If you are planning on going to law school in the near future, you have made a great decision. This is an intellectually challenging field where you get to spend your career helping other people. Furthermore, you can defend the rights of others just as they have been enshrined in our Constitution.
On the other hand, nobody has said that law school is easy. Therefore, you need to do everything you can to place yourself in the best position possible to be successful. You can start by reading a few books that will serve you well in law school. What are a few examples that you should read?
The first book that you should read is titled Landmarks in the Law by Lord Denning. This is a book that will cover some of the biggest events that have taken place in English law. Even though England has laws that are different from the United States, our legal system was heavily based on the English system. Therefore, a lot of the lessons are still going to be relevant.
Another reason why you should read this book is that Lord Denning is one of the most influential judges and all of English history. He focused on making a lot accessible to the average person. Therefore, you can learn a lot simply by reading this book from cover to cover. Even though a lot of events are covered, it is still an easy read.
Learn More: Landmarks in the Law by Lord Denning
If you haven't yet gotten into law school, then you certainly need to read this book and include it on your application. Of course, if you do so, be prepared to talk about it during your interview! About Law is a wonderful, basic introduction to the law. The author, Tony Honore, is a renowned legal academic, and he has included his vast amount of knowledge into a single book that you can read easily.
This is a straightforward, interesting read that will cover a wide variety of topics. For example, he even covers the purpose of the law, how it works, and some of the biggest issues that the law faces today. If you read nothing else, you should read this book. It will serve you well in law school.
Learn More: About Law by Tony Honore
This is another fantastic introduction to the world of law. Even though it is a bit more detailed than the ones above, it is still easy to understand even if you haven't yet started law school. It is going to cover a lot of the mechanisms that make the legal system what it is today.
Even though the book is a bit old, so is the Constitution! A lot of the lessons in the book can still be applied to the current legal system. Be sure to read this book cover to cover as well. The author, Glanville Williams, does a great job explaining legal jargon in a way you can understand.
Learn More: Learning the Law by Glanville Williams
First, the law student in this book is fictional. On the other hand, the book is going to feel like it is written for you. After all, you are going to be a law student in the near future. In Letters to a Law Student, the author goes through what it is like to study law. Furthermore, this book also does a great job providing a basic explanation of the legal system.
If you read this book, you will learn how to study effectively during Law School. Furthermore, you will also get a feel for how to take notes on a case, how much work you should be doing, and how much time you should spend on each topic.
Learn More: Letters to a Law Student by Nicholas McBride
There is a good chance that you read To Kill a Mockingbird at some point during your grade school years. Even still, it is time to read it again. You are going to approach this landmark work of fiction differently because you are getting ready to start law school in the near future. To Kill a Mockingbird takes a look at how racism impacted the United States as recently as 100 years ago.
In order to figure out why the legal system has been set up the way it has, you need to know where it is coming from. This book will clearly explain to you why law is important and why rights need to be protected.
Learn More: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Just for the title alone, it is clear that this is relevant to law students. Much of the work you are going to do in law school involves coming up with arguments that will stand up in a court of law. If you read this book, you will learn how to structure your ideas, take advantage of rhetorical techniques, and win arguments both in and out of the courtroom.
Learn More: Winning Arguments by Jay Heinrichs
You are going to learn about lots of heroes in law school. Jeremy Hutchinson has been involved in cases involving some of the most notorious criminals in American history. Despite this, he still had an incredible level of success in the courtroom. A thrilling work, you will learn about the importance of being an advocate as a lawyer.
Learn More: Jeremy Hutchinson’s Case Histories by Thomas Grant