| If there is only one legal book that you wish to buy, let it be this one. Or if you are looking to buy your first legal book, this is the best choice. The reason is that this book contains information on the law in a great many areas of everyday life - houses, neighbors, landlords and tenants, workplace rights, small businesses, patents, wills and estate planning, parents and children, etc. There are also two valuable chapters on courts and criminal law. These two chapters have information on how to represent yourself in court, how to deal with your lawyer, and what to do in case of an arrest or search. Every single topic I researched on my own from 'What does renter's insurance cover?' to 'Do I need a lawyer to make my will?', I found that this book has the most comprehensive information on the topic than anywhere else I looked. I have now formed a system where I always consult this book first and then go to the specific Nolo book on the topic for very detailed information if needed. I have over 30 Nolo guides and I feel so much more confident about my understanding of the law as a result of reading these books. I think my lawyer also appreciates it as she finds it easy to work with me on the various legal issues in my business. The Nolo guides typically look pricey (compared to other books) but really aren't when you consider the wealth of information provided and the depth of topics covered along with the plain English explanations. My two favorite chapters in this book are the last two chapters - Courts and Mediation AND Criminal Law and Procedure. I had always been interested in HOW the law is actually implemented and these two chapters gave me a good start in gaining this understanding. I also thoroughly enjoyed the three chapters on Patents, Copyrights, and Trademarks. I especially like the explanation on how to enforce a patent and how to enforce a trademark. Each chapter has many reference links at the end of the chapter where you can check those out for more detailed information or verify the information presented from the original sources. There is a glossary at the end of the book that is short but helpful in explaining hundreds of legal terms and there is an appendix on how to do legal research. This 10 page section on legal research is PACKED with information. This alone saved me hours of research on HOW to do legal research! This book is great for both individuals and small businesses. I hope you enjoy reading this book as much I did! Good luck! |
