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Proven effective in the classroom, The Study of Law: A Critical Thinking Approach, now in its sixth edition, brings real-world perspective to understanding basic legal concepts and the American legal system. The authors’ acclaimed critical thinking approach actively engages students in the process of legal reading, analysis, and critical thinking. The text offers a thorough introduction to core topics and concepts, including sources and classifications of law, the structure of the court system, civil litigation and its alternatives, analyzing and interpreting the law, and substantive law. 

Professors and students will benefit from:
● Critical thinking approach introduces students to the study of law, encouraging them to interact with the materials through hypothetical scenarios and exercises, realistic examples, discussion questions, and legal reasoning exercises.
● Strong pedagogy reinforces well-written text presented in an accessible and well-organized format.
● Edited cases in every chapter teach students how to read and analyze the law.
● Thorough introduction to substantive law, with chapters on torts, contracts, property and estate law, business law, family law, and criminal law and procedure, and professional responsibility and ethics.

New to the Sixth Edition:
• Updated law throughout, with a principle focus on the major changes made by the U.S. Supreme Court in its 2022, 2023, and 2024 terms. This includes new case excerpts, new Discussion Questions and new Critical Thinking Exercises.
• Key changes include:
    o Enhanced discussion of stare decisis in Chapter 1.
    o Discussion of U.S. Supreme Court’s overruling of the Chevron doctrine regarding the need to defer to agency interpretations and inclusion of the U.S. Supreme Court decision, Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, in Chapter 2.
    o Coverage of the ramifications of Dobbs v. Jackson.
    o Chapter 6 on Constitutional Law completely updated to address major Supreme Court cases on freedom of expression, religious freedom, and the Second Amendment. Also includes new discussion of transgender issues.
    o In Chapter 12, an expanded discussion of Crimes Affecting Governmental Functions; an analysis of parental responsibility when a child commits a mass shooting; added section on Presidential Immunity; and new Discussion Questions, including reference to U.S. Supreme Court case Grants Pass v. Johnson regarding constitutionality of criminalizing homelessness.
    o Updated section on making legal services available to low-income clients in Chapter 14.

Summary of Contents

Contents 
List of Illustrations 
Preface

PART 1 The American Legal System 
Chapter 1 Introduction to the Study of Law 
Chapter 2 Functions and Sources of Law 
Chapter 3 Classification of the Law 
Chapter 4 The Court System and the Role of Judges 
Chapter 5 Civil Litigation and Its Alternatives 
PART 2 Substantive Law and Ethical Issues 
Chapter 6 Constitutional Law: Civil Rights and Civil Liberties 
Chapter 7 Torts 
Chapter 8 Contract Law 
Chapter 9 Property and Estate Law 
Chapter 10 Laws Affecting Business 
Chapter 11 Family Law 
Chapter 12 Criminal Law 
Chapter 13 Criminal Procedure
Chapter 14 Ethical Dilemmas Facing Attorneys 

Appendix A The Constitution of the United States 
Appendix B NetNotes 
Glossary
Table of Cases 
Index