Excellence WorkAT THE SUMMIT, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO
EXCELLENCE WORK
How the Law Works: Legal Careers
0/15STARS
0/15 stars lit
How American law really works, with court papers and citations you tap: the four sources of law and precedent, landmark dates from the 1787 Constitution to Gideon v. Wainwright, 94 trial courts and 13 courts of appeals, federal or state court and the $75,000 diversity rule, how four justices pick a case, civil and criminal burdens of proof, a lawsuit and a prosecution stage by stage with their deadlines and juries, a complaint's caption, case and statute citations, contracts from offer to acceptance, confidentiality and the line paralegals can't cross, and lawyer and paralegal careers with BLS pay and outlook.
3h 11m5 constellations
01Name the four sources of U.S. law and explain precedent
02Map federal and state courts and say which one hears a case
03Walk a civil and a criminal case through every stage and deadline
04Read a complaint's caption and a case citation, and test a contract
05Know what paralegals and lawyers do, what they earn and where the line is
Every lesson of How the Law Works: Legal Careers
15 lessons in 5 levels, about 3 hours. Level 1 is free.
Level 1Where Law Comes FromFree · 3 lessons
- Four Sources of American LawName the four sources of law, who makes each one, and which wins when they conflict.12 min
- Precedent: Old Cases Decide New OnesTell binding from persuasive precedent, and explain judicial review.12 min
- Checkpoint: Landmarks of American LawPlace the founding texts and landmark decisions in time, and say what each one changed.13 min
Level 2The Court SystemMembership · 3 lessons
- Federal Courts, Level by LevelKnow the three levels of federal courts, how many there are, and what each one does.12 min
- Federal or State Court?Decide which court system hears a case, including when a state-law case can go federal.13 min
- Checkpoint: How a Case Reaches the Supreme CourtFollow a case from trial to the Supreme Court, and know how the Court picks and decides cases.13 min
Level 3Civil and Criminal CasesMembership · 3 lessons
- Civil or Criminal?Tell a civil case from a criminal one by who brings it, the burden of proof and what's at stake.12 min
- A Lawsuit, Step by StepPut the stages of a federal civil case in order and count its key deadlines.13 min
- Checkpoint: A Criminal Case, Step by StepFollow a federal criminal case from indictment to appeal, with its juries, pleas and burden of proof.14 min
Level 4Papers, Research and ContractsMembership · 3 lessons
- Reading a Court DocumentFind the parts of a complaint's caption and body that Rules 8 and 10 require.12 min
- Legal Research and CitationsStart research in the right place, and read case, statute and regulation citations.12 min
- Checkpoint: Contracts, From Offer to AcceptanceSpot the moment a contract forms, and test a deal for its four elements.13 min
Level 5Ethics and CareersMembership · 3 lessons
- Confidentiality and the Line Paralegals Can't CrossKeep client information confidential, and recognize the legal advice only a lawyer can give.13 min
- Lawyer or Paralegal: Training, Pay and OutlookCompare the two careers' training, licensing, pay and job outlook, with BLS numbers.13 min
- Final Test: Follow One CaseUse the whole path on one case, from the first phone call to the appeal.14 min
AFTER THE CORE