Digital library
Textbooks, references and open learning resources.
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Tort Law: Cases and Commentaries
Samuel Beswick · CanLII: Canadian Legal Information Institute · 2021
The law of obligations concerns the legal rights and duties owed between people. Three primary categories make up the common law of obligations: tort, contract, and unjust enrichment. This casebook provides an introduction to tort law: the law that recognises and responds to civil wrongdoing. The material is arranged in two parts. Part I comprises §§1-11 and addresses intentional and dignitary torts and the overarching theories and goals of tort law. Part II comprises §§12-25 and addresses no-fault compensation schemes, negligence, nuisance, strict liability, and tort law’s place within our broader legal systems. This casebook was compiled and edited by Assistant Professor Samuel Beswick of the University of British Columbia Peter A. Allard School of Law. Maddison Zapach (J.D. expected 2023) provided research assistance on the first edition (published July 2021). We gratefully acknowledge the influence on our approach to this subject of Professor Joost Blom QC of the Allard School of Law, Professor John C.P. Goldberg of Harvard Law School, and Associate Professor Rosemary Tobin of the University of Auckland Faculty of Law. The support of Open UBC and the UBC Teaching and Learning Enhancement Fund is also gratefully acknowledged.
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Open Access International Human Rights Law
Stuart Wallace; Clare James · University of Leeds Open Books · 2026
Open Access International Human Rights Law provides an accessible and comprehensive introduction to the principles, institutions and substantive protections that underpin international human rights law.
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Constitutional Law with a Twist: Less Is More
Alisa Klein · CALI's eLangdell® Press · 2025
Constitutional Law with a Twist: Less is More is designed for a one-semester survey course on federal constitutional law. The casebook covers the content of a typical four-credit survey course: the structure of the U.S. government and individual rights (other than First Amendment rights and rights unique to criminal law). What differentiates this casebook from most other constitutional law casebooks is that this book is deliberately short. It reflects the author’s philosophy that students often experience more joy, more depth, and more growth in an introductory course on constitutional law when there is less reading, more emphasis on contemporary cases, and more feedback on interim work. The book’s preface and the introduction to the accompanying teacher’s manual describe the book’s approach in detail to help faculty decide whether this casebook is a good fit for them and their students.
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Introduction to Intellectual Property Law
Jason Rantanen · University of Iowa · 2023
Unlike traditionally published casebooks, which typically include short case excerpts providing key rules or doctrine, Introduction to Intellectual Property Law features one or two judicial opinions per chapter, in their entirety, along with descriptive notes to fill in the details. The resulting collection can be read on any device, free of charge. Because reading full opinions is not easy, especially at the beginning of a legal career, another important component of this casebook are sets of questions to focus on while reading the cases. Lawyers generally approach texts this way, reading with purpose rather than to glean abstract knowledge. As you read the opinions, do it with a mind toward answering the questions posed.
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Becoming a Climate Conscious Lawyer: Climate and the Australian Legal System
Anna Huggins; Ellen Hawkins; Steven Tudor; Nicole Rogers · La Trobe University · 2024
As the world grapples with the escalating challenges of climate change, the legal profession finds itself at a crossroads. Becoming a Climate Conscious Lawyer: Climate and the Australian Legal System provides an original, innovative, and accessible analysis of the impact of climate change on legal doctrines and principles. It offers an overview of cutting-edge developments and how the transition to a low-carbon society is reshaping a wide range of laws, from corporate to criminal law, and beyond. This valuable new resource supports legal professionals, law students, and legal educators to understand current legal challenges – providing the know-how to strategically navigate, and positively influence, the development of law to respond to a climate changed world. The book delivers a transformative approach to legal education: equipping law students to become climate-conscious professionals with the confidence and competency to deliver legal solutions to a diverse range of clients, and promote climate justice across diverse communities.
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Introduction to business law in Papua New Guinea
Andrew Gibson · Southern Cross University · 2024
“Introduction to Business Law in Papua New Guinea” is an introductory text designed to support students enrolled in LEGL1007 Introduction to the Business Law of Papua New Guinea at Southern Cross University. The book is structured into five parts: Part 1 provides an introduction to studying business law, including writing legal essays and problem questions; Part 2 covers negligence; Part 3 discusses contract law; Part 4 addresses consumer law; and Part 5 focuses on agency within the Papua New Guinea legal system.
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Legal Fundamentals of Healthcare Law
Tiffany Jackman · University of West Florida Pressbooks · 2024
Healthcare, a field dedicated to the well-being of individuals and communities, operates within an intricate web of legal principles. Understanding these laws is not simply a professional necessity for doctors, nurses, administrators, and researchers; it’s also an ethical imperative for anyone who interacts with the healthcare system. This book is your compass, guiding you through the labyrinth of legal fundamentals that shape the landscape of healthcare.
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Trademark Law
Michael Grynberg · Michael Grynberg · 2022
Welcome to trademark law. This introductory chapter has three purposes. First, it outlines some basics of trademark law at a very high level of generality. Second, it outlines some traditional arguments for the protection of trademark rights. Finally, it introduces some issues that complicate the development and application of trademark law.
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Rules and Laws for Civil Actions
Stella Elias; Derek Muller; Jason Rantanen · University of Iowa · 2022
Rules and Laws for Civil Actions is an open-access resource for law students containing the U.S. Constitution, Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Federal Rules of Evidence, Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure, and selected federal and state statutes. The book was created by a team of faculty members at the University of Iowa College of Law to supplement the study of Civil Procedure, Evidence, Constitutional Law, and other law school courses. In addition to containing the official text, each legal source found in Rules and Laws for Civil Actions is accompanied by an introductory section written by an Iowa Law professor explaining its significance and background.
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Religion in the Law: An Open Access Casebook
Joe Dunman · L. Joe Dunman · 2026
This casebook features over 70 cases from American courts that involve, in some important way, religious belief and action. The book is divided into sections: First Principles, Establishment, Free Exercise, and Special Problems. Each section includes landmark or otherwise influential cases that have influenced American law and religious practice. Most cases come from the U.S. Supreme Court but the lower federal and state courts are also represented.In the contextual introductions to each section and subpart, I have tried to give the reader a basis for understanding how the cases came about and why I chose them for this book. I have tried to minimize editorial comment. I have cited some scholarship where I think it would be helpful, but please do not mistake this as an attempt to produce a comprehensive treatise on the subject of religion in the law. It is a casebook, and a short one, all things considered. At the end of each introductory part is a short “further reading” list. I chose those articles because I found each of them interesting and useful to understanding the topics that precede them. Their selection is not necessarily an endorsement of each author’s arguments, though I do agree with some of them.I designed this casebook specifically for my own use upper level law school seminar called Law & Religion. Class sessions using this book are intended to be student-led, round table talks with the professor acting as discussion prompter and neutral mediator. Generally, 2-5 cases are assigned for each class session. I selected, edited, and arranged the cases to complement each other thematically and chronologically to the best of my ability. Many of the cases include overlapping topics and could fit into multiple categories, so I took some liberties in their arrangement. Your mileage may vary.
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Marine Law and Policy for Scientists and Managers
Holly Campbell · Oregon State University · 2019
This open educational resource is designed for use by undergraduate and graduate ocean science, natural resource, fisheries and wildlife, and environmental policy students enrolled in a ten-week academic quarter. The purpose of this project is to provide students and non-law professionals with a freely accessible, clearly written guide to support engaging and effective learning. As such, the book serves as a gateway and an invitation to become a well informed, committed and involved ocean citizen as well as to explore the field beyond our course study.
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Fundamentals of Business Law
Melissa Randall; Community College of Denver Students · Melissa Randall · 2020
Undergraduate business law textbook written by Melissa Randall and Community College of Denver Students in collaboration with lawyers and business professionals for use in required 200 level business law courses in the United States. This book is an introductory survey of the legal topics required in undergraduate business law classes.
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Global Corruption: Its Regulation under International Conventions, US, UK, and Canadian Law and Practice
Gerry Ferguson · University of Victoria · 2022
This book has been specifically created to make it easier for professors to offer a law school course on global corruption. It is also designed as a resource tool for all persons working in the anti-corruption field. The book is issued under a creative commons license and can be used for free in whole or in part for non-commercial purposes. The first chapter sets out the general context of global corruption: its nature and extent, and some views on its historical, social, economic and political dimensions. Each subsequent chapter sets out international standards and requirements in respect to combatting corruption – mainly in the UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) and the OECD Bribery of Foreign Officials Convention (OECD Convention). The laws of the United States and United Kingdom are then set out as examples of how those Convention standards and requirements are met in two influential jurisdictions. Finally, the law of Canada is set out. Thus, a professor from Africa, Australia, New Zealand or English speaking countries in Asia and Europe has a nearly complete coursebook – for example, that professor can delete the Canadian sections of this book and insert the law and practices of his or her home country in their place. While primarily directed to a law school course on global corruption, this book will be of interest and use to professors teaching courses on corruption from other academic disciplines and to lawyers and other anti-corruption practitioners.
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United States Securities Law
eLangdell Press Editorial Staff · CALI's eLangdell® Press · 2014
The United States Securities Code and Regulations appear in Title 15 of the United States Code and Title 17 of the Code of Federal Regulations. This publication was made with data provided by the United States government on the Office of Law Revision Counsel as well as the eCFR.
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Business Law I Essentials
Mirande Valbrune; Renee De Assis; Suzanne Cardell · OpenStax · 2026
Business Law I Essentials 2e is a brief introductory textbook designed to meet the scope and sequence requirements of courses on Business Law or the Legal Environment of Business. The concepts are presented in a streamlined manner, and cover the key concepts necessary to establish a strong foundation in the subject. The textbook follows a traditional approach to the study of business law. Each chapter contains learning objectives, explanatory narrative and concepts, references for further reading, and end-of-chapter questions. Business Law I Essentials 2e may need to be supplemented with additional content, cases, or related materials, and is offered as a foundational resource that focuses on the baseline concepts, issues, and approaches.
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Trademark Law: An Open-Source Casebook
Barton Beebe · New York University · 2023
Trademark Law: An Open-Source Casebook is a free, “open” textbook designed for a four-credit trademark course, which is what I teach at NYU School of Law. Model syllabi for four-credit and three-credit courses are available in the Faculty Resources section of this website.
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Law 101: Fundamentals of the Law
Michael Martella · Open SUNY · 2018
Law 101: Fundamentals of Law, New York and Federal Law is an attempt to provide basic legal concepts of the law to undergraduates in easily understood plain English. Each chapter covers a different area of the law. Areas of law were selected based on what legal matters undergraduates may typically encounter in their daily lives. The textbook is introductory by nature and not meant as a legal treatise.Facebook
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The Story of Contract Law: Implementing the Bargain
Val Ricks · CALI's eLangdell® Press · 2021
This book is a companion volume to Volume I, "The Story of Contract Law: Formation." Volume I introduces students to law study and teaches basic doctrines of contract formation along with formation defenses. This book, Volume II, The Story of Contract Law: Implementing the Bargain, covers the rest of basic contract doctrine, namely, laws that1) determine the content of the bargain (plain meaning, usage and custom, good faith, mistake in transmission, parol evidence, and express and constructive conditions);2) govern the effect of events that occur after formation (impracticability, frustration, failure of consideration, and risk of loss);3) set remedies—rescission, damages, specific performance—available to courts when liability exists; and4) establish the rights of third parties in contracts by assignment or delegation or as third-party beneficiaries. This book includes many classic teaching cases and introduces new ones. The book also includes many problems, most based on actual cases. The book takes especial care with the doctrine of concurrent conditions, a common-law rule adopted in the late 1700s that required doctrinal readjustment across all the law governing contract performance and remedies. This volume also continues several themes from Volume I. Volume II continues to tie rules to contract law’s central structural idea, that of fair exchange. Also, to the extent helpful to student understanding, Volume II explains doctrines in part through their chronological development. The book introduces the doctrines in the order best conducive to students’ understanding contract law as a regulatory whole; for this volume, it is the order in which the doctrines arise in litigation. Finally, where possible, this volume repeats ideas at helpful points and suggests ties between doctrines so that the structural coherence of contract doctrine becomes easier to understand.
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American Contract Law for a Global Age
Mark Burge; Franklin Snyder · CALI's eLangdell® Press · 2017
American Contract Law for a Global Age by Franklin G. Snyder and Mark Edwin Burge of Texas A&M University School of Law is a casebook designed primarily for the first-year Contracts course as it is taught in American law schools, but is configured so as to be usable either as a primary text or a supplement in any upper-level U.S. or foreign class that seeks to introduce American contract law to students. As an eLangdell text, it offers maximum flexibility for students to read either in hard copy or electronic format on most electronic devices. Why “American” Contract Law? Nearly all American contract law texts focus on U.S. law. This volume simply makes that focus explicit. Modern American lawyers face an increasingly global world, and the book makes it clear that American law is not the only important commercial law regime in the world. But much of the value that the cosmopolitan and transnational American-trained lawyer brings to the table is an understanding of the contract law of the United States. To this end, the venerable English cases that exemplify common law doctrine are here presented not in their hoary 19th century settings. but in the 21st century forms that students can intuitively grasp.
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Law School Materials for Success
Barbara Fines · CALI's eLangdell® Press · 2013
The first year of law school is, for many people, one of the most significant transitions of their adult life. Law school demands a lot as it helps you make the transition from your prior identity as student (or as some other occupational role) to your new identity as an attorney. To meet the demands of law school, it is often helpful to have the big picture before you begin – a sense of what it is you are trying to do as you prepare for classes, participate in those classes, review and prepare for exams, take exams, and then begin the cycle once again. Law School Materials for Success is designed to give you the essentials of that process. It is purposefully brief – most law students do not have the time for an extensive examination of the study of law school. Rather, they need a source for some basic, critical advice and some pointers on where to go for more if necessary. That is what this book and the accompanying podcasts are designed to provide.