Introduction to Paralegalism: Perspectives, Problems and Skills

Master the hands-on skills you'll need to succeed in a modern law office with INTRODUCTION TO PARALEGALISM, 8e. Ten critical skills are covered in the book: identifying legal issues, breaking rules into elements,applying rules to facts interviewing clients, investigating facts, digesting discovery documents, providing litigation assistance, researching the law, drafting documents, and representing clients at administrative agencies where authorized by law.Packed with real-life insights and real-world examples,the text helps you understand the ethical guidelines that lawyers and paralegals must follow and covers the efforts underway to regulate the profession in legislatures, courts, bar associations, and paralegal associations.

Table of Contents:
1. Introduction to a New Career in Law. 2. Paralegal Employment. 3. On-the-Job Realities: Assertiveness Training for Paralegals. 4. The Regulation of Paralegals. 5. Attorney Ethics and Paralegal Ethics. 6. Introduction to the Legal System. 7. Introduction to Legal Analysis. 8. Legal Interviewing. 9. Investigation in a Law Office. 10. Litigation Assistantship. 11. Legal Research. 12. Legal Writing. 13. An Introduction to the Use of Computers in a Law Office. 14. Introduction to Law Office Administration. 15. Informal and Administrative Advocacy. Appendices. Glossary.

About the Author :
William Statsky has been is a member of the ethics committee and the advisory council for the National Federation of Paralegal Associations and a member of the Certifying Board of the National Association of Legal Assistants. He has taught at Columbia Law School, UCLA School of Law, Antioch School of Law and Thomas Edison State College and is the author of numerous groundbreaking legal textbooks for paralegals. He was a member of the transition team for then-President-Elect Ronald Reagan. Mr. Statsky holds a master of law degree (LL.M.) in urban affairs as well as a juris doctorate degree (J.D.).

Review :
"Statsky's text provides essential vocabulary, but focuses more on understanding concepts behind the vocabulary and learning critical-thinking skills. Statsky also provides a lesser, more appropriate, level of information about a much broader range of legal specialties than Currier & Eimermann. Statsky's tone is much more readable and encourages learning over memorizing. The "'Assignments"' are fantastic and can be easily be developed further by instructors. Examples are numerous and make the material much easier to understand. I love the emphasis on practical skills and the paralegal's role in everything." "There is excellent balance of theoretical and practical content. The textbook I used did not have enough practical content and that was the reason I stopped using it. This book is an excellent reference resource in addition to being an excellent textbook. The appendixes are awesome, especially appendix B (Paralegal Associations, Bar Associations that Allow Paralegal Membership, and Related Organizations)which is an excellent reference tool for paralegal students. I emphasize legal research and legal writing in all four of my classes, and the research and writing sections of this book are excellent. It is challenging to teach the skills of legal research and writing to my web students because I cannot take them to the university law library, as I do with my traditional classroom students. This book's sections on legal research and writing are so well organized easy to understand that even distance-learning students can use it to independently practice those skill sets. Each chapter summary really captures the most important aspects of the preceding chapter, and the review questions at the end of each chapter further focuses the reader with regard to the most important chapter content. The exhibits are also awesome - especially exhibit 2.3 (General Observations about Paralegal Work in Different Kinds of Law Offices)."