LEGAL ASSISTANCE FOR PRISON INMATES, ALMOST NONEXISTENT UNTIL RECENTLY, IS NOW RATHER WIDELY PROVIDED BY LAW SCHOOL CLINICS AND OCCASIONALLY BY BAR ASSOCIATION GROUPS AND LEGAL AID AND DEFENDER ORGANIZATIONS. THESE TEACHING MATERIALS SHOULD PROVE USEFUL NOT ONLY TO INMATES AND THE LAWYERS AND LAW STUDENTS WHO REPRESENT THEM, BUT ALSO TO MEMBERS OF THE CORRECTIONAL FIELD AND TO THE PUBLIC WHO WISH TO KEEP ABREAST OF AN AREA OF GREAT CONCERN TO PRISON POPULATIONS. THE MATERIALS EXPLORE THE NATURE OF TYPICAL INMATE LEGAL CLAIMS AND TRACE THE INCREASING INVOLVEMENT OF THE LEGAL PROFESSION IN THE ASSERTION OF THOSE CLAIMS. THEY ALSO DISCUSS THE IMPORTANT QUESTION, TOO OFTEN IGNORED IN LAW SCHOOL EDUCATION AND BY LAWYERS AND CONVICTED CLIENTS ALIKE, OF THE LEGAL RISKS THAT OCCASIONALLY ACCOMPANY THE OVERTURNING OF A CRIMINAL CONVICTION. A SECOND CASEBOOK IN THE AREA OF POSTCONVICTION LEGAL PRACTICES IS ENTITLED 'THE LAW OF DETAINERS.' (AUTHOR ABSTRACT) (SNI ABSTRACT)