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1L Subject Study Guides

This guide provides a brief listing of popular study aids to help new law students prepare for their first year of law school.

Introduction

Study Aids can be an invaluable way to learn the fundamentals of an area of law. Publishers have created a number of different types of guides which can provide an overview of an area of law, examples to show how the law works and sample questions. This guide provides a brief listing of popular study aids used by students when preparing for courses and throughout their careers.  Make sure to try multiple guides until you find the one that works best for you.

Where do I find these study aids?

In the Library

The latest edition of these study aides are located on Reserve at the Circulation Desk.  Older editions can be found in the Stacks.

Books on Reserve in the library may be borrowed for up to four hours and those in the stacks for up to the entire semester. Be sure to check with the librarian when borrowing to see when your book will be due. Older editions may be borrowed for an extended period. 

Online

The library provides student subscriptions to Wolters Kluwer (Aspen) and West Academic study aids. Additionally, LexisNexis Digital library study aids can be accessed directly from our catalog. See below to learn how to access these resources.

West Academic Study Aids

Image of the study aid "Bankruptcy and Related Law in a Nutshell"Image of the study aid "Reproductive Rights and Justice Stories"

Examples of the many study aids available from West Academic.

Students connected to the university VPN can access West Academic study aids, including the Nutshell and Law Stories series.

Click here for instructions on logging into the VPN. After logging in, visit https://subscription.westacademic.com/.

For directions on how to sign up for West Academic Study Aids, and for directions on how to read a book offline, please see this guide.

 

Wolters Kluwer Study Aids (Aspen)

Image of the study aid "Property Examples and Explanations"Image of the study aid "Emanuel Law Outlines: Wills, Trusts, and Estates"

Examples of the many study aids available from Wolters Kluwer.                                                                                                                             

Students can access The Wolters Kluwer Online Study Aid Library (A.K.A. Aspen study aids) using the university VPN.  This resource features a wide range of study aids in various formats, including the Examples & Explanations series.


Click here for instructions on logging into the VPN. After logging in, visit https://ebooks.aspenlaw.com/.

 

LexisNexis Digital Library

LexisNexis Digital Library GraphicThis digital collection of study aids from LexisNexis includes the Understanding Series, Questions & Answers, among others.  Law students can create their own accounts on the Lexis platform and can save highlights and notes on the various titles.  

LexisNexis Digital Library

 

 

Study Guide Series

Examples & Explanations Series (Aspen) 
  • Available for all 1L subjects and many upper level subjects 
  • Presents questions that require applying the law to real world situations, and then answers those questions with clear legal analysis
  • Good for learning to apply legal concepts to fact patterns
Glannon Guides (Aspen) 
  • Multiple choice questions and analysis 
  • Exam-taking tips 
  • Available for most 1L subjects and some upper level subjects 
Inside Series (Aspen) 
  • Graphical presentation of key concepts 
  • FAQs to clarify points of law and common misperceptions 
  • Available for most 1L subjects and a few upper level subjects 
Mastering Series (Carolina Academic Press) 
  • Features bullet-point chapter road-maps 
  • Offers checkpoints at the end of each chapter (reviewing key concepts) 
  • Includes a Master Checklist (helpful for outlining) 
  • Available for most 1L subjects and some upper level subjects 
Questions & Answers (LexisNexis) 
  • Offers multiple choice and short answer questions 
Understanding Series (LexisNexis Matthew Bender) 
  • Similar to hornbooks (but condensed) 
  • Detailed chapter table of contents can serve as outline framework 
  • Available for all 1L subjects and many upper level subjects 
West's Hornbooks 
  • Detailed and comprehensive 
  • Includes appendix on researching areas of law on Westlaw 
  • Available for most subjects 
West's Nutshells 
  • Available for most subjects 
  • For a full list of Nutshells, see the Nutshell Series Fast Finder:
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