For some, studying law is daunting. My goal is to explain complex legal matters clearly and straightforwardly. After earning my Juris Doctor degree from Southern California Institute of Law in 1991, I began my career as a law clerk for the Ventura County Public Defender's Office, under the supervision of noted legal author Richard E. Erwin. That experience inspired me to move into business law editing at McClatchy News. Since the decline of newspaper readership, I have written and rewritten scores of courses on the Udemy academic platform. Author Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) was asked by an aspiring young writer what he should write about to become a good writer. Mark Twain replied, "Write what you know about." I know about business law from years of study and writing about businesses for business pages. In the study of law, one is taught to think in the abstract, rather than in black-and-white terms. Legal issues are not always black-and-white and often require some critical thinking. Learning to think like a lawyer requires both a structured approach to information processing and creative thinking. In law studies, using the Socratic method, students learn to think on their feet and speak extemporaneously, developing the ability to argue their case even as the instructor changes the facts. My objective, since the Socratic method is not available, is much more direct and to the point. I explain only the essential information that provides a working knowledge of various legal disciplines. By listening and taking notes, it is standard practice for law students to use their notes to create an outline. The outline can also become the basis of a custom business plan and a starting point for figuring out how to make your personal fortune.

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