This highly readable and comprehensive book offers a balanced, current and comprehensive overview of the legal system; and administrative, criminal and civil law in a cross-cultural context. It considers the most recent theories and research findings, and emphasizes developing and emerging trends. It focuses on the evolution of modern legal systems, current intellectual movements in law, interplay between law and social change, and the main concerns and issues in the profession and practice of law. This is the only book that considers multicultural and cross-cultural issues in a contemporary context with an interdisciplinary emphasis. For individuals interested in the law, criminal justice, and political science.