Law school is different from other graduate schools. Students will be confronted by an entirely new vocabulary and unique and demanding educational methods. This book is designed to give these students a head start, both by introducing them to the fundamentals of the legal process and by helping them acquire the study skills necessary for success.

The first chapters introduce students to the stages of a lawsuit from the lawyer's initial contact with a client through the filing an appeal. The next chapters include cases that illustrate the different roles the trial court, jury, appellate court, and court of last resort play in a lawsuit, knowledge helpful in doctrinal courses, but crucial in legal writing assignments. The final chapters suggest how students can effectively read and analyze cases, outline, and apply what they have learned on exams and in legal writing assignments.

The third edition includes an expanded chapter on note-taking and outlining and how legal writing and doctrinal course demand different approaches to each. More study questions are included with answers to be found in the appendix. This book is the perfect tool for pre-law students to read on their own or for law school orientation required reading.