While this book is designed for those without prior background in the law or legal assisting, its structure, organization, and content qualify it as a comprehensive reference that will be valuable in the law-related courses that are to follow an introductory course. The intent is to provide not only an overview of the legal principles in a variety of areas of the law, but also to give a practical introduction to the kinds of duties and responsibilities that may face a paralegal in the workplace. It covers a variety of areas—such as contracts, civil and criminal law, procedure and discovery, legal research, real estate, and decedents' estates—while focusing on the ethical responsibilities of legal assistants.