Law students spend the most on books; we need the most up to date textbooks even though only a few extra cases or comments may have been added. However, reference an old book and you risk losing marks as your point may have been updated in a later edition. Another huge risk is the law may dramatically change for example, European Union (EU) law, when the Lisbon Treaty was ratified all EU law became instantly outdated. Everything changed in terms of EU law although older books were good for historical information.
So that is book tip number 1 – make sure you have up to date books and hope to any deity out there that there is no dramatic change in law during the academic year.
Next and this is one I really wish I had known, it’s the end of your first year and you have a mountain of books and notes piled around your room. Thankfully you have passed all modules and are ready for second year and yet again you have a bookcase load of books to buy. “This is gonna cost half my student loan” is one of the first thoughts especially as no other subjects seem to need so many books BUT yay the campus bookshop will buy my old books back making new purchases cheaper. DO NOT DO THIS it is not a simple as I have done Public Law I will never need it again because you will, throughout the degree the other law subjects blend. This is known as the ‘golden thread of law’ and it is so very true Public Law for example can be used in many subjects after all knowing basic principles of administrative law, separation of powers, the rule of law are present in most subjects. How can you study Human Rights without knowing the basis of these rights? I do not mean the Human Rights Act 1998 alone but it starts with Entick v Carrington, which at its core says no man, is above the law and influenced even the United States Constitutional Amendments. I could list at least 100 more examples but basically the modules are individual the cases and principles are not.
So that is book tip number 2 – keep all of your books at least until the end of your degree. By this time you will have come to love them and want to keep them anyway.
When reading law books or cases there will be many new terms, Latin and Norman French may well be present and sometimes there are just “law” words and “law” grammar and it doesn’t make sense but it just ‘is’ accept it quickly there is no reason. Simply put its law and at times it appears that due to the prestige of the subject once you are a renowned Judge or academic you can prima facie make language up. Therefore, it is essential that you have at least 1 good law dictionary, as it will be well used. I had a book and an app and used them often.
So that is book tip number 3 – a good quality law dictionary is essential for all law students.
Next read, read and read some more. You can never read enough while doing a law degree and no matter how much you have read – read more. This is not just books, but you should be reading full judgments, journal articles and newspapers. This is at the very least law students should always be aware of politics and this can involve listening to the radio, watching Prime Ministers Questions and Question Time – to name but a few.
So that is book tip number 4 – read widely and around the subject as this will only gain you extra marks.
So these are 4 things I wish I had been told at the start of my degree. Keep reading your up to date books and read as many legal journals as possible, ensuring you have a Dictionary at hand while doing it.
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