, timely, and appropriate for the age and time.

Comments

This is a good textbook for undergraduate students seeking a basic understanding of the law or for any student or person considering pursing a career in the legal field as an attorney or as a paralegal. The textbook is written in such a fashion that each chapter stands alone and thus its is a book that can be used in whole or in part as a reading resource for a legal class that covers almost any topical area of interest.