Overview of the American Legal System

UVA Law Vice Dean Leslie Kendrick ’06 provides an overview of the American legal system to first-year students. This event was part of orientation for the Class of 2021. (University of Virginia School of Law, Aug. 17, 2018)

[mcsweeney]

I went to a T15 law school, graduated almost a decade ago, and have been practicing at a “top” firm for some time now … you have no idea how useful it would have been to have this lecture on day one of law school, rather than picked up piecemeal through Socratic method opacity.

[omara.fuentes]

I’m 10 years old and I’m passionate about the law.

[culvovh]

She's so knowledgeable and able to articulate her points seamlessly. The world needs more of you. Thank you so much Professor. I duff my 🎩

[timothyfitzgerald]

This woman is so good, clear, and direct with her communication. Straightforward. What a pleasure to listen to her.

[JosephMbidi]

She is the best professor ever. Speaking clearly ❤

[erialton]

A gifted teacher is always a blessing to mankind. Well done!

[tickedoffsheikh]

I'm 42 and has grown to have a passion for the law.

[joeyhaddad]

I’m 15 and I’m very passionate about the law. This class was very well explained and it helped me a lot thank youu

[Salma-xlns]

Honestly I came here out of curiosity but the amazing informative way this professor explained that introductory is so interesting to the level I think I wanna study low now🤯

[dylanlaw]

I start an MLS program tomorrow. The ending to this hit the perfect notes that I needed to hear. Dive in, but don’t forget to breathe. I love it!

[davepaulsaunders]

From South Australia in "little old Adelaide" & looking at a big move once international borders open. Currently studying a Bachelor of Social Science Majoring in Security & International Relations & providing borders open up to USA & I get a job offer law is one of those things I want to study now! After hearing this I am so inspired more than ever. Writing down notes on this for the next few months so I'm well accustomed with it all providing I can get the job I'm after in the USA (international politics but need visa etc but have the resources to do it). I must say this is the clearest lecture I've heard, even more so than some of the Australian universities. Simple & crystal clear audio. Even I'm starting to understand it! Just have to get outta this country first in 2022 or 2023 once borders reopened up but hey, I can wait :-)

[fsneto]

I am a lawyer in Brazil and it is very interesting to see the difference between Civil Law and Common Law. In a first contact, it seems to me that Common Law allows a greater subjectivity of the Judge since certain parameters are not in the Law (code) but in custom so I find it interesting the system that has been developed here in Brazil in which the law (code) is the first parameter and the jurisprudence serves to standardize the understanding of the law (code) and not to create rights as the Common Law does.

[samuelamaya]

She is very professional. I like how smooth she develops this orientation, very well explained . When are going to download more similar videos?

[endlessidea]

It was such a clear lecture that ı can comprehend American Law System in general ways. Greetings from Istanbul

[leoesharkey]

I appreciate the point she makes about not writing things down. I wish I had listened more and wrote less when I was in College and Law School...

[brothersinchrist]

When I was 13, I decided I wanted to go to law school and that it would be great to get a jump-start on the material so I could know as much as possible before attending. That was six years ago, and now I'm ready to apply for law school.

_"You're not supposed to have already had it figured out. It would be a waste of your time and mine if you already knew everything there was to know about the law and you came and said 'yep, know it already.'"_

Huh, interesting...

[AJ-btvy]

Muchas gracias Profesora, excelente explicación, desde Honduras.

[DonYutuc]

Who's watching in 2024? I moved to Virginia in 2021 from Texas. This lady epitomizes why y'all are the mother of states and the mother of Presidents. Y'all have a future White House resident in Youngkin. You don't have to like him. Only love America. 🇺🇸 I'm 63, 2x this very knowledgeable lady's age. Enjoy learning y'all. This is golden. 😊 🎉 ❤

PS. Her "metaphor" story at the end is a "must watch." My humble opinion. 😊

[stormrider]

"No legal system can claim to be a servant of the people if it enables those who harm the people to conceal themselves under the cover of the law and receive advantages that harm the people." - Dr. Hans Frank, "The Impact of National Socialist Thinking on the German Legal System" (1934)

[kayalex]

Omg Thank you for the pep talk!! I needed that! Such professional and talented teacher! I thoroughly enjoyed this! I'd sit in on more for sure!