top 15 law books [updated 2022]
The law is a set of rules imposed by a country/institution to regulate the actions/behaviors of the members of the country. Below is the list of books on law that you must read in 2022 –
- the rule of law ( get this book )
- the legal analyst: a set of tools for thinking about the law ( get this book )
- Constitutional Law: Principles and Policies(get this book)
- Understanding Criminal Law(get this book)
- Business Law: Text and Cases(get this book)
- Working with Contracts(get this book)
- environmental law manual ( get this book )
- family law ( get this book )
- mcgraw – hill real estate law for paralegals (get this book)
- legal guide to starting & running a small business ( get this book )
- patents, copyrights and trademarks for dummies ( get this book )
- international law ( get this book )
- presenting your case: the art of persuading judges ( get this book )
- the new jim crow: mass incarceration in the age of color blindness (get this book)
- letters to a law student: a guide to studying law in college(get this book)
Let’s discuss each of the law books in detail along with their key points and reviews.
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#1 – the rule of law
by tom bingham
about the book
This law book explores the real idea behind the much-used phrase “the rule of law,” which forms the foundation of modern states and civilizations. can be an interesting read for people interested in politics, society, and the state of the world.
book review
This book is the brainchild of one of the world’s greatest legal minds. the author explains the history, evolution, application and current scenario of the rule of law doctrine in the world. he also discusses the eight conditions that capture the essence of law in Western democracies. the underlying idea of the doctrine is that the law that governs the people must be justified and just. the book also addresses the impact of international terrorism on the rule of law. Although the book has been written for anyone interested in the concept of the doctrine, the technical and legal jargon used can be a bit overwhelming for people without a legal background.
key points
- The book tries to convey the underlying idea of the phrase “the rule of law” to readers.
- The lucid presentation and in-depth international analysis make it a great read.
- People with a legal background would enjoy the book’s explanation.
#2 – the legal analyst: a toolkit for thinking about the law
by ward farnsworth
about the book
The book provides a quick overview of the various ways of looking at law enforcement. the book describes the main ideas of the law and clarifies its different components.
book review
In this book, the author intends to fill the gap in law school teaching where law schools do not focus enough on the processes of thinking about and analyzing legal issues. The book explores a wide range of topics including principles of economics and law, game theory, behavioral psychology, standards of review, case law, etc. offers an alternative to the traditional law school curriculum by exploring solutions rather than the main topic. Readers, especially law students and legal professionals, will find the book engaging as it uses many examples to explain concepts. you can use the book as an analytical toolkit for thinking about legal issues.
key points
- is a practical guide that covers how the concept of behavioral economics, game theory, basic statistics, etc. can be used for legal reasoning.
- It is an important set of analytical tools for people who are new to the legal profession.
#3 – constitutional law: principles and policies
by erwin chemerinsky
book review
many students have mentioned that this book has saved their lives. it’s because constitutional law is the most horrible subject for students. however, after reading, they realized that constitutional law does not have to be like this. can be well understood if the fundamentals are taught clearly and relatably. Chemerinsky’s book does both for students.
First of all, the book is so well written that you won’t stumble anywhere and comprehension will be solid. and second, for first-time law students, it is very easy to read. From the perspective of many readers, it can easily be said that it is perfect for those who find constitutional law impenetrable and, at the same time, want to digest and pass their exams.
Normally, in legal studies, constitutional law is taught in the first year, when students are new to this type of study and find constitutional law very difficult. It is a must read for those starting out in legal studies due to its logical arrangement of chapters and digestible content.
key points
- This is the most comprehensive guide to constitutional law you will ever find. With over 1000 pages, this book can be the stand-alone guide to constitutional law preparation.
- In addition, you will also get many references, examples, and cases to supplement your understanding of constitutional law.
- Most of the students have successfully passed constitutional law by reading this book.
#4 – understanding criminal law
by joshua dressler
book review
If you are looking for a criminal law textbook, you will find much value in this book. Most readers who have read this book have mentioned that it is an excellent reference book for passing the exam. It has been written for students, and as a law student, you will appreciate the content, the logical chronology, and the clear and concise version. Few students have commented that if you have the dressler casebook, this book will act as a great supplement.
To understand criminal law, you always need a book that compares the criminal code with the utilitarian aspects of criminal law. Well, this book does not disappoint you in this regard either. It should primarily be read by law students, but if you are in the legal profession or in business and feel that you need to review some legal amendments or bindings for a particular situation, you can read this book as a reference. along with different types of crimes and their legal actions, you will also find a large number of cases, references, examples and concise explanations.
key points
- You will appreciate the book properly if you use it as a companion to a criminal law casebook. it’s concise and comprehensive at the same time, and you don’t need to read any other book if your intention is just to pass the exam.
- This law book focuses on the fundamentals of specific crimes such as murder, rape, robbery, group criminality, and also covers theories of punishment and general principles such as legality and proportionality.
#5 – commercial law: text and cases
by kenneth w. Clarkson, Roger Leroy Miller, and Frank B. cross
book review
This book is an amazing guide for someone who has been studying a business/finance course and needs to go through business law course. is an amazing resource for someone who is a business owner and would need to be strong in business law in order to run their business well. one of the readers who has been practicing law has mentioned that this book is very comprehensive and has given a detailed explanation of all the fundamentals of business law.
is more comprehensive than a business student needs; that means two things: first, there are no problems passing the exam; and second, the business student can read additional material for better insight and comprehension. Also, if you are a complete beginner and have no idea about business law, it would be your savior. it can be called a bible for commercial law. each year, you can refer back to this book for reference.
key points
- It is so comprehensive that it includes the fundamental laws as well as business cases that will help students better understand the texts.
- It doesn’t just include old cases. it also has a number of contemporary and new cases that are highly relevant to business law students.
#6 – work with contracts
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What Law School Doesn’t Teach You, 2nd Edition (pli Securities and Corporate Law Library)
by charles m. fox
book review
If you ever worry about contract law in your law school, this is a must read for you. not only makes concepts easy, but also teaches you how to write the contract. Readers from all over the world who have read this book have mentioned that it is the best book on drafting contracts.
but let’s say you’ve never been to law school and you don’t have any legal training; Could this book add value to you/your profession? If you’re currently associated with drafting contracts and don’t have a degree, this is the standalone book for you.
You can use it as a training material to teach your youth about drafting contracts, and you can keep the book on your desk for future reference. Also, if you ever dream of becoming a transaction lawyer, this is a must read for you. the contents of the book will also help you if you are acting as a trial attorney on behalf of your clients.
key points
- To write a contract, you need three types of practical knowledge: legal, technical and commercial. this book will give you all three.
- This law book is written in such a way that as a layman you will be able to follow the method step by step and learn your way to becoming the best contract drafter.
#7 – environmental law manual
by christopher l. bell, f. William Brownell, David R. case, kevin a. Ewing, Jessica O. King, Stanley W. landfair and many
book review
If you are studying environmental law and have decided to become an environmental law scholar, this is a great textbook for you. At over 1,100 pages, it includes all the cases, examples, concepts, and fundamentals of environmental law that you absolutely need. there are many other books that are very complete like this one, but why read this one? Because this also includes reviews by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA)!
It may not be useful to you as a business owner because there is too much information required. is a perfect read for those who have been studying law and need to read a text on environmental law.
The only stumbling block with this book is that it’s a bit boring at times as it goes on to explain the concepts in depth. if you don’t want to use it as a textbook, you can keep this book for additional reference, and whenever you need to find a little more detailed description of any concept, you can pick up this book and read it.
key points
- In 1973, three years after Congress passed the environmental law, this book was first published. and ever since, it has been serving students with all the contemporary cases, examples, foundations, and problems.
- In a nutshell, this book will help you answer three questions:
- how? Can compliance with regulations be ensured?
- How do the latest environmental developments impact operations?
- How do you keep operations efficient and the environment safe?
#8 – family law
by william p. statistics
book review
if you ask people what is the most important priority in their life, they will answer in unison: “family”. if a family is important to you, you also need to find ways to protect it. Pick up this book and learn how you can protect your family’s interests. let’s say you want to go further and not only want to protect your family; but he also wants to protect the family from others; in that case, you can also use this book.
Reading this book will help you understand how the law relates to domestic relationships, what the role of paralegal and attorney is, and how you can exercise your power to protect your family. this book also provides references for external primary and secondary authorities.
Many students have also recommended it to others who have been studying law. It can easily be called a bible for family law as it is so comprehensive and clearly written for anyone willing to learn family law. it is also very well organized and well written.
key points
- offers an excellent introduction to family law covering procedural and substantive law with a strong practical emphasis.
- in addition to learning the basics, you will also learn sample checklists, documents , cases, forms, and real-world tools. that means this book is equally applicable for those who would like to work as a professional specializing in family law.
#9 – mcgraw-hill real estate law for paralegals
by mcgraw-hill education and technology curriculum
book review
This is the most concise and easiest guide to property law. If you are a law student and you want to obtain a refresher course in real estate law, your search ends here. it’s fast, easy to read, and has lots of cases that will make things relevant and clear. let’s say he’s not a student and not a lawyer, but he deals with property law every day, since it’s part of his profession. If this description matches what he does as a professional, this book is a must read for you.
however, aside from paralegals, it is also effective for real estate law students. Each chapter is small and easy to read, increasing your retention power and helping you apply what you learn. For people who own and run real estate businesses, this book is a must read for them. Many readers have commented that if you don’t have any real estate training, you can start with this book and work your way up to a great real estate career.
key points
- This book is concise and only has 288 pages. Within this small volume, you will learn the fundamentals of real estate law. As a result, students do not need to work very hard to understand this dry subject.
- This book also consists of many exercises, cases, references, and hands-on learning tasks.
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#10 – legal guide to start & run a small business
by fred s. steingold attorney
book review
Let’s say you’re a small business owner and have no idea what legal issues you need to comply with to avoid lawsuits or legal hurdles. what would you do? We recommend that you pick up this book and give it a read. is specially written for small business owners. if you are planning to start a business, you can also use this book.
as you read the chapters, you will often feel that this book will replace the need for a lawyer. no, it will not replace the requirement of an attorney; but she certainly will be legally prudent about her business.
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reading a business law textbook and reading this book is quite different. because in a business textbook you will find more academic ways of presenting the facts, while in this book you will find practical and relevant legal advice, particularly for small businesses. read it, take notes and then align the legal issues of your business according to the dictates of this book and, at the end, ask a lawyer to approve everything he did before implementation.
key points
You can learn a lot from this book. Some of the things you will learn are: how to raise start-up money, how to save on business taxes, how to obtain licenses and permits, how to choose the right insurance for your business, how to decide between an LLC and other business structures, etc.
#11 – patents, copyrights and trademarks for dummies
by henri j. charmasson and john buchanan
book review
This is a great book on copyright law. It covers all three aspects: patents, copyrights and trademarks. If you are a business owner and would like to know a lot about all three, this book is an incredible volume to learn. this guide is also valuable for students. but suppose you have completed your study and are about to join an organization that deals with intellectual property. Would this book add value to your life? the answer is a resounding yes.
if you know nothing about intellectual property, you can start with this book. Along with all the legal concepts in IP, this book will also make you smile with funny quotes and gossip. In a nutshell, this book is your guide whether you are a student, an entrepreneur, a layman trying to understand intellectual property law, or a business tycoon wanting the help of a lawyer and want to know a little about patents, intellectual property rights, etc. copyright and trademarks. what is more surprising is the comment that some readers have made after reading this book. They have said that after reading it, they don’t need a lawyer, and with the knowledge they’ve gained, they can now protect their pi in any way they choose.
key points
these are the best things you will learn –
- You will know how to register trademarks and copyrights.
- You will know how to comply with patent requirements.
- You will be able to avoid blunders in the application.
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- You will learn to protect your rights abroad.
#12 – international law
by malcolm evans
book review
Introducing a topic like international law is no easy job, but this book is so lucidly written that students find it very easy to digest. It is written by a single author, which gives a broader perspective to the various topics included in this book. Even if it’s camouflaged as a book, each chapter can easily be called a journal piece. that means reading this one book; You will be able to read a number of magazine articles and broaden your learning experience. each chapter is arranged in a logical sequence and some related topics are merged into a single chapter for better understanding.
for example, the “law of armed conflict” and “the use of force” are addressed together. however, few topics are treated separately, such as “peaceful dispute resolution”, “responsibility to protect”, etc. By reading this, you will have good ideas about international criminal law, international economic law, international human rights law, international environmental law. the law, and the law of the sea. Simply put, this is one of the best books he would ever come across as a student and as an advanced scholar of legal studies.
key points
- The best part is its approach to presenting several international laws in one volume. And because it’s not written by just one person, the standard in this book trumps many others on international law.
- Along with it, you’ll also receive an online resource center where you can learn the opinions and points of view view of eminent experts in international law.
#13: Making Your Case: The Art of Persuading Judges
by antonin scalia & bryan a. barn
about the book
The book explores the art of speaking and writing persuasively in the courtroom in a fresh and entertaining way. presents all the important aspects of judicial persuasion in a systematic way.
book review
Although the book has been written with American readers in mind, people from other parts of the world can also enjoy and learn from its content. is a practical guide for both beginning litigators and veterans. The authors explain the foundations of sound legal reasoning, including articulating the underlying syllogism of any argument. the duo also tackles the art of short writing, especially what should be included and what should be left out, so that the judge is forced to focus only on the plots. In short, the book explains what it takes to build a successful oral argument. is a very well researched book that addresses the common mistakes we make as practitioners of the law.
key points
- If you practice law, then this book can help you make fewer mistakes as a lawyer and reflect on your behavior on the bench as a judge.
- This is a useful and well-written book. , and a detailed guide on how to speak and write to properly present a legal argument.
#14 – the new jim crow: mass incarceration in the age of colorblindness
by michelle alexander
about the book
The book highlights the inherent injustice in the American legal system, asserting that it is little more than a system of racial oppression. it is a critical review of the criminal justice system that fosters racial discrimination.
book review
the jim crow laws refer to state and local laws that were in effect until 1965. under these laws, racial segregation was enforced in the southern states of the united states. However, the author defiantly argues that despite repealing the law, the idea of racial discrimination against African Americans in the United States has not ended, it has simply been redesigned. she provocatively claims that a significant percentage of the people in jail are from the urban black community. Furthermore, she delves into their situation after they are released from prison to end up in a state of hopelessness. Once identified as criminals, these people are treated as outcasts in society who are excluded from any social welfare, employment opportunities, public housing, etc.
key points
- is a raw and honest representation of the different legal treatment accorded to African Americans in the United States.
- is a guide to the confusion of racist policies, discrimination, propaganda, cloaked in the guise of the American legal system.
#15 – letters to a law student: a guide to studying law at university
by nicholas j. mcbride
about the book
The book focuses on everything prospective law students need to know before embarking on their legal journey. it has an epistolary format comprising thirty letters written to a law student at different stages of his journey.
book review
this book consists of a series of letters written to an imaginary law student in five different stages: consider studying law, prepare to study law, how to study law, prepare for exams and think about the future. Each chapter included in the book is highly relevant to students considering law school or those already pursuing law school. The author provides many practical examples of situations that a potential law student might face and then suggests ways to deal with the same. the author uses a personal voice and an epistolary format that makes reading even more interesting and engaging.
key points
- It is a useful guide for students thinking of pursuing a law degree, as it can help prepare them for the daunting first year of school.
- It is a very easy read because to the use of simple language. .
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