Orin S. Kerr, How to Read a Legal Opinion, 11 Green Bag 2d 51 (2007). [PDF]
“This essay is designed to help new law students prepare for the first weeks of class. It explains what judicial opinions are, how they are structured, and what law students should look for when reading them.”
Oxford Reference Online: Law
Search Oxford Press’s compendium of law-related reference works. CalNet authentication required.
Cornell University Law School: United States Code
Searchable online version of the United States Code, “generated from the most recent official version made available by the US House of Representatives.”
EFF: Bloggers’ Rights
EFF’s page of resources for bloggers touches on a number of issues and cases that we’ll cover in 205. If you are or have ever considered yourself a “blogger,” this is a great way to frame the course topics in a way relevant to your interests.
Kozinski, Alex. The Wrong Stuff. BYU Law Review, January 1992. [PDF]
This article, originally given as a lecture by 9th Circuit Judge Alex Kozinski, offers a bit of insight into the psychology of the people involved in the legal process. It is full of judge/lawyer inside jokes, which you may or may not find humorous.