The Prequel to the Study of Law

Lesson Overview

This course is required for a degree in Criminal Justice. While we address a number of the aspects of Law, I plan to draw your attention to issues within the criminal law, due process, and a just process.

Lesson one introduces legal studies as a profession and as an aspect of criminal justice, sociology, and political science. Paralegals, court reporters, court administrators, lawyers, and judges typically initiate their interest in law by taking a course similar to this one. You will also note that a number of court officers such as probation officers, parole officers, criminal investigators, correctional officers, police officers, and special appointed officers will also be responsible for knowing the form and function of the legal system. Of course, all of this depends on the jurisdiction, the state, and the level of authority. What is important is that one recognizes that law helps to form the process and the function by which these professionals engage in their assigned and, often times, sworn duties.

While our textbook may discuss paralegals, those in the social sciences as well will benefit from the information provided. Using this textbook as a foundation, you can readily comprehend criminal law, correctional law, appellate law, substantive law, and procedural law. Thus, law is a discipline within which one builds upon research, knowledge, critical thinking, and analytical skills.

Lesson Objectives

At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:

1. Describe the opportunities within the legal professions.
2. Identify the sources of law and legal study found in precedent.
3. Acknowledge that legal study has terminology, process, and history that provide stability, fairness, and equity.
4. Develop the skills necessary to incorporate legal research, reasoning, and writing into academic pursuits.
5. Initiate case analysis on a primary level by reading the case.

PowerPoint Presentation of the Addressed Reading:

Notes: Each lesson begins with a review of the PowerPoint presentation for the specific chapters addressed. The PowerPoint will provide you an overview of the chapter topics, after which you should read the objectives as previewed in each chapter.

Click here to access the PowerPoint for Chapter 1 (print version).