Book Description

Mallor, Barnes, Bowers and Langvardt’s, Business Law: The Ethical, Global, and E-Commerce Environment, 12th Edition, is appropriate for the two-term business law course. The cases in the 12th edition are excerpted and edited by the authors.The syntax is not altered, therefore retaining the language of the courts.As in the 11th edition, the 12th edition includes a mix of actual AND hypothetical cases.The title has been changed to reflect a new focus of the book – the global and Internet environment.Business Law: The Ethical, Global, and E-Commerce Environment, 12e includes new pedagogy such as opening vignettes and new-boxed features such as “Ethics in Action” and “Cyberlaw in Action.”This combined with case briefs and concept reviews, along with some reorganization of the text results in a more complete, relevant and user-friendly text. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Not reader friendly, not study friendly, not friendly....
I understand Jane Mallor to be top in her field. But since this book is geared toward a non-law student - a business student, I give this book a 1, and a zero if I had the chance.

This book - textually speaking - is so poorly arranged. Key terms are imbedded in the text, there's no review at the end of the chapters, it's written in terrible legal-ease. "Down to earth" (non lawyer legal-ease) examples are difficult to come by, since most of the examples are actual cases that go on for pages (and they're "briefs"). To compound the matter, I spent $$$ on the study "guide" because the book is so unfriendly for studying. And guess what? The study guide has NO ANSWERS! What kind of a guide is that? How does that guide you? If you want it to be an "additional exercises" book, then call it that. But STUDY GUIDES ALWAYS have the answers. I hope your Prof. is better than the book they assign. "Business Law Today" is worlds better and easier to read and study, and better outlined and formatted for the "lay" person. ... Read more

Book Description

This comprehensive legal environment text takes a managerial focus with many business-oriented features that present cutting-edge issues and cases.To illustrate key legal concepts, this text utilizes both summarized and excerpted cases. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

not worth it
There are many better books out there that are easier to follow and comprehend if you are not a law student. Not impressive.

Indispensable for Execs, Mgrs, Invest. Pros, Mgmt Consultant
For the benefit of all the people who cannot take her course, Prof. Connie Bagley has written this book that has the same title as her course (she teaches a quarter each at the Stanford and Harvard Business Schools). It is an extremely very well thought out and well written book. Throughout the book Prof. Bagley has kept in mind the reader's background and organized and written content in a way that will be of maximum benefit to the reader.

This book is one of the best investments that any person can make. While almost everyone will benefit from this book, I feel this book will be indispensable to the following readers: 1. Any person in a Business Administration/Management role, especially Executives and Managers in large corporations, Investment Professionals and Management Consultants. 2. Professionals associated with legal matters who want a refresher and a quick reference book that covers key aspects of all the important laws. 3. Any person who wants to gain a knowledge of the legal environment, especially the environment in which business is conducted.

Unlike a law book intended for specialist lawyers, this book is readable by people who are not lawyers. After reading this book or using it as a reference one can get a good understanding of the legal process (how the entire legal system works) and several important areas of law such as Contracts, Torts, Product Liability, Intellectual Property, Labor, Environmental, Antitrust, Real Estate, Consumer protection, Securities, and International Business. The legal topics discussed are on the leading edge of business regulation. They include the World Trade Organization, employer liability for sexual harassment, compensation and liability act, and HIV in the workplace.

In keeping with the Internet age, Prof. Bagley analyzes the implications of the Internet and Information Technology to several laws (such as copyright law in the cyberspace), and also gives several Internet sources for the reader to conduct further research.

It is remarkable that the book covers each of the topics perfectly to the extent required - nothing more and nothing less. The book has around 1050 pages and the time invested in each page is worth the rewards.

As Prof. Bagley says, the purpose of the book is to provide you a good understanding of the legal system, how the laws work, removal of any fear of laws, how to avoid legal mistakes, how to protect yourself, when to take what legal action and, most importantly, make you smart enough to know when to go to your lawyer. You cannot expect to practice law after reading this book but you definitely will know when to seek legal help, and how to communicate effectively with your legal advisors.

Prof. Bagley has also written another book "The Entrepreneur's Guide to Business Law". If only every entrepreneur read this book before starting out, the number of failures caused by legal blunders will be close to zero.

Both her books are extremely very well thought out and well written. I was fortunate to get into Prof. Connie Bagley's high demand "Managers and the Legal Environment" course at Stanford Graduate School of Business. The course is an absolute gem of a course. While this course is a high demand course, her other course "Legal Challenges in Entrepreneurship" is usually multiply over subscribed with around 150 students wanting to get into a class of 66! Prof. Bagley is a wonderful teacher and an amazing person. Her class was a wonderful learning experience for me and I thank her for that. I'm sure that after reading the book you too will thank her for having written this book.

Great overview of main legal issues for managers
This book is amongst others used at the Stanford MBA course as an introduction to legal issues that may arise for managers in a variety of business situations. It is comprehensive and is well illustrated with landmark case studies and relevant hypotheticals. Constance Bagley takes out most of the cumbersome legalistic language and makes the complexities of US corporate and civil law understandable. ... Read more

Book Description

This complete introduction to law places emphasis on ethics and international issues, showing readers how to engage in ethical, analytical reasoning with every topic from legal fundamentals to areas of substantive law. The features of this book encourage readers to apply critical thinking, organizational and summation skills, and legal research tools to solve specific legal problems. The American court system, criminal law and ethics, contracts and E-Commerce, family law, real and personal property, agency, employment, and equal opportunity law, intellectual property and internet law, and administrative law, consumer, investor, and environmental protection. For paralegals, legal assistants, lawyers, and all legal professionals. ... Read more

Book Description

This text provides a concise explanation of the statutory and case law that affects business with the objective of enabling students to use the law as a source for business decision-making. Excellent preparation for CPA exams and numerous critical thinking features are particular strengths of this text. This sixth edition continues the tradition of authoritative, accurate, and up-to-date presentation of the law. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Good book, but AMZN's price is high
You can get the book at much cheaper price from elsewhere including book stores.

Barnes and Nobles.com sells it only for $72.50.

Check it out. do not buy from AMZN. They are cheaters. ... Read more

Book Description

Whether you're an independent contractor, freelancer, or consultant, it all adds up to the same thing: you need to be more aware of laws and taxes than the average person.

Fortunately, Working for Yourself provides all the information you need to stay on top of it all. An independent contractor himself, author Attorney Stephen Fishman shows you everything you need to know to:

*meet business start-up requirements *set up home or outside offices *comply with strict IRS rules *establish sound business relationships *avoid unfair contracts *draft good agreements *get paid in full and on time

The 5th edition now provides information on leasing space for work, Health Savings Accounts and solo 401(k) plans. It also examines how to choose a business name, deal with audits, take a home office deduction -- and much more. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Straighforward intro to the legal aspects of freelancing
A potential employer asked that I incorporate my freelancing business before they start sending me jobs. I wanted to do some research on the pros/cons of incorporating, what kind of start-ups costs this would entail, and what kind of corporation I should be. At first, the whole process of incorporating sounded like a huge money burden on my part--with filing fees and taxes--but this book has helped me sort out the issues and provided detailed information about the different ways to incorporate--sole proprietorship, LLC, S-corps. Although I haven't yet decided which path I will take, this book has made the jump to freelancing, and self-incorporating, less scary.

Not only do I understand my choices better, but I also now understand the different structures for businesses and their tax responsibilities. Great distillation of information! The copies of tax forms in the back are also a great reference. Highly recommended.

!
I have been a consultant for 5 years. This book has proved an excellent reference in working with clients to keep my independant contractor status.

I bought the ebook version, 1st time getting a protected .pdf file. Conclusion in that regard, I would *never* buy a ebook version of anything again!

Excellent Book For Understanding Contractor/Freelancer Taxes
"Working For Yourself" is a solid introduction to the basic taxes and laws that consultants and feelancers need to understand. The book doesn't cover inventory accounting, cogs, and other accounting/tax topics related to running a product-based business.

"Working For Yourself" discusses basic business structure, including sole proprietorships, LLCs, and corporations. Fishman points out that S-corporations offer an advantage over LLCs and sole proprietorships, if the consultant wants to save some money in self-employment taxes. This is because all net earnings from LLCs and sole proprietorships (up to a wage base of about $85,000) are subject to self-employment taxation. An S-corporation allows part of this money to be paid out as dividends, which aren't subject to employment taxes.

Fishman says corporations don't offer consultants and freelancers as much liability protection as is commonly believed, because the individual is also the one rendering the personal service. And, most lenders to a small corporation will want a personal guarantee that debt will be paid (unless the corporation is well-financed).

Professionals rendering certain services can form business structures unique to professional businesses, such as the RLLP, or registered limited liability partnerships. Clients can always sue certain professionals for malpractice, regardless of their business structure. But, a professional working with a partner shouldn't be unduly subject to suits against the partner for malpractice. These business structures are mentioned, but not covered in detail.

"Working For Yourself" covers these topics very well:

- Self-Employment Taxes
- Paying Estimated Taxes (And Calculating How Much To Pay)
- Dealing with Independent Contractors and 1099-MISC Forms
- Understanding/Drafting Client Agreements
- Insurance
- Worker's Compensation Insurance
- Understanding Who Owns What Rights When An Independent Contractor Creates Intellectual Capital For A Client
- Recordkeeping And Knowing What Documents to Save In Case Of An Audit

Incidentally, Fishman says sole proprietors are one of the most heavily audited business structures. He says this happens because many people claim to operate businesses to get tax deductions, even if they aren't really trying to make money.

Fishman discusses the "hobby loss" rule and how unprofitable businesses can be denied deductions after three consecutive years of losses. However, Fishman points out that if you can show that you really are trying to make money, losses in excess of the typical three years can be allowed.

For example, Fishman discusses Donald, a "golf pro," who the IRS challenged was engaging in a hobby. Donald had lots of deductible net losses. The tax court decided that even though Donald had many years of losses, he really was trying his best to win tournaments and make money. He just sucked at it. And, the losses were allowed.

Other topics are covered more superficially, but the reader is introduced to the basic concepts. Intellectual capital, such as patents, copyrights, and trademarks are touched upon. Also, hiring employees is very briefly discussed. (Fishman is also the author of a book about copyright that sounds really good.)

One section discusses naming your company and the importance of a good name. We're told the French company that decided to market their soft drink Pischitt in the U.S. had to rename it.

"Working For Yourself" has a great discussion showing how much various expenses reduce your income taxes (basically, multiply the expense by your incremental income tax bracket). The book also does a good job showing the kinds of logs you need to keep if you use an item for business and for pleasure.

But, I found one piece of advice that seems a bit silly. Fishman writes: "To avoid having to keep such records, try to use items either only for business or only for personal use. For example, if you can afford it, purchase two computers and use one solely for your business and one for playing games and other personal uses."

It seems you'd be better off just buying one computer and not claiming any deductions for it at all, rather than buying an extra computer you don't need. Suppose a computer costs $1,000. That's how much you spend to purchase your personal PC. If you purchase a business PC for $1,000 also and you're in a net 30% incremental income tax bracket, you save $300 in taxes. Your total cost for both computers, after the business deduction, is $1,700, which is still more than $1,000 for the single PC, if no deductions are claimed. This seems a bit akin to people who don't want to pay off their mortgage because they want to get the tax deduction. Sure, you save some money in taxes, but you pay a larger amount overall in interest.

"Working For Yourself" also includes a good discussion about car expense deductions and travel and entertainment deductions, which many consultants have.

Overall, "Working For Yourself" is a great book for freelancers and independent consultants who want to learn about the basic recordkeeping, taxation, and legal issues of running such a company.

Peter Hupalo, Author of "How To Start And Run Your Own Corporation: S-Corporations For Small Business Owners"

Great for Software Contractors
I am a software contractor looking at incorporating. I had looked at LLC options, but some clients require incorporating, so that was ruled out. My best route seemed to be S-Corp. This book answered most of my questions. The "Incorporating Your Business, for Dummies" was pretty good, but not as good as this book. This book has a lot of details and laid some of my worries to rest. It will also save money with your professional team (attorney, accountant) by answering simple, but essential, questions. Definitely worth the money.

superb
if you're even thinking of doing your own taxes; or wondering whether or not to incorporate; or just need some standard contracts; BUY THIS BOOK.

If you already have a great lawyer and a great accountant, than this book is probably redundant. ... Read more

Book Description

Good writing wins court cases. Now, one of America's most sought-after experts on legal writing offers a tested guide to preparing successful briefs - the written arguments lawyers present to judges and juries.

In 100 concise, practical, easy-to-use sections, Bryan A. Garner goes step by step through the art of effective legal writing. He covers it all - from the rules for planning and organizing a brief to openers that can capture a judge's attention from the first few words. "Never write a sentence that you couldn't easily speak," Garner warns - and he shows how to do that. He gives masterly advice on building sound paragraphs, drafting crisp sentences, choosing the best words ("Strike pursuant to from your vocabulary."), quoting authority, citing sources, and designing a document that looks as impressive as it reads. Throughout, he shows how to edit for maximal impact, using vivid before-and-after examples that apply the basics of rhetoric to persuasive writing. Filled with examples of good and bad writing from actual briefs filed in courts of all types, the book also covers the new appellate rules for preparing federal briefs.

An invaluable resource for attorneys, law clerks, judges, paralegals, and law students and their teachers, The Winning Brief has the qualities that make Garner's book so successful: authority, accessibility, and page after page of tips and techniques that work. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Outstanding, but also see Common Sense Rules of Advocacy
ALL of Garner's books are excellent, but lawyers who want to be more persuasive should also get a practical book on trial advocacy, "Common Sense Rules of Advocacy for Lawyers" (also a wonderful book for 3Ls and new lawyers who want to learn how to be effective advocates). The author, Keith Evans, practiced as a British barrister for a decade and as a California trial lawyer for many years. He also lectured regularly to many American Inns of Court.

However, be warned: Common Sense Rules of Advocacy is NOT a book for litigators, but for advocates.

What others have said about Evans book:

"Valuable review for the old timers and an excellent primer for those who are starting the climb."
-- Jacob A. Stein, Stein, Mitchell & Mezines, Washington, DC

"Superb how-to book ...that is refreshingly readable."
-- Karl Tegland, author, "Courtroom Handbook on Washington Evidence"

"A wonderful 'Bible' for the trial lawyer who wants to win. If only we had had this in law school!"
-- Browne Greene, Greene, Broillet, Panish & Wheeler, Santa Monica, CA

"Even the most experienced trial lawyer can pick up some new techniques here."
-- Frederick C. Moss, Professor, Dedman School of Law, Southern Methodist University

"Valuable insights and practical lessons for anyone who advocates for a living."
-- Steve Clymer, J.D., mediator, arbitrator, and facilitator with ACCORD Dispute Resolution Services, Inc.

"Remarkable compendium of useful advice."
-- Roxanne Barton Conlin, Roxanne Conlin & Associates, Des Moines, IA (first woman President of Association of Trial Lawyers of America)

"Great introduction for the new lawyer and a wonderful learning tool for the advocate with experience."
-- Sherman L. Cohn, Professor, Georgetown University Law Center (first national President of American Inns of Court)

"Terrific guidebook."
-- Philip H. Corboy, Corboy & Demetrio, Chicago, IL

You can see more testimonials and more information about Evans' book on Amazon - search for ISBN 1587330059.

The Bible (one of them) for legal writing
I'm a former paralegal currently in law school, and one of the more difficult things about dealing with the law is making your writing sparkle... in the most succinct way possible. This book can help. With countless examples and snippets of wisdom culled from top legal minds, Bryan Garner has put together a fantastic resource. He takes the reader through the entire process of writing to the court, from brainstorming to the million (or 100, at least) ways to polish a document.

This isn't a book that rehashes writing tips you'll find in more general guides--it is specifically geared toward the delicate craft of legal writing. Admittedly, this is a somewhat pricey tome, but it's worth every penny.

An excellent handbook on legal writing.
This volume is by far the best work available on legal writing. Most of Prof. Garner's advice applies not merely to briefs but to memos, letters, and other persuasive or analytical forms. His chapters take you through every step of writing, from the earliest, painful efforts to collect your thoughts, through outlining, issue-framing, structuring an argument, and finally the specifics of sentence structure, word choice, and punctuation. Unlike many writing manuals, this book places emphasis where it is really needed: not on mechanics, but on the large structural tasks that can make or break a project. While some of Prof. Garner's formatting suggestions may not be acceptable in many jurisdictions, his more general advice -- the real reason for buying this book -- will be helpful everywhere.

Better brief writing and more
Bryan A. Garner, editor-in-chief for the latest edition of Black's Law Dictionary, is one of America's foremost proponents of the "plain English" movement in the law. In The Winning Brief, Mr. Garner distills the principles found in his seminars and his other books (such as The Elements of Legal Style) and channels them toward one goal: helping the reader write better legal briefs.

The Winning Brief presents its advice in the form of 100 tips, each followed by quotations, commentary, and examples. The tips follow the chronological order of a writing project, from initial brainstorming to proofreading. The tips are listed inside the front and rear covers for quick reference.

Mr. Garner's advice has contributed directly to my practice. I have applied his advice in writing four summary judgment motions; two were granted, while the other two led to favorable settlements for my clients.

The reader is sure to find at least one or two tips that can be applied immediately to a current writing project. Not only that, but Mr. Garner's advice can be applied to other non-fiction writing projects. In sum, I heartily recommend this book to all attorneys who hope to be more persuasive in their writing.

This book is especially apt for "seasoned" brief writers
One misses the point of Mr. Garner's book if they think this is another treatise on brief writing. Mr. Garner's approach, though commonsensical, is sorely needed in the legal world. So many briefs are too long, too boring, and too obtuse to be of any use. Granted one need not follow all of Mr. Garner's tips, such as footnotes, but if you follow most of them, you will end up with a brief that is not a chore to read, succinctly informs the judge of the issue and why she should rule in your favor. This book is definitely for people who think they already know how to write a brief, and who don't need any book to help them do so (and who also most likely churn out boring, difficult to read briefs). There is a world of difference between a typical brief and the type that Mr. Garner envisions. By the way, anyone who has not taken Mr. Garner's course should. He is one of the best public speakers and teachers you will ever encounter. ... Read more

Book Description

For over 20 years, Law for Business has gone well beyond merely identifying the current legal rules and regulations affecting business by offering insights into new developments and trends that will affect the future of business. It has provided students with a comprehensive, yet concise treatment of the legal issues of fundamental importance to business students and the business profession. The cases, which have always been a strong feature, are edited and re-written by the authors, who divide the material into three categories: facts, issues, decisions. The authors, Barnes, Dworkin, and Richards, choose cases that are appropriate to explain precedent and history as well as include hot topic cases that relate to current events. In addition to case applications, the authors use such techniques as content summaries to apply concepts to practice. Effective managers and employees must develop knowledge of both law and business because people involved in business also are involved in, and greatly affected by, the laws concerning business. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

well organized
i took this class, the cases used and presneted and done so in an informative manner, i learned a lot just by reading the text

Good overview of business law
I realize that many of you buying this book won't have a choice about it--it's probably required for a class you are taking and don't much care how good or bad the book it because you need it regardless. However, for those of you who do have a choice:

This textbook has 9 Parts (Intro to law, Contracts, Sales, Agency and Employment, Business Organizations, Property, Commerial Paper, Credit Transactions, Government Regulation) with a total of 48 chapters.

The format of the book, along with the firgures and tables, makes the book easy to read. When applicable, there is a case relating the law described to a real-world situation or a box with ethical considerations and questions. Additionally, the problems at the end of each chapter explore the issues and make students think of both sides of the arguement.

However, in certain areas when describing the law, the text can be vague. The authors could do better making it clear when and how a law is applicable. There are many times when doing the problems where I would look up the case or the issues involved online to get a complete picture.

Overall, a good textbook, especially with supplemental material to be given during lecture.

Current, Thorough, and User-Friendly
In my opinion, this is the finest business law textbook on the market. It contains well-edited cases for discussion, cogent analysis of policy and legal history, and easy-to-read flowcharts that help students go through the legal reasoning steps.

It is extremely user friendly to both the lay student and instructor. In addition to the core contract law chapters, it contains chapters summarizing all the main substantive areas of law (and even contains a chapter on the new field of Cyberlaw).

The supporting instructor materials and test bank are excellent. I highly recommend this text. It is well worth the price.

The authors are professors from the Indiana University School of Business, one of the top 5 business schools in the world. ... Read more

Book Description

This text is a concise guide to employment-discrimination and related laws especially designed for management students. The information contained raises awareness of the issues in the work place and enables future business managers to provide informed leadership necessary for a discrimination- and harassment-free work place. ... Read more

Book Description

How To Start And Run Your Own Corporation: S-Corporations For Small Business Owners begins where many incorporation books leave off. Peter Hupalo, author of Thinking Like An Entrepreneur, teaches you the basics of corporate business structure. How To Start And Run Your Own Corporation: S-Corporations For Small Business Owners will help you understand:

* Which Business Structure Might Be Best For You
* How To Decide Between An S-Corporation And A LLC
* How To Choose Your State Of Incorporation
* How To Form Your Own Corporation
* S-Corporations
* Par Value And No Par Value Stock
* Issuing Shares
* Valuing A Small Business Corporation
* Financing A Corporation Through Equity And Loans
* Attracting Angel Investors For Your Corporation
* Shareholder S-Corporation Basis
* The Accumulated Adjustments Account (AAA) And Schedule M-2
* Filling Out The 1120S Corporate Income Tax Return
* Special Issues For One-Person Corporations
* The Role of Bylaws And Corporate Minutes
* The Role of Directors And Officers
* Withdrawing Money From Your Corporation
* Social Security/Unemployment Insurance On Officer Salaries
* Workers' Compensation Issues For Officers
* Fringe Benefits And Employment Issues
* Qualified Retirement Plans, SIMPLE-IRA, SEP-IRA
* The One-Person 401(k) Retirement Plan
* How To Determine If Your Retirement Plan Is Safe From Bankruptcy
* How To Minimize Your Taxes
* The Tax Difference Between Pretax Purchases And After-Tax Purchases
* How To Prevent Your Corporate Shield From Being Pierced ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Buy it with pre-tax dollars!
This is a great read for anybody considering incorporation or investing in an existing business. The author employs dozens of examples to illustrate the key decisions involved in choosing a business structure and how to manage it. Potential downside is given equal weight with potential savings, and often neglected issues affecting minority shareholders like "dilution" and "freeze out" are given a fair hearing.

The section on pre-tax vs. post tax purchases was particularly well illustrated. Find out why a $0.37 stamp may cost you $0.25 when you buy it through your business and $0.56 when you steal it from your personal stationary drawer. The author's conservative approach to accounting was refreshing in a world of books that profess to tell you how to beat the IRS. The strategies for maximizing shareholder income in this book are based on solid, legitimate planning.

The only fault I found with the book is that the number of examples led the author to be a little too imaginative with made-up business names. However, that wasn't enough to stop me from reading it from cover to cover in less than 24 hours.

A solid, accurate, informed and informative primer
How To Start And Run Your Own Corporation: S-Corporations For Small Business Owners by experienced entrepreneur Peter I. Hupalo is a straightforward, "user friendly", instructional and resource guide covering everything from choosing the most appropriate business structure; to issuing shares of stock to attracting investors; to the role of bylaws; to minimizing taxes; and much, much more. How To Start And Run Your Own Corporation is a solid, accurate, informed and informative primer which is especially recommended for anyone looking to quickly pick up the basics and put themselves into business. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Thanks to TV cop shows, most Americans can probably recite the Miranda warnings, but do they know when the warnings do--and do not--apply? Tort reformers cite the $2.7 million in punitive damages a jury awarded a little old lady in Albuquerque when the cup of coffee she had set between her legs spilled and scalded her. These crusaders against "excessive" damage awards do not usually note that the trial judge reduced the award to $480,000, or that the coffee was 20 degrees hotter than competitors' coffee.

The law is all around. People continually invoke their rights, and every year millions of Americans are involved in formal legal proceedings. Yet most people are ignorant of even the basic concepts and organizing principles of U.S. law. Into the breach comes Jay Feinman's engrossing book Law 101: Everything You Need to Know About the American Legal System. Akin to a crash course in the first year of law school, Law 101 is a clearly written, eminently readable guide to the tenets of our legal system. It is structured around basic questions such as "If a contract is unfair, can a court refuse to enforce it?" and replete with clarifying examples--real and hypothetical. In explaining battery, Feinman writes: "If someone consents to a certain bodily invasion, he does not necessarily consent to any bodily invasion, however. When Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield are in a boxing match, Holyfield has consented to Tyson punching him in the nose ... but he has not consented to Tyson biting off a piece of his ear." Much clearer.

Law 101 won't instruct you on how to write your will or get divorced, but it will educate you at a more systematic level. It is also a great read. --J.R. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Every American should read this book
I heard about this book on a web page about good books to read prior to law school. I just finished reading it yesterday, and I am very impressed. The author writes in such a way that any reader can acquire a basic understanding of our legal system. He explores the foundational areas of our body of laws, and he describes both sides of hotly debated issues such as abortion and the death penalty. Most of all, the author emphasizes that the law is not something that ordinary people cannot understand. It is not just for lawyers, judges, and politicians. Rather, the law is determined by the way we shape our society, and it starts from the ground up.

A Great Intro to the Basics - and a fun read!
I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about the basics of law but does not want to read through tedious, mind-numbing text. This book covers a lot of ground (basically all of the main doctrines of US law) and is entertaining at the same time due to the author's clear / concise narrative and numerous examples.

From the beginning, Feinman explains that "law is not in the law books" but that law "lives in conduct; it exists in the interactions of judges, lawyers and ordinary citizens". Law is how we interpret it to be at a given time - it is in and of the people. From this and other insights, Feinman has helped me gain a greater appreciation for the US legal system as well as making me a more legal savvy citizen. In this day and age this is important - at one time or another we will all have to consult a lawyer for something.

Understand the law, but not how to write a will
Although I do not regret my decision, after deferring entry to law school for three years, to finally choose another vocation, I maintain a strong interest in legal philosophy and history, and comparative and international law. For me, Jay Feinman's book was an especially delightful find on the law section of a general bookstore. Few jurists, other than those like Alan Dershowitz and Richard Posner, seem to communicate clearly and effectively in non-specialist books which can satisfy curiosity outside of immediate needs such as writing wills or understanding consumer rights.

The claim of this book to provide "everything" you need to know about American law is undoubtedly exagerrated. This being said, Feinman provides a clear, thoughtful, and insightful coverage of the essentials of all that is covered in the first-year curriculum of a first-year U.S. law school program without the pain of wading through extensive case material - contracts, criminal law, torts, property, constitutional law, and legal procedure.

The strength of this book lies in its emphasis on the open nature of many legal issues -- where there are no straightforward answers. I especially enjoyed, in the section on constitutional law, the superb discussion of the scope of the justiciability doctrine which eshews intrusion of courts into the authority of other branches of government. But what exactly constitues a nonjusticiable political question which the courts should not decide?

An extract from the author's section on civil procedure underscores his invitation to the reader to avoid thinking about the law as cut and dried subject matter and process: "The lesson from all of this is that clear, rigid legal rules are often not what they appear to be. They either produce injustice as they are applied in varying fact situations, or they demand interpretations and exceptions - yet interpretations and exceptions cause complexity and uncertainty. Broad, flexible legal rules, on the other hand, give the courts great discretion, and discretion produces conflicting decisions and uncertain rules, which is another form of complexity and injustice."

The last one and a half pages are a tour de force in clarity and simplicity for those seeking to appreciate legal reasoning. It identifies a limited set of questions which can be applied to any layman's encounter with legal issues in newspapers or eleswhere, and give him some sense of what lawyers and judges have to do.

Readers show be aware that this book, while a good introduction to the frame of mind of a U.S. jurist, is not intended to be a comprehensive introduction to the U.S. legal system.

A Pre-law student must
I was advised to read this book before I enter law school in the fall, and I'm glad I did. I knew little about torts, contracts, and all other aspects of introductory law before this book (I still know little, but know more than before). Feinman writes well and easy to understand. He explains the concepts and theories behind the law and fills almost every page with real life examples from previous cases. This is an excellent read even for those not going to law school. The laws and theories governing our everyday lives are contained in simple format here in this book. You can't afford not to read this book.

Excellent intro to the law
I'm not an attorney, nor do I plan to attend law school. Nevertheless, this book is a sophisticated, but highly readable introduction to the law. Executives from all industries who need a legal primer should start here. ... Read more

Book Description

Small business owners are regularly confronted by a bewildering array of legal questions and problems. Ignoring them can lead to disaster -- but with lawyers typically charging $150-$250 an hour, calling one to answer routine legal questions can be a fast track to the poorhouse.

Fortunately, you have a better alternative. Legal Guide for Starting & Running a Small Business clearly explains the practical and legal information you need to:

*raise start-up money
*choose between a sole proprietorship, partnership or LLC
*get licenses and permits
*buy or sell a business or franchise
*negotiate a favorable lease
*insure your business
*hire independent contractors safely
*understand small business tax rules
*pick and protect a good name
*resolve legal disputes
*adopt the best customer policies
*enter into strong contracts
*cope with financial problems

The 7th edition provides the latest in law, business and taxes. It features all-new information on buying LLCs and franchises, plus expanded information on complying with ADA requirements and dealing with customers via the Internet. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Just what the doctor ordered!
Nolo's Legal Guide to Starting and Running a Small Business was exactly what I needed to help start my company off on the right foot. I don't have a very strong legal backround and would have been way over my head if I'd tried to forge ahead totally alone but at the same time I didn't want to spend a fortune consulting a lawyer. If you're in a similar situation then Nolo's Legal Guide is the perfect solution. It is well written, well organized, thorough, and very easy to use. It's a great general start-up kit that would be helpful to any fledgling business that I can think of. If I had had to call a lawyer to answer every legal question that arose in the first couple of months (a huge number) then my company may easily have never gotten off the ground. I was so pleased with this product that I have since purchased two more Nolo books (Tax Savvy for Small Business and The Employer's Legal Handbook) that are more directed at business owners who have gotten through the initial start-up phase. Both of these books are also excellent and I would recommend them as follow ups to the Legal Guide to Starting and Running a Small Business.

Complete Legal guide for STARTING a business.
There are several books in the market on how to incorporate your company based on the state. Even though there is an advantage to these books as you get state specific information for filing paperwork to incorporate, usually there isn't any other information in these books that you can use.

This Nolo guide on the other hand stays kind of generic in the sense that they don't spend too much time in how to fill out the incorporation forms and where to file. Instead, they give good information on every subject you would need to research when starting a small business.

The book starts off by explaining the different legal forms of corporate entities you can choose for your business and details each of these forms in the next three chapters. After this, there are more than 20 chapters devoted to almost any kind of situation you may encounter. For example - there is a chapter on Resolving Legal Disputes, a chapter on Small Business Contracts, a chapter on Home Based Business, etc. Some of the topics I had no prior knowledge of and gained tremendously from - Retail Pricing and Return Practices, Zoning Laws, Deducting Expenses for Business Use of Your Home, Workers' Compensation, Thirteen Common Sources of Money, and Strong and Weak Trademarks.

This is a good book to read when you are STARTING your own business. After that, you will probably need to research more into the topics that are relevant to your situation. Otherwise, there wouldn't be so many different legal guides that small businesses can use (from Nolo). Obviously, as your particular situation becomes more unique you need to refer to the specific books that have an advanced treatment of that topic. And finally, it is always better to seek a lawyer's help after being aware of the basics of the Law.

As usual, Nolo does a fantastic job of covering a broad range of topics in a very detailed fashion without losing the reader's attention. There are a lot of examples to explain the various topics and everything is in plain English. I especially like the references to the IRS forms and publications you need in various circumstances. When you go to the IRS website, it isn't clear which form is relevant to you. It's neat that Nolo makes sure to reference the right form when they are discussing a particular subject.

I hope your small business succeeds and that you find this book helpful in getting things started. Be sure to check out the other Nolo books when you are past the initial stages and definitely build a good working relationship with a trustworthy lawyer for times of need. Good luck! ... Read more

Book Description

This bestseller covers how to set up a limited liability company in any state, without the aid of an attorney, including how to:

• choose a valid LLC name
• prepare and file Articles of Organization with the reader's Secretary of State
• set up a member-run or manager-run LLC
• take care of ongoing legal and tax paperwork.

The book demystifies IRS tax classification rules for limited liability companies, as well as state-specific laws and other information for all 50 states. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Not enough for the price
This book has a good explanation of the ins and outs of forming an LLC. However, in most cases, you create an LLC by filling the blanks in a state form, and then optionally create an Operating Agreement by filling in the blanks in a sample version included in the book.

The value of this book is in the state-by-state reference and in the sample Operating Agreement (and accompanying explanations). It doesn't tell you much of anything about what else you need to do to start a business or run it, referring you to other books written by the author.

Given the relatively light content, I wouldn't have expected it to be on the high end price range of Nolo's offerings. The book's real value for me was filling in some gaps in Nolo's excellent "Small Business Start-Up Kit for California" by Peri Pakroo.

Very helpful
After searching the internet and carefully reading information available here at Amazon and not getting anywhere, I was able to find out about this great book from a chance meeting with a successful businessman in a book store.

This book is very complete and up to date. I am very satisfied with the contents. On the other hand, I have bought some very heavily promoted books here at Amazon and was vastly dissappointed.

I don't know who is pushing those books, but I doubt if they have read or applied any of the information.

Some other books that I do recommend are How To Form Your Own "S" Corporation and avoid double taxation by Robert Friedman, How To Form and Operate a Limited Liability Company by Gregary Damman, Nolo's Quick LLC by Anthony Mancuso, How To Use Limited Liability Companies by Garret Sutton and How To Launch a Business and Incorporate in Any State by J.W.Dicks.

Don't start a business without it!
This book was a life-saver! Unless you have thousands of dollars lying around to waste on legal fees, I strongly recommend you pick up this book. Its step-by-step, plain english instructions and form-filled CD-ROM make it super-easy to use. It gives you all of the information you'll need both to start up your LLC and to maintain it once its established. Mancuso walks you though every step from naming your LLC, to preparing an Operating Agreement, to taking care of the endless legal and tax paperwork.
And I'm not just talking hypothetically, I used this book to form my own LLC and personally know three other business owners who have used it either when starting up or while switching from a partnership to and LLC. My company is going strong and thanks to this book I get both the flexibility of a partnership and the protection of a corporation. This is a great buy!

Same Info Is Easily Available Elsewhere (On web)
Somewhat useful book in that it pulls together the info that is readily available on the internet, particularly from state government websites.

Waste of money for Illinois LLCs
I needed a book to guide me in forming an Illinois LLC after I had done research to determine the pros and cons of the structure. In other words, I needed a good rundown of the potential options for an operating agreement, and I needed clear instruction on the application/filing process.

This book was too generic on operations, and the actual formation of an LLC in Illinois requires one form and a check, but the book's description of the filing process for Illinois was not clear.

I noticed another book which goes through an operating agreement almost clause by clause - it was cheaper, too, but I have forgotten which book that one is. I wish I had bought that one. ... Read more

Book Description

Taking a dynamic, and very contemporary approach to the legal environment of business studies, this book covers introductory topics, private law, and public law, but offers an alternative to the traditional method of case analysis. It emphasizes the importance of incorporating a questioning dimension into legal reasoning, one, which involves critical thinking and the consideration of the impact of values (ethics) on the outcome being considered. The book outlines an authoritative step-by-step model for critical thinking/ethical analysis, and gives learners hands-on opportunities to develop these skills.A three-part organization relates the legal environment of business to a general introduction to the law, and then explores both private and public law.For individuals trying to understand the law as it relates to the business world. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (11)

Attorneys can't write well without this book!
Quit searching -- this is the best book on legal writing that you will find. It is outstanding.

I am an attorney in Texas, and I have attended two of Mr. Garner's legal-writing seminars. He is currently the leading authority on legal writing; he is also an engaging speaker. His approach is to eliminate legalese and to present a powerful and succinct message. This approach has a very practical foundation -- over the years, Mr. Garner has polled judges across the country to see which writing elements they prefer.

This volume distills Mr. Garner's findings into a compact, 227-page format. The book also contains model documents -- a research memorandum, a legal motion, an appellate brief, and a business contract -- which serve as excellent reference tools for the legal practitioner.

Put simply, if you don't subscribe to Mr. Garner's advice, you don't know how to write well. And this book is the best way yet to access to Mr. Garner's valuable insight. This book is an ESSENTIAL reference tool.

An Enlighten Reformer Improving Writing For All!
Bryan Garner is a beacon of light in a profession over wrought in using formal vain communications. I was able to review this book at a Writing Seminar led by the author. He is reforming the way all people should communicate and his lectures are sincerely admirable.

The author teaches a, "Can Do Style," of encouragement. I came away concluding the old method of learning by rote is failing. English Teachers are excellent in explaining the rules of good grammar. But terrible on coaching children in applying the rules for skillful writing. I am not concluding all English Teachers deserve blame here. Teachers simply restate how they learn grammar

Likewise, ideal teaching avoids faultfinding personal attacks as much as possible. Human nature prompts one to avoid parents or teachers or practicing embarrassment is the road to success. Instead, the author urges that all writing should make the reader feel smart.

The legal profession is a victim of what they read. The most insecure judges, lawyers and law clerks often wrote to display their education. Today, the best lawyer will use plain English to convince others of the merits to his argument. Success and confidence draw near by making anyone feel they are smart because they accept you. Using large words makes one think about the words they do not know above your alluring reasoning.

Bryan Garner's primers along with practicing his techniques will change you into a stronger writer, lawyer and person. You will not regret spending the money on Bryan Garner's books and seminars. The goal is to make everyone feel smarter by reading what you write! What better way to change the world by touching people with your thoughts to words to deeds!

Plain English is Shorter, More Precise.
The problem with the 1-star review is that it has the problem completely reversed. The reviewer suggests that traditional legal drafting is *shorter* than the plain english drafting that Garner proposes. He need only read Garner's books to learn that traditional drafting is *significantly* longer and more difficult to read than plain English.

Furthermore, the reviewer needs to realize that Garner is not advocating that all legal writing be poetry. First and foremost, he advocates for clarity and precision. If the writer can also make it interesting to read (or even a joy to read), then more power to the writer.

If you're a lawyer and hate seeing "WHEREAS" before each recital and prefer a simple sentence, Garner is the man for you.

The Great Garner Strikes Another Blow for Good Prose
Bryan A. Garner is leading what might be a Quixotic charge to make lawyers write clear, clean, unambiguous and even interesting prose. This book is a recent addition to the Garner arsenal, which includes the excellent The Winning Brief and A Dictionary of Modern Legal Usage. The anonymous writer from New York who slams Garner is wrong. He claims that traditional legal drafting has stood the test of time and is readily understood by judges, who ultimately have to interpret it. If the writing were clear to begin with, the parties wouldn't get to a judge. They'd likely settle. And that writer ignores the fact that there are thousands, perhaps millions, of legal decisions over contract disputes, almost all arising from documents that were "traditionally drafted." And different judges can decide differently about the meaning of a clause. That writer askes rhetorically whether Garner would insist that mathematicians use prose to make their work clear to laypeople. The rhetoric ignores the fact that mathematics is its own language. Legal writing is written in English, the same English used to buy groceries, talk lovingly to your spouse, and complain to the doctor about what ails you. There is no valid reason a contract should be beyond the comprehension of a layperson, other than lawyers' need to feel like they're elevated professionals with a grip on arcana. And the writer's praise of "Notwithstanding anything to the contrary" as an incantatory phrase in contracts overlooks an obvious improvement: "DESPITE anything in this agreement to the contrary . . . ." Garner is a brilliant, insightful teacher who cares deeply about the language and its highest and best use. We know what happens with legalese: litigation and contention and noncomprehension. Give plain English a try, with Garner as your guide to Aquinas's trinity of wholeness, harmony, radiance, and of course clarity clarity clarity.

EXCELLENT
EXCELLENT BOOK, ALSO MODERN LEGAL USAGE, 2ND EDITION. ENOUGH SAID. ... Read more

Book Description

If you are involved or planning to be involved in the Travel and Hospitality industry as a manager or legal professional, you will find this book to be a valuable tool.Inside are discussions of the legal issues confronted by managers in the hotel, restaurant, travel and casino industries.The emphasis is on prevention of legal violations.By reading the book, managers can appreciate and identify what actions and precautions are necessary to avoid, or at least minimize the number of lawsuits.The book uses the case method, long recognized as a helpful approach to learning and debunking the often-complicated discipline of law.Readers will study decisions from actual cases in which hospitality establishments were sued and what decisions were made, as well as what legal precedents were cited.The 6th edition has been completely updated with the latest decisions as well as classic cases that remain persuasive today. The ?Preventive Tips for Managers? feature at the end of each chapter reviews the key points and concepts addressed.A chapter on Casino Law, a developing branch of the Hospitality field is also featured in the new edition.This specialty area has numerous unique legal applications, particularly in light of the discussions in many communities toward expanding the availability of this type of entertainment. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

An excellent synopsis of Corporations law
I highly recommend this book. Solomon and Palmiter, following in the tradition of Glannon's Civil Procedure, make corporations law accessible to even the laziest law student. ... Read more

Book Description

BUSINESS LAW: TEXT AND EXERCISES, 4e captures business law in a straightforward, practical manner. Students explore key topics with real business implications without the burden of excessive detail. Hypothetical examples are used for illustration rather than real court cases. ... Read more

Book Description

The third edition of this well-respected text presents a road-map approach for thinking about contracts problems. Steps in the road map include choice of law, contract formation, unenforceable contracts, breach of contract, and plaintiff's remedies. The rules of the law are presented first as theory, followed by and example and either a paralegal exercises or a case so that students can relate the abstract to a concrete set of facts. The text also teaches students how to analyze a contracts problem using common law and a code approach (articles 1 and 2 of the UCC). ALSO AVAILABLE INSTRUCTOR SUPPLEMENTS CALL CUSTOMER SUPPORT TO ORDER Computerized Test Bank, ISBN: 0-7668-1772-5 Instructors Manual with Test Bank and Powerpoint Slides on DiskISBN: 0-7668-1024-0 ... Read more