Contributed by Barb Kallusky.
There are times during your first year of law school when the case book is just not enough to explain some unfathomable, arcane or difficult legal concepts or theories. Your first year is confusing and frustrating enough, and there are times when you need some relief.
Study groups (sometimes referred to as the blind leading the blind), and study aids such as Emanuels, or the Black Letter series, are readily available to 1Ls . . . . but then there are supplemental materials such as nutshells, hornbooks and treatises.
West Group publishes a series of paper bound books on various legal topics. The Nutshell series is comprehensive yet condensed surveys of specific areas of law. The text is readable and often easy to comprehend. The authors are legal scholars expert in the field. The format is “pocket size” and runs about 400-500 pages.
Hornbooks, on the other hand, are often 800-900 pages, standard in size and hardbound. Because of their length, the analysis is often more detailed, yet readable. Hornbooks are often supplemented with pocket parts.
Treatises are often multivolume, scholarly, comprehensive, in-depth discussions of a specific area of law. Treatises are not easily understood without some basic knowledge of the subject. They often have the detail appreciated by legal scholars and practitioners. Treatises are often supplemented annually.
CONTRACTS
Contracts in a nutshell / by Claude D. Rohwer, Anthony M. Skrocki. 5th ed. ; St. Paul, MN : West Group, c2000. ; 639p. ; Nutshell series ; Includes index. “A well used general guide to contract law.” Reserve KF801.Z9 S3 2000.
The Calamari and Perillo on contracts / by Joseph M. Perillo. 5th ed. ; St. Paul, MN : Thomson/West, c2003. ; 1052p. ; Hornbook series ; Includes index. “A popular, highly used hornbook” Reserve KF801 .C26 2003.
Corbin on contracts / by Arthur Linton Corbin. Rev. ed by Joseph Perillo. St. Paul, MN : West Pub. Co., c1993- <2001> 15 v. ; Kept up to date by cumulative supplements and pocket supplements. Includes index in looseleaf format. “A major treatise, well-respected, often cited.” Treatises KF801 .C65 1993
Farnsworth on contracts / E. Allan Farnsworth. 3rd ed. ; New York : Aspen Publishers, c2004. 3 v. Kept up to date by supplements. Includes bibliographical references and index. “An often referred to, high demand, excellent resource.” Treatises KF801 .F37 2004.
Contracts / E. Allan Farnsworth. 4th ed. ; New York : Aspen Publishers, c2004. 940p. ; Includes bibliographical references and index. “A shorter version of Farnsworth on contracts.” Reserve KF801 .F36 2004
CIVIL PROCEDURE
Civil procedure in a nutshell / by Mary Kay Kane. 5th ed. ; St. Paul, MN : Thomson/West Pub. Co., c2003. 309p. ; Includes index. “This comprehensive guide offers a succinct review of civil procedure rules.” — The Publisher. Reserve KF8841 .K36 2003.
Civil procedure / by Jack H. Friedenthal, Mary Kay Kane, Arthur R. Miller. 4th ed. ; St. Paul, MN : Thomson/West, c2005 964p. ; Hornbook series ; Includes bibliographical references and index. “Popular, highly used explanation of the topic.” Reserve KF8840 .F72 2005.
Civil procedure / by Fleming James, Jr., Geoffrey C. Hazard, Jr., John Leubsdorf. 5th ed. ; New York : Foundation Press, c2001. 866p. ; “Venerable, popular, single volume survey of the subject.” Reserve KF8840 .J36 2001
Law of federal courts / by Charles Alan Wright, Mary Kay Kane. 6th ed. ; St. Paul, MN : West Group, c2002. 983p. ; Hornbook series ; Includes index. “Expert summary of the federal court system, including jurisdiction and litigation procedure.” — The Publisher.” Reserve KF8840 .W7 2002
Federal Practice and Procedure / by Charles Alan Wright, 3rd ed. St. Paul, MN : West Pub. Co., 1982- 63 v. ; Kept up to date by cumulative supplements. “THE treatise on the subject. An alternative is Moore’s Federal Practice.” Treatises KF8840 .B28
LEGAL RESEARCH & WRITING
Legal research in a nutshell / by Morris L. Cohen, Kent C. Olson. 8th ed. ; St. Paul, MN : Thomson/West, 2003. 478p. ; Nutshell series ; Includes indexes. “Update research skills by learning how to use the latest technology online databases, CD-ROM, and Internet-based resources.” — The Publisher.” Reserve KF240 .C54 2003
Finding the law / by Robert C. Berring, Elizabeth A. Edinger. 11th ed. ; St. Paul, MN : West Group, 1999. ; 393p. ; American casebook series. “A shortened version of the title listed below.” Treatises KF240 .B45 1999
Fundamentals of legal research / by Roy M. Mersky, Donald J. Dunn. 8th ed. New York : Foundation Press, 2002. 821 p. University casebook series. Includes bibliographical references and index. Reserve KF240 .J32 2002
How to find the law / by Morris Cohen, Robert C. Berring, and Kent C. Olson. 9th ed. ;
St. Paul, MN : West Pub. Co., 1989. ; 716p. ; Hornbook series ; Includes index and bibliographical references. “One of the pillars of legal research instruction for law students.” Reserve KF240 .H65 1989
Legal writing in a nutshell / by Lynn Bahrych and Marjorie Dick Rombauer. 3rd ed. ; St. Paul, MN : West Pub. Co., 2003. ; 263p. ; Nutshell series ; Includes index. “Improve writing skills with this comprehensive guide to legal writing. — The Publisher.” Reserve KF250 .S68 2003
TORTS
Products liability in a nutshell / by Jerry J. Phillips. 6th ed. ; St. Paul, MN : Thomson/West, c2003. 330p. ; Nutshell series ; Includes index. “A good condensation of a very important area of tort law.” Reserve KF1296.Z9 N6 2003
Torts in a nutshell / by Edward J. Kionka. 4th ed. ; St. Paul, MN : Thomson/West c2005. 515p. ; Nutshell series ; Includes index. “Good overview of the subject, makes the difficult more easily understood.” Reserve KF1250.Z9 K53 2005.
Prosser & Keeton on the law of torts / W. Page Keeton, general editor ... [et al.] ; W. Page Keeton, general editor. 5th ed. ; St. Paul, MN : West Pub. Co., c1984. 1456p. ; Hornbook series ; Lawyer's edition ; Includes index. “Detailed treatment on torts addresses product liability, negligence, and personal injury. —The Publisher.” Reserve KF1250 .P73 1984
The American law of torts / Stuart M. Speiser, Charles F. Krause, Alfred W. Gans.
Rochester, NY : Lawyers Co-operative Pub. Co. ; 10 v. ; Kept up to date by cumulative pocket parts ; Includes bibliographies. “Multi-volume treatise on one of the basics of legal practice.” Treatises KF1250 .S568 1983
CRIMINAL LAW
Criminal law in a nutshell / by Arnold H. Loewy. 4th ed. ; St. Paul, MN : West Group, c2003. 335p. ; Nutshell series ; Includes index. “Basic work on the subject.” Reserve KF9219.3 .L63 2003
Criminal law / by Wayne R. LaFave. 4th ed. ; Student ed. ; St. Paul, MN : West Group, c2003. 1223p ; Hornbook series ; Includes bibliographical references and index. “Detailed and comprehensive treatment of the basic rules, principles, and issues relating to criminal law.” —The Publisher. Reserve KF9219 .L38 2003
Wharton's criminal law.
Deerfield, IL : Clark Boardman Callaghan, c1993-1996. 15th ed. ; 4 v. ; Kept up to date by pocket parts. Includes index. “One of the classic treatises in law.” Treatises KF9219 .W451 1993
CONSTITUTIONAL LAW
Constitutional law in a nutshell / by Jerome A. Barron, C. Thomas Dienes. 5th ed. ; St. Paul, MN : West Group, c2003. 632p. ; Nutshell series ; Includes index. “Comprehensive guide and reference tool on constitutional law. — The Publisher. Reserve KF4550.Z9 B35 2003
Constitutional law / by John E. Nowak, Ronald D. Rotunda. 7th ed. ; St. Paul, MN : Thomson/West, c2004. 1652p. Hornbook series ; Includes index. “ Detailed and comprehensive treatment on constitutional law. — The Publisher.” Reserve KF4550 .N6 2004
Treatise on constitutional law : substance and procedure / by Ronald D. Rotunda, John E. Nowak. 3rd ed. ; St. Paul, MN : West Group, c1999. 5 v. : maps ; Includes index. “Well known, frequently referred to treatise.” Treatises KF4550 .R63 1999
American constitutional law / by Laurence H. Tribe. 3rd ed. ; Mineola, NY : Foundation Press, c2000- 1v. ; University textbook series ; Includes bibliographical references and index. “Well-respected scholar, quite popular analysis of the document.” Reserve KF4550 .T785 2000
PROPERTY
Real property in a nutshell / by Roger Bernhardt, Ann M. Burkhart. 4th ed. ; St. Paul, MN : West Group, c2000. ; 479p. Nutshell series ; Includes index. “This comprehensive guide provides expert summation of real property rules. — The Publisher. Reserve KF570.Z9 B47 2000
Personal property in a nutshell / by Barlow Burke. 3rd ed. ; St. Paul, MN : Thomson/West, c2003. ; 394p. ; Nutshell series ; Includes index. “Reviews initial principles of personal property and provides an introduction to contracts, commercial transactions, and civil procedure. —The Publisher.” Reserve KF705.Z9 B83 2003
The law of property / by William B. Stoebuck. 3rd ed. St. Paul, MN : West Group, 2000. 1096p. ; Hornbook series ; Includes index. “This comprehensive guide summarizes the history and principles of property law. — The Publisher.” Reserve KF561 .C86 2000
Introduction to the law of real property : an historical background of the common law of real property and its modern application / by Cornelius J. Moynihan, Sheldon F. Kurtz. 3rd ed. ; St. Paul, MN : West Group, c2002. 295p. ; Includes bibliographical references and index. “Good basic introduction, especially gives the history of real property in the context of modern times.” Reserve KF570 .M6 2002
The law of real property / by Richard R. Powell ; revision editor, Patrick J. Rohan. New York : M. Bender, c1949- ; 17v. (loose-leaf) ; Includes Table of cases and index volumes. Updated by cumulative supplements. “THE major treatise on the subject.” Treatises KF570 .P57
PROPERTY & FUTURE INTERESTS
Estates in land and future interests in a nutshell / by Lawrence W. Waggoner. 2nd ed. ; St. Paul, MN : West Pub. Co., c1993. 383p. ; Nutshell series ; Previously titled: Future interests in a nutshell. “An excellent overview of an often confusing subject.”
Reserve KF605 .W33 1993
The law of future interests / by John A. Borron, Jr. Borron [3rd] ed. St. Paul, MN : Thomson/West, 2002- Contributors Simes, Lewis Mallalieu), Law of future interests. Notes At head of title: Simes & Smith. Rev. ed. of: The law of future interests / Lewis M. Simes and Allan F. Smith. 2nd ed. 1956. Includes index. Kept up to date by tables and index pamphlets and pocket parts. “Detailed and comprehensive treatment on future interests, including inheritances, trust funds, real property, and real estate. — The Publisher.” Treatises KF605 .S52 2002
Preface to estates in land and future interests / by Thomas F. Bergin and Paul G. Haskell. 2nd ed. ; Mineola, NY : Foundation Press, c1984. ; 259p. ; University textbook series ; Includes bibliographical references and index. “A popular book on the topic.” Treatises KF577 .B4 1984