The following explanatory texts and subject-matter survey texts have been carefully selected to provide first year law students with authoritative support materials. Inquire at the Cirulcation Desk for additional topical study aids including "Nutshells," "Examples and Explanations" and "Sum and Substance" titles.

APPELLATE BRIEF WRITING

LEGAL MEMORANDA

CITATION

LEGAL OPINION LETTERS

CIVIL PROCEDURE

LEGAL REASONING

CLASS PREPARATION

LEGAL RESEARCH

CONSTITUTIONAL LAW

LEGAL WRITING STYLE

CONTRACTS

MOOT COURT

CRIMINAL LAW

ORAL ARGUMENT

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE

PROPERTY

DISPUTE RESOLUTION

TORTS

EXAM-TAKING

 

 

APPELLATE BRIEF WRITING

Board of Student Advisors, Harvard Law School. Introduction to Advocacy: Research, Writing and Argument, Ch. 5. 7th ed.  New York, NY, Foundation Press, 2002. LAW RESERVE KF 281.A2 I57

Charrow, Veda R.; Erhardt, Myra K.; & Charrow, Robert P.  Clear & Effective Legal Writing, Ch. 15. 4th ed.  Austin; New York NY, Wolters Kluwer Law & Business, 2007.   LAW RESERVE  KF 250.C45

Re, Edward D. & Re, Joseph R.  Brief Writing & Oral Argument, Ch. 7.  9th ed.  Dobbs Ferry, NY, Oceana, 2005.  KF 251.R4

Shapo, Helene; Walter, Marilyn R. & Fajans, Elizabeth.  Writing and Analysis in the Law, Ch. 18.  Rev. 5th ed. New York, NY, Foundation Press, 2008.  LAW RESERVE KF 250.S5

CITATION

Association of Legal Writing Directors.  ALWD Citation Manual:  A Professional System of Citation.  New York, NY, Aspen Publishers, current edition.  LAW RESERVE KF 245.A45

Association of Legal Writing Directors. ALWD Companion: A Citation Practice Book.  New York, NY, Aspen Publishers, current edition.  LAW RESERVE KF 245.A453

The Bluebook: A Uniform System of Citation.  Cambridge, MA, Harvard Law Review Association, current edition.  LAW RESERVE KF 245.B58

Dworsky, Alan L. User's Guide to the Bluebook. Buffalo, NY, W.S. Hein, 2010. LAW RESERVE KF 245.D853

CIVIL PROCEDURE

Friedenthal, Jack H.; Kane, Mary Kay; & Miller, Arthur R.  Civil Procedure.  4th ed. St. Paul, MN, Thomson West, 2005.  LAW RESERVE KF 8840.F72

Shreve, Gene R. Understanding Civil Procedure, 4th ed. Newark, N.J., LexisNexis, 2009. LAW RESERVE KF 8840.S484

CLASS PREPARATION

Nygren, Carolyn J.  Starting Off Right in Law School.  Durham, NC, Carolina Academic Press, 1997.  KF 273.N97

Roth, George.  Slaying the Law School Dragon: How to Survive - and Thrive - in First-Year Law School.  2nd ed.  New York, NY, John Wiley & Sons, 1991.  KF 283.R68

CONSTITUTIONAL LAW 

Chemerinsky, Erwin. Constitutional Law: Principles & Policies, 3d. ed. N.Y., N.Y., Aspen, 2006. LAW RESERVE KF 4550.C427

Nowak, John E. & Rotunda, Ronald D.  Constitutional Law.  8th ed.  St. Paul, MN, Thomson West, 2010.  LAW RESERVE KF 4550.N6

Tribe, Lawrence. American Constitutional Law. 3d. ed. N.Y., N.Y., Foundatoin Press, 2000. LAW RESERVE KF 4550.T785

CONTRACTS

Ferriell, Jeffrey T. Understanding Contracts, 2d ed. Newark, N.J., LexisNexis, 2009. LAW RESERVE KF 801.Z9 F46

Perillo, Joseph M. Calamari & Perillo on Contracts: The Law of Contracts,  6th ed. St. Paul, MN, Thomson West, 2009.  LAW RESERVE KF 801.C26.

CRIMINAL LAW

Dressler, Joshua. Understanding Criminal Law. 5th ed. Newark, N.J., LexisNexis, 2009. LAW RESERVE KF 9219.D74

LaFave, Wayne R.  Criminal Law.  5th ed.  St. Paul, MN, Thomson West 2010.  LAW RESERVE KF 9219.L38

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE

Dressler, Joshua. Understanding Criminal Procedure. 5th ed. Newark, N.J., LexisNexis, 2010. LAW RESERVE KF 9619.D74

LaFave, Wayne R.; Israel, Jerold H.; & King, Nancy J.  Criminal Procedure.  5th ed.  St. Paul, MN, Thomson West, 2009.  LAW RESERVE KF 9619.L34

DISPUTE RESOLUTION

Nolan-Haley, Jacqueline M. Alternative Dispute Resolution in a Nutshell. 3d ed.  St. Paul, MN, Thomson West, 2008.  LAW RESERVE KF 9084.N647

EXAM-TAKING

Fischl, Richard M. & Paul, Jeremy.  Getting to Maybe:  How to Excel on Law School Exams.  Durham, NC, Carolina Academic Press, 1999.  KF 283.F57.

Friedman, Barry. Open Book: Succeeding on Exams from the First Day of Law School. New York, Wolters Kluwer, 2011. LAW RESERVE KF 283.F75

LEGAL MEMORANDA

Board of Student Advisors, Harvard Law School. Introduction to Advocacy:  Research, Writing and Argument, Ch. 4.  7th ed.  New York, NY, Foundation Press, 2002. LAW RESERVE KF 281.A2 I57

Rambo, Teresa J. Reid & Pflaum, Leanne J. Legal Writing by Design: A Guide to Great Briefs and Memos. Durham, NC, Carolina Academic Press, 2001. KF 250.R35.

Shapo, Helene S.; Walter, Marilyn R.; & Fajans, Elizabeth.  Writing and Analysis in the Law, Ch. 7.  Rev. 5th ed.  New York, NY, Foundation Press, 2008.  LAW RESERVE KF 250.S5

LEGAL OPINION LETTERS

Sterba, John M.  Drafting Legal Opinion Letters, Ch. 2.  2nd ed.  New York, NY, John Wiley & Sons, 1992.  KF 250.D73 (supplemented through 2001).

LEGAL REASONING

Burton, Steven J. An Introduction to Law and Legal Reasoning. 3d ed.  New York, Aspen Publishers, 2007.  LAW REFERENCE KF 8775.B87

Vandevelde, Kenneth J.  Thinking Like a Lawyer: An Introduction to Legal Reasoning. 2nd ed.  Boulder, CO, Westview Press, 2011   K212.V36

LEGAL RESEARCH

Cohen, Morris L. & Olson, Kent C.  Legal Research in a Nutshell.  10th ed.  St. Paul, MN, Thomson West, 2010. LAW RESERVE KF 240.C54.

Sloan, Amy E.  Basic Legal Research: Tools & Strategies, 4th ed.  New York, NY, Aspen Publishers, 2009.  KF 240.S585

LEGAL WRITING STYLE

LeClercq, Terri.  Guide to Legal Writing Style.  5th ed. New York, NY, Aspen Publishers, 2011. LAW RESERVE   KF 250.L3919

Wydick, Richard C.  Plain English For Lawyers.  5th ed. Durham, NC, Carolina Academic Press, 2005.  LAW RESERVE KF 250.W9

Korzen, John. Make Your Argument: Succeeding in Moot Court and Mock Trial. New York, Kaplan, 2010. LAW RESERVE KF 281.A2 K67

 

ORAL ARGUMENT

Board of Student Advisors, Harvard Law School. Introduction to Advocacy:  Research, Writing and Argument, Ch. 6.  7th ed.  New York, NY, Foundation Press, 2002. LAW RESERVE KF 281.A2 I57

Shapo, Helene; Walter, Marilyn R. & Fajans, Elizabeth.  Writing and Analysis in the Law, Ch. 19.  Rev. 5th ed. New York, NY, Foundation Press, 2008.  LAW RESERVE KF 250.S5

Re, Edward D. & Re, Joseph R.  Brief Writing & Oral Argument, Chs. 9, 10.  9th ed.  NY, Oceana, 2005.  KF 251.R4

PROPERTY

Sprankling, John G. Understanding Property Law. 2d ed. Newark, N.J., Lexis Nexis, 2007. LAW RESERVE KF 561.S67

Stoebuck, William B. & Whitman, Dale A. The Law of Property, 3rd ed.  St. Paul, MN, West Group, 2000.  LAW RESERVE KF 570.C86

TORTS

Diamond, John. Understanding Torts. 4th ed. Newark, N.J., LexisNexis, 2010. LAW RESERVE KF1250.D5

Dobbs, Don B.  The Law of Torts.  St. Paul, MN, West Group, 2000.  LAW RESERVE KF 1250.D6

Kionka, Edward J. Torts in a Nutshell, 5th ed. St. Paul, MN, Thomson West, 2010. LAW RESERVE KF 1250.Z9 K53