For most people, law and the courts are veiled in mystery. Even though the law is made by legislators elected by the public and interpreted by judges chosen directly or indirectly by the public, and even though great strides have been made in making the law and its special language more understandable to people, the general public is still often confused about law and the courts. This booklet attempts to unravel some of these mysteries. It provides an introduction to the U.S. legal system, discusses briefly the roles of key actors in the system, and outlines and explains the steps involved in most civil and criminal cases. While it does not include all kinds of lawsuits, it does attempt to explain the procedures common to most of them. The booklet also discusses some of the special courts in the U.S. system, provides a chart on courts in the federal system and in a representative state, and explores various methods of alternative dispute resolution. The focus of the booklet is on helping readers understand the system as a whole. Practical problems of everyday law are not examined. A glossary of frequently used legal terms is included as a ready reference. (JB)