Main Study Aid Publications
The Law Library keeps a select collection of study aids for students shelved alongside their subject or placed on reserve behind the circulation desk at a professor's request.. Use the links below to find a complete list in our catalog for each title or use the advanced search features to narrow a catalog search to a specific area of law you want. You may always ask a law librarian for a recommendation! We also have a place dedicated in our Reference Hallway for donated study aids students can use as needed. We just ask that you take one, use it, and put it back for others to benefit from!
- The "Understanding..." series by LexisNexis"Titles in The Complete Understanding Series are ideally formatted to provide law students with the essential foundation for a full and clear comprehension of the subject area, and are designed to provide an organized and accurate presentation of the material, including more in-depth treatments for particularly challenging areas. An index and glossary allow you to quickly find the material you need and look up key terms that are unique to a particular field. Presented in convenient softcover volumes, these titles can be easily carried with you to the classroom or library"
- The "Mastering..." series by Carolina Academic Press"The Carolina Academic Press Mastering Series is designed to provide law students the critical tools needed to easily and efficiently master the substance and content of various law school courses. All books in the series are easy-to-read, with key terms emphasized and explained. Footnotes and cites to secondary sources are used sparingly, allowing the reader to concentrate on the essential material."
- "Examples and Explanations" series by Aspen"A favorite classroom prep tool of successful students that is often recommended by professors, the Examples & Explanations (E&E) series provides an alternative perspective to help you understand your casebook and in-class lectures. Each E&E offers hypothetical questions complemented by detailed explanations that allow you to test your knowledge of the topics in your courses and compare your own analysis."
- "In a Nutshell" series by West Academic"Nutshells are compact, soft-covered study guides that explain the most important issues of law, highlighting key cases and statutes. Nutshells are written by recognized experts who present the essential rules of law in a uniquely condensed format. Finely detailed and assiduously researched, the Nutshell is the perfect reference guide for a quick, simplified and thorough summation of the law."
Preparing for Exams
Prior exams are a valuable resource! The library maintains old exams contributed by professors at their discretion. Please inquire at the Circulation Desk; students with a valid University of Richmond Internet connection may access some exams electronically at ExamFile:
- Exam FileYou can use this website to search by faculty member or by course to find past exams supplied by your professors.
Reserve a Study Room
The Law Library has five group study rooms located in the basement and three rooms on the second floor that students may reserve.
- Study Room ReservationYou can find the room reservation link on the main library web page under "Quick Links."
Instructions for reserving a study a room:
- Use the drop down to select a location.
- Select an open start time.
- Use the drop menu at the bottom of the form to select an end time and hit SUBMIT.
- Enter your name and @richmond.edu email to book your room reservation.
Be sure to look over the policies before you reserve a room for information about the size of the available rooms and how to pick up your key.
Study Habits and Law School Exams
Getting to Maybe by Call Number: KF283 .F47 1999ISBN: 0890897603Publication Date: 1999-05-01This book may have been written in 1999, but it is still relied on as a classic study aid for law school exams because of the practical advice contained within it for improving scores on exams
Open Book by Call Number: KF283 .F75 2011ISBN: 1454806079Publication Date: 2011-07-26Much like Getting to Maybe, this book focuses specifically on organizing your class material and study habits to get the most out of essay exams.
Law School Success by Call Number: KF283 .B871 2008ISBN: 031416779XPublication Date: 2008-04-08Part of the Nutshell series, this work discusses basic concepts such as what is a hornbook, study groups and law school exams
Writing Essay Exams to Succeed in Law School by Call Number: KF283 .D47 2010ISBN: 0735591881Publication Date: 2009-11-19Discusses the law school exam and how to write successful essay answers
Law School Exams by Call Number: KF283 .S335 2012ISBN: 1611630592Publication Date: 2012-01-01Works through prep, exam writing, and finishing touches, along with tips and common mistakes
West Academic Study Aids
Electronic versions of several popular law school study aids are available through West Academic. Our school subscription includes the Nutshell series, Hornbooks, and Black Letter Outlines, and other study aids for every subject you will take your first year. Follow the link and search by subject area, or for a specific source.
- Wolters Kluwer Study Aids
Electronic versions of Wolters Kluwer study aids are available through the WK Online Study Aid Library. Popular Wolters Kluwer study aids include Examples & Explanations, Glannon Guides, and Emanuel Law Outlines. - Quimbee
Quimbee is a company hell-bent on one thing: helping you get an “A” in every course you take in law school, so you can graduate at the top of your class and get a high-paying law job. We’re not just a study aid for law students; we’re the study aid for law students.
Lexis Study Aids
Lexis publishes a number of study aids, including the "Understanding..." series. There are also resources available on your Lexis for Law Schools main page.
- 1L Success ToolkitLog into LexisNexis for Law School using your Lexis ID and you can access videos, tutorials, and the handy Lexis app for access Lexis Advance on your tablet or smartphone.
- Study AidsUse the Study Aids link to find Lexis study aids. Before you purchase an aid from Lexis, see if we have it in our catalog! We purchase many of these titles for our students.
Bloomberg Study Aids
Bloomberg Law is one of the newer commercial databases. They are partnered with Casebriefs, an online platform that has explanations of cases keyed to specific casebooks--you just select which casebook you and in and view case briefs by chapter. It also has extensive outlines of Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, Contracts, Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, Evidence, Property, and Torts.
- CasebriefsFollow the link here or from the Bloomberg Law main page. Registration is free!
Be sure to check out the home page of Bloomberg Law as well.
- First Year ResourcesThe 1st Year Resources page of Bloomberg Law will guide you to specific resources on first year classes, give you quick access to primary sources you will consult often, like the US Code, and give you some tips to beginning law school.
Audio Case Files
Do you have a long drive ahead of you? Or like to take podcasts to the gym? Lexis Courtroom Cast offers a service called AudioCaseFiles, where you can download audio files of landmark cases being read aloud.
- AudioCaseFiles on LexisRegister using your Lexis credentials to access the audio files.