Starting a law degree? Here are six books you’ll need

Law is one of the subjects that you really do need your textbooks for. You’ll need not just a general overview, but specific principles and cases, details of judgements and submissions. So there’s definitely some real value in investing in good textbooks. Many will stand you in good stead and be valuable resources for years to come. Just make sure you always buy the most up-to-date version (unless you are specifically pointed to an older edition by your lecturer).

As you go through law school, you’ll find you have to refer to the serious texts, as assigned by your lecturers and tutors. But before you plunge into these brick-like heavy volumes (full of citations, case references and exhaustive analysis), you might want to start with a gentler overview — a low level introductory text or a subject summary. Get to grips quickly with the basics, and then you can fill in the details and back your research and coursework with the in-depth ‘brick’. The additional notes and specific details will come to make sense, and prove invaluable.

But the study of law is not merely the sum of its legal areas. You need to develop skills to support your knowledge practically: skills in legal reasoning, problem-solving and analysis, research, writing and citation. That’s where Booktopia comes in! I’ve listed some of the most popular and valuable resources a law student can find from our collection below. Read on …

Laying Down the Law (11th Ed)

by Robin Creyke, David Hamer, Patrick O’Mara, Belinda Smith and Tristan Taylor

A popular and indispensable guide since the first edition in 1985, this book is a handy and readable (yet comprehensive) guide to the basics of law. The language is clear, and it comes with helpful resources and quizzes that support you as you grasp the basics. Now in an updated 11th edition, this book is the most widely-used law introductory text in Australia, and the ideal place to start.

Buy it here

Practical Legal Skills (5th Ed)

by Ross Hyams & Adrian Evans

To be great in the law field, you need more than legal understanding, you need to develop a specific skill set. This essential guide covers the basics of writing, advising, interviewing, as well as in-depth communication and negotiation. The 5th edition is fully updated to the recent challenges of AI, social media and remote meetings.

Buy it here

Plain Language for Lawyers (4th Ed)

by Michele M. Asprey

Plain language in law is vital and yet challenging to achieve. Precision in meaningful discourse can’t be sacrificed, and yet complex language can endanger readers who don’t understand it. This book will prove incredibly useful for law students and professionals throughout their career, demonstrating good drafting skills are achievable and valuable.

Buy it here

Australian Guide to Legal Citation (4th Ed)

by Melbourne University Law Review

Citation in law is inescapable. It binds the legal principles into a consistent and agreed framework, informs judgements and allows transparency. The AGLC4 is our national language for citation, the Australian standard for referencing and footnoting used by law professionals. This book is simply indispensable for anyone entering the Australian legal profession!

Buy it here

Researching and Writing in Law (4th Ed)

by Terry Hutchinson

If you are looking for a good reference for finding and validating legal points, you can’t go past this book. Well organised and practical, it’s search strategies extend beyond the basic library skills, interviews and surveys, to literature review and more electronic sources. It shows you how to find the deeper, more valuable sources without wasting time. The book also gives a helpful explanation of concepts and the guidelines of effective writing. This resource is of use for students beginning law to postgraduate level and beyond.

Buy it here

LexisNexis Concise Australian Legal Dictionary (6th Ed)

by Ray Finkelstein & David Hamer

You won’t get far without a good law dictionary. They are the best way to get a clear understanding of thousands of terms across hundreds of areas. This one is put together and then reviewed by a large team of Australian legal experts, making it the most popular legal dictionary in Australia. It also explains how the words are pronounced in Latin! You are definitely going to use this.

Buy it here

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About the Contributor

Robert O'Hearn

Robert O'Hearn is the non-fiction specialist at Booktopia HQ. He has been a bookseller for over three decades and can't seem to stop. He is an aspiring apiarist and likes playing Joy Division songs on mandolin. He is generally harmless.

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