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Best courses for a layperson to learn law?

10 points by ampham ↗ HN
Lately, I’ve had some life circumstances that’s prompted me to think that it would be beneficial to learn law + persuasion. Mostly to read contracts better and to defend myself when being taken advantage of.

Does anyone have recommendations on courses surrounding law? I know law is a broad subject, but I’m looking for broad recommendations that I can then narrow down on since I’m not sure where to start yet.

11 comments

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afarrell
https://lawcomic.net/ — goes into digressions about english common law and also the history thereof.

A warning on this topic: it is easy to fall into the trap of thinking you know more than you really do.

ampham
Thank you and heeding the warning.
[deleted]
(comment deleted)
rTX5CMRXIfFG
You don’t have to learn law because that means reading up laws you might not necessarily be interested in or have any practical uses for. Learning formal logic should suffice, then really read anything that you are signing.
ampham
Thank you. Any recommendations on readings or courses for formal logic?
csh0
In philosophy undergrad we used A Concise Introduction to Logic by Hurley. I found it to be very useful.

We also used Symbolic Logic by Klenk, a good text but not as good an introduction and setup as the former.

GianFabien
I went back to university to study law part-time (night school along with lots of ex-police, PIs, etc). Although I dropped out, I gained a basic understanding by following the law school's curriculum. The most valuable thing I learnt was that even if I had completed the course and got admitted to the bar, I would have only ended up on the first rung of the ladder to being accomplished in whatever area of law I chose to specialize in.

If large sums of money and/or potential professional liabilities are involved, then cheapest long-term approach is to hire a competent licensed lawyer.

ampham
This is helpful insight. Thank you.
csh0
You could listen to “Law School for Everyone”, a lecture series from The Great Courses. It is supposed to broadly cover what a first year law curriculum would.

I found it interesting.

endisneigh
I’d read cases in your states court site and the decisions given by judges. Research terminology and process via the Cornell law site.