Before the Law promotes an interdisciplinary approach for introducing students to the purpose and practice of law in our society. Excerpts from recent and classic court cases, as well as material on trends in legal studies come from a range of legal sources, including court opinions; sociological, psychological, and anthropological analyses; historical and philosophical approaches; and literary reflections. Readings cover such current topics as online dispute resolution and protection of personal and property rights in cyberspace; gay marriage; and post-9/11 legislation for fighting terrorism.
I read this years ago when I was in a paralegal program at the local community college. It was really impactful and inspired me to pursue a career in the law. It is a series of short stories about anything from cannibalism to an Internet sensation of a kid who is not a lawyer, to a lawyer chosen to live in a rural community and help the residents there. Unfortunately, this book did not help me get into law school, but it did give me a sense of justice.