The law is a very big subject, though. Do you want to get to grips with constitutional law? Or get a bird's eye view on how the law works - which will tell you a bit about all the major areas and how the courts work, but in a very 'reader's digest' fashion with only a paragraph or two about famous cases? Or do you want to know the basics of business law as it might affect your startup? Or do you like the legal philosophy part, only in much greater detail?
You will save a fortune by buying used. Especially now, because a lot of law students sell off their books as soon as they've passed the bar exams, which are held around now. It's not important to have the most up-to-date versions; the more current the issues, the more politicized and noisy the discussion. Look in the used books section on Craigslist too. If you ask nicely, your local law school will probably give you a tour of their library or suggest some starter books, likewise your local community college if it offers any courses in law.
The law is a very big subject, though. Do you want to get to grips with constitutional law? Or get a bird's eye view on how the law works - which will tell you a bit about all the major areas and how the courts work, but in a very 'reader's digest' fashion with only a paragraph or two about famous cases? Or do you want to know the basics of business law as it might affect your startup? Or do you like the legal philosophy part, only in much greater detail?
1. Constitutional Law http://www.amazon.com/Constitutional-Law-Principles-Policies...
2. Fundamentals of American Law http://www.amazon.com/Fundamentals-American-Law-Alan-Morriso...
3. Barron's Review - Business Law http://www.amazon.com/Business-Law-Barrons-Review/dp/0764142...
4. How Judges think http://www.amazon.com/Judges-Think-Honorable-Richard-Posner/... or Overcoming Law http://www.amazon.com/Judges-Think-Honorable-Richard-Posner/... are excellent books by Judge Richard Posner. Bad Acts, Guilty Minds http://www.amazon.com/Bad-Acts-Guilty-Minds-Conundrums/dp/02... and Ill-gotten Gains http://www.amazon.com/Ill-Gotten-Gains-Evasion-Blackmail-Kin... by Leo Katz examines some philosophically tricky areas of criminal law...although Katz does a better job with the questions than the answers, IMHO.
You will save a fortune by buying used. Especially now, because a lot of law students sell off their books as soon as they've passed the bar exams, which are held around now. It's not important to have the most up-to-date versions; the more current the issues, the more politicized and noisy the discussion. Look in the used books section on Craigslist too. If you ask nicely, your local law school will probably give you a tour of their library or suggest some starter books, likewise your local community college if it offers any courses in law.
Since you're in Seattle, you should also check out the King County Law Library, which is open to the public: http://kcll.org/aboutus/generalinformation/faqs.html finally, the Legal Information Institute at Cornell is a much more useful resource than its bland front page might suggest: http://www.law.cornell.edu/