Introduction to Law in the U.S. (for most non-lawyers)
What you'll learn
- Understand basic legal principles within the United States
- Appreciate the important role of the U.S. Constitution to our government and legal system
- Understand various sources of law in the U.S., and how they apply
- Understand basic areas of law, including criminal, important civil areas such as contract, negligence and more
- Identify legal principles in personal life, business, in the news, and popular media
- Know where to find additional information on law
- Some tips on finding the right lawyer if you have an important legal issue
Requirements
- Desire to learn about law through a no-nonsense, no frills, rapid fire lecture, one legal topic per module.
- Seven minute attention span to make it through each classroom style lecture.
- Strong understanding of English very helpful.
- This is introductory law, but some areas can get complicated. I'm here to answer questions when they arise.
- Kind and collegial learners appreciated.
Description
Law is a mystery to many, yet we are surrounded by it everywhere and we make legal decisions regularly. Sometimes these decisions have profound effects on our personal or professional lives.
We all need to know a little about law and our legal system. Just like we all need to know a little about health and how our body works, and all drivers need to know something about cars and how they work.
So let me share some knowledge of law with you.
This course is not for everyone! It is academic type lectures, using my PowerPoint slides, no fancy graphics, no fancy video editing. It is not entertainment and you will need a ten minute attention span. Take your personal preferences into consideration and see a few sample videos before you decide if this is right for you. If you have a problem or need something, message me. I think some basic legal knowledge and reliable information should be available for all, and this is my way of putting that out there. But again, this course is law lectures, not entertainment.
We explore the origins of law and why we need rules in society, hopefully a fair system for creating rules and then enforcing them. The United States has a unique foundation that starts with the U.S. Constitution and our system of government. We have a process to create laws and resolve disputes, and may areas of law (see below).
We are a nation of laws and thus a basic understanding is critical for everyone - every citizen and every resident. Citizens participate in our government and legal system by voting and serving on juries.
Lawyers serve an important role in society, but should not be the only people who understand law. We all should understand and appreciate legal fundamentals. That way, we can make good decisions on legal issues and duties of citizenship in the U.S.
We face legal issues all the time, and even if we hire an attorney we need to understand that attorney's advice to make a good choice.
In this course, we will explore:
The origin of rules and laws in society
The U.S. Constitution and Amendments (including Bill of Rights)
Criminal law and procedure
Civil law and procedure overview
Negligence law and torts
Intentional torts
Contract law
Privacy, cybersecurity, and data law
Virtual currency and cryptocurrency law (COMING SOMEDAY)
Intellectual property law
Business law basics
Law of warfare and international conflict
Some legal concepts and terms
Briefing (reading) a case
Fun movie and TV clips
Where to learn more about law
Finding and working with a lawyer
This course provides a brief and informative overview, and also points you to free resources for your additional reading and reference.
This was my first Udemy course to bring important information about law to you. We walk through it, one module at a time, trying to compress the most important parts of each topic into short segments. Additional free resources are available.
I initially titled this "Introduction to Law in the U.S. (for every non-lawyer)" but quickly realized this is not for everyone. That's OK, each to their own. So instead I now say it is for "most" non-lawyers.
Now the legal disclaimer (no description on a law course would be complete without it). None of this is legal advice, nor is it tailored to your circumstances, nor is any attorney-client relationship formed by taking this course. I will gladly answer general questions. My hope is this course helps students with their personal and professional lives as they face legal issues, hear about them in the news, and play their role in our country, a nation of laws.
Who this course is for:
- This is for those who want to learn more about law in the U.S.
- For those with a seven minute attention span and ability to sit through a no-frills lecture on each legal topic
- For anyone wanting to give a new Udemy instructor a try or boost with his first Udemy course
- This course is not for everyone but you can try out my lectures before enrolling. And money back if not satisfied.
- Those seeking information but not edutainment. I am not an entertainer, just trying to provide solid information and knowledge.
Instructor
- 4.7 Instructor Rating
- 323 Reviews
- 4,466 Students
- 7 Courses
John Bandler is a lawyer, consultant, speaker, teacher, and author in the areas of cybersecurity, cybercrime, privacy, law, governance, investigations, and more. He is the founder of Bandler Law Firm PLLC and Bandler Group LLC, legal and consulting practices that help organizations and individuals with cybersecurity, cybercrime prevention, privacy, compliance, risk management, and governance.
He offers free and paid Udemy courses, please see his course listings on law, cyberlaw, cybersecurity privacy, policies, and learning. After building courses and teaching at the law school, graduate, and undergraduate level, he decided to bring some of these materials to a broader audience, including here on Udemy.
John has expertise in many subjects and is a prolific writer and speaker. His fourth book is on Cyberlaw: Law for Digital Spaces and Information Systems, his third book is Policies and Procedures for Your Organization, first book was Cybersecurity for the Home and Office, and second book is Cybercrime Investigations. John has authored articles on a range of topics and teaches professionals and students at the undergraduate, graduate, and law school level.
Before starting his private practice John served in government as an assistant district attorney in the New York County District Attorney's Office where he investigated and prosecuted criminal offenses ranging from cybercrime, virtual currency money laundering, and traditional street crimes and frauds. Prior to that he served as a state trooper in the New York State Police providing full police services to the local community. He also served in the U.S. Army Reserves.
See John's course listings here, and you can find him online on his website and on social media such as LinkedIn, GoodReads, Bluesky, and YouTube. His books are available on Amazon. He is writing his next books on Introduction to Law and Cybersecurity, and planning the next Udemy course buildouts.