Top 10 Law Books That Every Law Student Ought to Read - Must Read Books for Law Students - IRAC Method
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TOP 10 LAW BOOKS THAT EVERY LAW STUDENT OUGHT TO READ

Updated: May 17, 2023

TOP 10 LAW BOOKS


When preparing for university applications, you are going to hear a lot of people telling you that you need to study a lot of different things related to your field. The question is, how do you choose what to read? Do you want to know what are the Top 10 law books? Because the law is notoriously difficult to understand and difficult to obtain, it may be challenging to choose where to begin. Because of this, we have compiled a list of the 10 books that, in our opinion, any person who is considering a career in law should read.


Because we believe it's particularly essential to make things straightforward and engaging when you are just starting out investigating a topic, we have avoided books that are too dry, complicated, or packed with information. In point of fact, the majority of the titles that have been mentioned down below are good books.


This list of Top 10 law books will centre on books that, in our opinion, are the best at explaining what the law is all about without driving you absolutely bonkers in the process. When you have finished reading them all, we hope you will have a much better understanding of what practising law entails and how to approach the study of law. Be on the lookout for a future post on this blog that offers some suggestions for more technical names.


1. LEARNING LEGAL RULES - HOLLAND & WEBB


Learning Legal Rules

This was the very first book I read throughout my time at the university, and it was really beneficial in assisting me to comprehend the material that I would be learning. This is an excellent book that will help you learn how to study law and will also show you how to get the knowledge you need. This is not something that you will not be taught at university. This well-known and respected book, which was written by prominent authors who also have extensive experience in both teaching and practice and provides the student with all of the methods of legal research, analysis, and argumentation that they will require for their law course as well as for their future legal careers. This is an excellent work for first-year students because Holland and Webb adopt an approach that is both interesting and practical, and they sprinkle the text with examples and activities that help students to build both their knowledge and their ability to reason logically.


2. ABOUT LAW – TONY HONORÉ


About Law

When I first made the decision to pursue a career in law, this was the second book I read in the field. I believe this demonstrates that it is more beneficial to read and appreciate a limited number of high-quality books as opposed to a large number of items that you are unable to comprehend.


The book "About Law" provides what is most likely the most fundamental introduction to legal concepts that you can acquire. Tony Honoré is a highly well-known legal professor who has successfully managed to compress his knowledge in order to create an introduction to the law that is both straightforward and fascinating. He covers a wide range of subjects, such as the function of law and how it operates (explained in layman's words), and he also provides an overview of the fundamentals of the English legal system. It is highly recommended that you start with reading this book, and you should read it even if you do not even end up reading any of the other books on this list. Although it is a short book and begins with the fundamentals, by the time you have completed it, you will know far more than when you first began reading it.


3. HOW TO STUDY LAW – PRIVATE LAW TUTOR PUBLISHING


How to study law

How to Study Law is in the Top 10 law books and this law helps equips aspiring lawyers with the foundational skills and information required for a successful legal education. It starts by exposing students to the fundamentals and ideas of English law before instructing them on how to find, read, and assess a variety of printed legal documents, including as decisions, laws, articles, and research reports. Using diagrams, real examples, and hands-on exercises, students may assess and practise their newly gained skills. This book tackles the subject head-on, explaining how to read, write, and edit in order to excel in your legal studies. I really hope you like it and, more importantly, that it will help you obtain a first in law school and save you time.


4. LETTERS TO A LAW STUDENT – NICHOLAS MCBRIDE


Law Books

Letters to a Law Student, written by Nick McBride and recommended by The Guardian as one of the best six books that all students who are considering or beginning a law degree at university should read, is an approachable introduction to the legal system for students who are either considering or beginning a legal education. This book is written in the form of a series of letters between a university professor and a prospective law student. It is a brief and personal read that sets you into the milieu of higher education and learning. The primary emphasis is on providing you with information on how to efficiently study, and McBride provides a wide variety of sound and helpful suggestions, ranging from broad themes such as how much work you should be doing to more particular ones such as how to take notes on a case. Although the reader is led to believe that the student being discussed in this book is actual, the letters are in fact addressed to any and all individuals who are considering a career in law, which makes it an ideal candidate for this role.


5. CONTRACT LAW – PRIVATE LAW TUTOR PUBLISHING


Contract Law Book

This book takes a look at the underlying precepts that drive today’s modern contract law and presents an analysis of those principles. This book examines the essential precepts that support current contract law and provides an analysis of those principles. What sets this book apart is that you can get an understanding of contract law in afternoons reading. It presents the cases in a novel way which can be very useful way of producing case notes. The book is like a companion you can take it to seminar and have a note of all the important cases. It is a primer on the legal principles governing contracts.


6. CONTRACT LAW Q&A – PRIVATE LAW TUTOR PUBLISHING


Contract Law Q&A

Each book comprises essay and problem-based questions on the most widely examined subjects, complete with assistance from subject matter experts and completely completed model solutions that help you plan your revision by presenting the most effective way to approach revision in each subject area. Learn what the examiners are looking for, and make sure that you can identify and describe the primary components of each question to assist you comprehend the most effective strategy. Gain grades and prevent frequent faults by determining typical problems students face in class and in assessment, offering revision suggestions to help you aspire higher in essays and examinations, and recognising common student mistakes. This book is an excellent aid for understanding the law and keeping it in your memory.


7. LEARNING THE LAW – GLANVILLE WILLIAMS


Law Books

Glanville Williams: Learning the Law has been helping students develop the 'foundational' abilities necessary to study law in an efficient manner for more than sixty years now, ever since it was first published in 1945. Despite this, we have decided to put it on the list since it discusses a wide variety of legal basics in a manner that is both understandable and comprehensive. This book is an absolute must for first-year law students since it provides an overview of the legal system in England as well as information on the important legal skills that students need to learn in order to be successful in both their legal studies and in their future employment.


8. EQUITY & TRUSTS – PRIVATE LAW TUTOR PUBLISHING


Equity & Trusts Book

The book excels in many areas, but one of its greatest strengths is its straightforward explanation of some of the most challenging aspects of legal practise. It moves fluidly from points that simplify this topic for students, enabling them to piece together the jigsaw. The concept of trusts is complicated enough to cause practitioners headaches. Other merits include the breadth of its approach, the fact that it is highly up to date, the freshness and vividness of its method, and its readiness to situate equity in a broader framework. The law student will benefit from a straightforward, engaging, presentation of the material being studied. The student will discover that it is worthwhile to reference the book since it provides a comprehensive explanation of the fundamental concepts and of the application of those ideas.


9. WINNING ARGUMENTS – JAY HEINRICHS


Law Books

Keeping with the theme of advocacy, you might like to read Jay Heinrichs’ Winning Arguments. The theme of the book needs little explanation but has particular relevance to Law students. Much of the work you will do, both as a Winning Arguments by Jay Heinrichs is a book that you could find interesting if you are interested in advocacy as a topic. The central idea of the book requires little in the way of explanation, although it is especially pertinent to those studying law. To ensure that all sides of an issue are well represented, a significant portion of the work that you will perform, both as a student and as a lawyer, will include formulating arguments that give the impression of being accurate, even if this is not the case the book written by Heinrichs is not only humorous and enjoyable to read, but it is also packed with helpful tips on how to organise your thoughts and make use of creative rhetorical strategies.


10. LORD DENNING, A LIFE – IRIS FREEMAN


Law Books

The central argument of this book is that the legal principles established by the Judges of the 19th century, despite the fact that they were appropriate for the social circumstances of the time, are not appropriate for the social requirements and social opinion of the 20th century. They need to be moulded and fashioned in such a way as to conform to the requirements and viewpoints of modern society. It is a fascinating tale of Lord Denning's personal contribution to the changing face of the law in this century, and The Discipline of Law is the book that tells that story.


In addition to being an outstanding judge, Lord Denning is a significant person because he came from a very humble background and established himself in a position of such prominence despite having no previous connections to the legal system. Lord Denning rose from modest origins to become the Master of the Rolls of England, in contrast to the majority of English judges who were either rich or even aristocratic in their families (the second-highest judge in the land, and the master of the Court of Appeal). When he reached these heights, he did not, however, forget his history, as is seen by the way he approached the law. This book is one that everyone should read since it demonstrates that it is possible to excel as a lawyer regardless of your background.

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