Want To Study Law? Get These Essential Guides.
A law degree is a unique learning curve encompassing research, analysis, problem-solving, writing both precisely and formally, exposition and of course attention to detail. You’ll not only study an overview of law – why we have laws and how we decide which ones to make – you’ll study various aspects of the law in greater depth, from UK criminal law to corporate law and more. Some of these subjects will be compulsory, but you’ll get to choose others depending on your areas of interest.
We’ve put together a list of 5 fantastic guides for any student thinking about studying law, or coming into the subject for the first time. Any of them are worthwhile reading but they all have an angle on their introduction to a law degree. Take a look at our reviews below to see which ones will be useful to you.
Letters To A Law Student: A Guide To Studying Law At University
About The Book
Author: Nick McBride
Paperback: 296 pages
Publisher: Longman (10 Aug 2006)
Language English
ISBN-10: 0582894255
ISBN-13: 978-0582894259
Studying law can often seem a bit daunting, but this book aims to expel any worries you might have and turn a law degree into an enjoyable, stimulating experience. It covers topics such as deciding where to study law, how to write brilliant essays, how to revise for your exams and how to decide what to do once you graduate. All the advice is completely practical which makes it a good reference guide to keep throughout your first year and beyond.
Nick McBride has an entertaining, honest style and this book will really help you to make up your mind about a law degree. If you’re thinking about going to university or you’re not quite sure about taking law yet, this is definitely the book for you.
Legal Skills
About The Book
Author: Dr Emily Finch, Stefan Fafinski
Hardcover: 424 pages
Publisher: OUP Oxford (26 April 2007)
Language English
ISBN-10: 0199203903
ISBN-13: 978-0199203901
A law degree teaches you so many different skills it’s handy to have some advice on the best way to begin. Legal Skills sets out practical and easy to understand explanations of all the things you need to know – from how best to use cases to mooting. This book is ideal for students about to start their law degree and is a fantastic reference throughout the first year and beyond. It contains a handy glossary so you can refer back to any legal terms you don’t understand (or forget!).
The book also comes with access to an online resource centre with videos and extra content to bring the subject alive. We’d recommend this book to any first year students and anyone looking for a truly practical reference guide.
Using a Law Library: A Student’s Guide to Legal Research Skills.
About This Book
Author: Peter Clinch
Paperback: 360 pages
Publisher: Blackstone Press; 2 edition (1 Jan 2001)
Language English
ISBN-10: 1841740292
ISBN-13: 978-1841740294
Law libraries can be daunting – when you’re undertaking research how do you know where to start? Legal texts seem to be the biggest books ever made and a common stumbling block for law students is finding their way round the library! Like most things it’s easy once you know how, and this book by Peter Clinch is a truly practical guide to getting the most out of law libraries. It contains a comprehensive description of the legal literature of England, Wales and the EC and explains how you should use law catalogues and indexes to find what you need.
During your law degree you’ll spend a lot of time researching so this book is incredibly useful for any student. It also explains how to record your research – for example in your essays or dissertation so you’re sure of getting it right first time. Peter Clinch’s guide is unique and a welcome addition to any law student’s bookshelf.
Learning The Law
About This Book
Author: Glanville Williams
Paperback: 293 pages
Publisher: Sweet & Maxwell; 13Rev Ed edition (25 Aug 2006)
Language English
ISBN-10: 0421925507
ISBN-13: 978-0421925502
We couldn’t leave out Glanville Williams’ Learning The Law – for over 50 years it’s been a popular introduction for students embarking on a law degree. It covers the same general topics as the two preceding books to equip you with everything you need to know to succeed in your study. How to interpret statutes, what to do with cases, taking part in mock trials and preparing for your exams are all covered, along with the all-important research skills you’ll need for your course. At under 300 pages it’s a very manageable overview and a great introduction to degree-level study.
Legal Method
About This Book
Author: Ian Mcleod
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan; 6Rev Ed edition (16 Mar 2007)
Language English
ISBN-10: 0230013341
ISBN-13: 978-0230013346
Most students study law because they’d like to become lawyers, and if you’d like to know what working in the legal profession is like then this book offers some useful insight. It explains the English legal system and how lawyers navigate it – if you’re familiar with the legal skills discussed in the previous books you’ll see how lawyers apply them to real life situations. This isn’t a complete beginner’s guide but it certainly shows what to expect if you go on to a career as a lawyer. Useful if you’re still trying to make up your mind!
