ART - Book Review - Legal Aspects 2006

The document is a book review of "The Legal Aspects of Public Purchasing" by Kirk W. Buffington and Michael Flynn. The review highlights the importance of legal training in contract and bidding laws for public procurement officials. It praises the book for its pairing of legal and purchasing expertise, making it a useful and practical resource. The review mentions several sections of the book that practitioners will find particularly useful, including summaries of key provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code, a comprehensive glossary, and an overview of the ABA's Model Procurement Code. The chapter on ethics is also noted for its emphasis on viewing legal compliance as a minimum standard and the importance of ethical behavior. The review acknowledges that writing about legal concepts for a lay audience can be challenging, but overall, the book strikes the right balance between detail and basic legal knowledge. The organization of the book is criticized for being confusing at times, but the detailed table of contents helps navigate specific topics. The review concludes by stating that the book provides an accurate and accessible resource on purchasing law, which is valuable in a time when legal issues in public procurement are prominent.