Those involved directly in the production of legal documents are one group, though anyone in the editorial department of a law firm will have heavier-gauge resources to draw upon as well. Still, they will be competently served by this volume on occasions when they need a portable resource. A larger group of potential users consists of those editors who must make a quick but thorough study of a particular segment of the law in connection with a project. A review of the entries satisfied me that, for example, all of the terms and concepts central to a federal entitlement program for which I've done extensive work are accurately and concisely treated. Those working with content related to real estate, banking, financial markets, commercial transactions, product liability, privacy, confidentiality, or criminal procedures should be similarly satisfied.
Definitions are replete with sample phrases and sentences showing how terms are used correctly.
Beyond providing guidance on project content, the dictionary can aid in understanding the larger legal contexts in which we function, whether as editors or individuals. The laws governing copyrights, trademarks, and libel of course affect the professional functioning of editors, but the laws governing contracts, labor practices, and taxation are also part of the context of freelance editors. And we can all benefit from heightened legal knowledge in our roles as consumers, property owners, tenants, drivers, taxpayers, and citizens. In sum, the Random House Legal Dictionary is an astonishingly good value. A Practical Guide, Trumbull Rogers, 1995.