The definitive briefer text for new paralegal students, West's Paralegal Today: The Essentials provides the balanced coverage today's instructors desire without the coverage of substantive law. The theoretical foundation is balanced with practical career information, skill building activities, and the very latest in legal technology. All this is presented in full color with the carefully researched pedagogy shown to help the learning process for all kinds of students. A full range of paralegal topics is covered. New to this edition is the expansion of ethics and paralegal regulation, Computer-aided legal research and fully updated career information and trends in the paralegal profession. Up to the minute end of chapter exercises and activities have been streamlined and made more accessible to both instructor and student. Key words: Civil and Criminal Law