 Welcome to Unit 4 of PRDV 301, Introduction to Paralegal Studies. By now, you've seen that the judicial system in the United States plays a role not just in the resolution of disputes, but in the actual development of law. In this unit, we look more closely at the courts. You'll learn about jurisdiction, which deals with what kinds of cases can be heard in which courts, and the distinction between district courts, which try cases and courts of appeals, which review cases for errors in procedure or application of the law. Appeals courts play an important role in creating precedent. Last but certainly not least, you'll learn about courts of last resort, the supreme courts of the state and federal governments that make the ultimate decisions on complex legal questions. By the end of this unit, you'll have gotten the taste of the overall structure of the legal system in all its complexity. Next step, you'll be called upon to take that understanding and see how the process works in practice. So pay close attention and good luck.