Combining practical legal tips with an exhaustive overview of the law in the United States, this comprehensive reference answers more than 1,200 questions ranging from "Where did the word tort come from?" and "How are state court judges selected?" to "Where did the first U.S. Supreme Court meet?" Useful advice includes how to find a lawyer; how to file a complaint against a lawyer; how to document discrimination in the workplace; and how to handle oneself in court.

Table of Contents

• ABOUT THE AUTHOR
• ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
• INTRODUCTION
• CONSTITUTIONAL LAW
• The U.S. Constitution
• History of the U.S. Constitution
• Key Concepts and Structure of the Constitution
• Legislative Branch
• Executive Branch
• Judicial Branch
• State Constitutions
• THE BILL OF RIGHTS AND 14TH AMENDMENT
• First Amendment
• Second Amendment
• Third and Fourth Amendments
• Fifth Amendment
• Sixth Amendment
• Seventh Amendment
• Eighth Amendment
• Ninth and Tenth Amendments
• Fourteenth Amendment
• THE COURT SYSTEM
• The Supreme Court Term
• Judiciary Act of 1789
• State Courts
• LAWYERS AND LAWSUITS
• Becoming a Lawyer
• Finding a Lawyer
• Lawsuits
• CRIMINAL PROCEDURES
• The Criminal Process
• Trial Process
• Sentencing
• Appeals
• Juvenile Defendants
• CREDIT AND BANKRUPTCY LAW
• Loans
• Debt Collectors and the Law
• Bankruptcy
• Chapter 13
• EMPLOYMENT LAW
• At-Will Employment
• Employment Discrimination
• Title VII
• Religious Discrimination
• Retaliation
• Age Discrimination
• Disability Discrimination
• Employee Compensation
• Workers Compensation Law
• Other Employment Law Considerations
• FAMILY LAW
• Marriage
• Pre-Marital Agreements
• Divorce
• Alimony
• Child Custody
• Child Support
• Paternity
• Adoption
• PERSONAL INJURY LAW
• Negligence
• Professional Negligence
• Other Torts
• Product Liability
• APPENDIX A: EXPLANATION OF CASE AND STATUTE CITATIONS
• APPENDIX B: THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
• APPENDIX C: ONLINE RESOURCES
• GLOSSARY