Lawtalk: The Unknown Stories Behind Familiar Legal Expressions (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9780300172461)

Not just for lawyers, these illuminating histories of popular law-related expressions will delight anyone fascinated by words, by history, or by law and law enforcement

Law-related words and phrases abound in our everyday language, often without our being aware of their origins or their particular legal significance: boilerplate, jailbait, pound of flesh, rainmaker, the third degree. This insightful and entertaining book reveals the unknown stories behind familiar legal expressions that come from sources as diverse as Shakespeare, vaudeville, and Dr. Seuss. Separate entries for each expression follow no prescribed formula but instead focus on the most interesting, enlightening, and surprising aspects of the words and their evolution. Popular myths and misunderstandings are explored and exploded, and the entries are augmented with historical images and humorous sidebars.

Lively and unexpected, Lawtalk will draw a diverse array of readers with its abundance of linguistic, legal, historical, and cultural information. Those readers should be forewarned: upon finishing one entry, there is an irresistible temptation to turn to another, and yet another . . .

Author: James E. Clapp, Elizabeth G. Thornburg, Marc Galanter
ISBN-10: 030017246X
ISBN-13: 9780300172461
Publisher: Yale University Press
Language: English
Published: 11/22/2011
Pages: 368
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 1.45lbs
Size: 9.31h x 6.56w x 0.99d

Review Citation(s):
Library Journal 10/15/2011 pg. 89
Choice 06/01/2012