To most Americans, the law - especially noncriminal (civil) law - is a mystery that only someone with a law degree can solve. With a masterful mixture of explanatory text, real cases showing the law at work, and the reflections of important historical and contemporary legal thinkers, Understanding Law renders the complexity of law at a level that everyone can understand. The book walks students through the structure of the legal system, different divisions of civil law, and the core concepts and distinctions that underlie contemporary legal thought. It also provides insight into the way law and social change affect one another. With this third edition, the authors have substantially updated and expanded the text, adding twenty-five percent new cases, a new chapter on family law, and innovative "You be the Judge" sections in each chapter, inviting students to decide legal questions, engage with the issues, and test their understanding.