Berch and Langenfeld's Introduction to Legal Method and Process, Cases and Materials, 7th

This innovative casebook on legal method provides a practical roadmap for thriving in law school by introducing students to judicial opinions, statutes, interpretive techniques, and the roles of lawyers, courts, and legislatures in conflict resolution. The book has student-centered, approachable design, and it tackles diverse topics in civil procedure, torts, and criminal law. Of particular note is Chapter Two's Anatomy of a Legal Dispute, which shows students how a simple car crash case progresses through the court system (including hypothetical direct- and cross-examinations), and which illustrates the ways in which even seemingly simple cases may raise complex jurisdiction and judgment collection issues, among other issues of litigation strategy. Other chapters introduce essential interpretive techniques and explore the role of judicial restraint, giving students a broader lens on legal reasoning. The Seventh Edition offers updated advice for students beginning their legal studies and plug-and-play exercises to help faculty bring classroom discussion of precedent into today’s context.