Kenneth J . Vandevelde is a Professor of Law and former Dean at Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego. A graduate of Harvard Law School, he has practiced law before U.S. courts and international tribunals. He is the author of numerous books and articles on U.S. and international law.

Praise for the First Edition:"Contains the best introduction to legal reasoning that I know of." -Duncan Kennedy, Harvard Law School. "Vandevelde restores luster to the phrase 'thinking like a lawyer.' Everyone, whether a newly entering law student or an experienced practitioner, will take away from Thinking Like a Lawyer valuable insights about law and lawyering in the United States." -Christopher G. and Jill Robinson Wren, coauthors, The Legal Research Manual "Manages at one and the same time to take legal reasoning seriously and yet not be taken in by it. Written in a lively and engaging style, this book is both comprehensive in its treatment of the subject and provocative in its central argument, namely that thinking like a lawyer means making judgments about policies... A real achievement." -Austin Sarat, Amherst College "A comprehensive overview of the standard techniques of legal reasoning. It stands out because of the way it enriches the basic discussion with perspectives from legal history and theory." -Joan Williams, American University

• Introduction , Basic Legal Reasoning , Identifying Applicable Law , Analyzing the Law , Synthesizing the Law , Researching the Facts , Applying the Law , Reasoning with Policies , Policy Analysis, Synthesis, and Application , Contracts , Torts , Constitutional Law , Civil Procedure , Perspectives on Legal Reasoning , A Historical Perspective on Legal Reasoning , Contemporary Perspectives on Legal Reasoning , Conclusion , Appendix: Thinking Like A Law Student

Kenneth J . Vandevelde is a Professor of Law and former Dean at Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego. A graduate of Harvard Law School, he has practiced law before U.S. courts and international tribunals. He is the author of numerous books and articles on U.S. and international law.

Praise for the First Edition:"Contains the best introduction to legal reasoning that I know of." -Duncan Kennedy, Harvard Law School. "Vandevelde restores luster to the phrase 'thinking like a lawyer.' Everyone, whether a newly entering law student or an experienced practitioner, will take away from Thinking Like a Lawyer valuable insights about law and lawyering in the United States." -Christopher G. and Jill Robinson Wren, coauthors, The Legal Research Manual "Manages at one and the same time to take legal reasoning seriously and yet not be taken in by it. Written in a lively and engaging style, this book is both comprehensive in its treatment of the subject and provocative in its central argument, namely that thinking like a lawyer means making judgments about policies... A real achievement." -Austin Sarat, Amherst College "A comprehensive overview of the standard techniques of legal reasoning. It stands out because of the way it enriches the basic discussion with perspectives from legal history and theory." -Joan Williams, American University

• Introduction , Basic Legal Reasoning , Identifying Applicable Law , Analyzing the Law , Synthesizing the Law , Researching the Facts , Applying the Law , Reasoning with Policies , Policy Analysis, Synthesis, and Application , Contracts , Torts , Constitutional Law , Civil Procedure , Perspectives on Legal Reasoning , A Historical Perspective on Legal Reasoning , Contemporary Perspectives on Legal Reasoning , Conclusion , Appendix: Thinking Like A Law Student

Kenneth J . Vandevelde is a Professor of Law and former Dean at Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego. A graduate of Harvard Law School, he has practiced law before U.S. courts and international tribunals. He is the author of numerous books and articles on U.S. and international law.

Praise for the First Edition:"Contains the best introduction to legal reasoning that I know of." -Duncan Kennedy, Harvard Law School. "Vandevelde restores luster to the phrase 'thinking like a lawyer.' Everyone, whether a newly entering law student or an experienced practitioner, will take away from Thinking Like a Lawyer valuable insights about law and lawyering in the United States." -Christopher G. and Jill Robinson Wren, coauthors, The Legal Research Manual "Manages at one and the same time to take legal reasoning seriously and yet not be taken in by it. Written in a lively and engaging style, this book is both comprehensive in its treatment of the subject and provocative in its central argument, namely that thinking like a lawyer means making judgments about policies... A real achievement." -Austin Sarat, Amherst College "A comprehensive overview of the standard techniques of legal reasoning. It stands out because of the way it enriches the basic discussion with perspectives from legal history and theory." -Joan Williams, American University

• Introduction , Basic Legal Reasoning , Identifying Applicable Law , Analyzing the Law , Synthesizing the Law , Researching the Facts , Applying the Law , Reasoning with Policies , Policy Analysis, Synthesis, and Application , Contracts , Torts , Constitutional Law , Civil Procedure , Perspectives on Legal Reasoning , A Historical Perspective on Legal Reasoning , Contemporary Perspectives on Legal Reasoning , Conclusion , Appendix: Thinking Like A Law Student