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Law General

Legal Literacy

An Introduction to Legal Studies

by (author) Archie Zariski

Publisher
Athabasca University Press
Initial publish date
Oct 2014
Category
General, State, Provincial & Municipal, General
  • Paperback / softback

    ISBN
    9781927356449
    Publish Date
    May 2014
    List Price
    $19.95
  • eBook

    ISBN
    9781927356463
    Publish Date
    Oct 2014
    List Price
    $24.99

Classroom Resources

Where to buy it

Description

To understand how the legal system works, students must consider the law in terms of its structures, processes, language, and modes of thought and argument—in short, they must become literate in the field. Legal Literacy fulfills this aim by providing a foundational understanding of key concepts such as legal personhood, jurisdiction, and precedent, and by introducing students to legal research and writing skills. Examples of cases, statutes, and other legal materials support these concepts.

While Legal Literacy is an introductory text, it also challenges students to consider critically the system they are studying. Touching on significant socio-legal issues such as access to justice, legal jargon, and plain language, Zariski critiques common legal traditions and practices, and analyzes what it means “to think like a lawyer.” As such, the text provides a sound basis for those who wish to pursue further studies in law or legal studies as well as those seeking a better understanding of how the legal field relates to the society that it serves.

About the author

A former litigator in Edmonton, Alberta, Archie Zariski has been teaching law and legal studies since 1991, including classes on mediation, alternative dispute resolution (ADR), evidence, and Legal Literacy. He is co-editor of The Multi-Tasking Judge: Comparative Judicial Dispute Resolution (Thomson Reuters).

Archie Zariski's profile page