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How much did you spend on law books last year?

It would be really helpful if someone good give me an approximate figure on how much they spent on law books in their first year and if possible how much they spent in the first few weeks?

Thank-you,

Root xx

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Reply 1

Lewisy-boy

Ermm I spent alot last year, 4 textbooks and 3 statute books but I think alot of unis are helpful and give you statutes in exams whereas we have to take them in. The textbooks vary from about 22-32 and the statute books are around 13-15 quid (new). First year I had 3 textbooks and that was it though.

Reply 2

ellewoods

I spent about 1200 over 3 years - there wasn't really an average amount per term as sometimes the modules carried over into the next semester so I already had the relevent texts.

However I think I am definately in the excessive spending bracket - my uni had an appallingly low stock of books, and what they did have were out of date, plus I commuted from home in my final year so bought plenty of texts so I could refer to them from home.
I'm also a bit obsessed with buying books, I was always scared of not "getting along" with the text I bought, so bought the other recommended text as well just in case!! :rolleyes:

I think in the first few weeks of term I spent around 200 pounds...

I know you didn't ask this, but just thought it might be relevant - I definately needed a law dictionary, ordinary dictionary, and a legal research guide (Butterworths do a great one) on top of any recommended texts.

EDIT: I've got *tons* of books as previously mentioned, if by any chance you're in the Sheffield area and want a list to buy second hand (be careful of edition numbers, you *must* buy up to date, so some won't be any use) the PM me.

Reply 3

kidney thief

i managed to get away with buying only 1 new textbook and a law dictionary last year, everything else i managed to get 2nd hand at the uni book sale. total spent around £100

Reply 4

dragon_1706

I have no idea how much I've spent on books, but I saved a huge amount by getting many of them second-hand, either from Blackwells, Amazon used or new or Ebay. As ellewoods said, you MUST make sure they're the latest edition (easy enough to check on the Amazon website), but otherwise it's such a good money-saver! E.g. I bought my main tort book from Ebay and only paid £5, including p&p - it was in perfect condition and basically identical to the ones others in my group paid £25 for... But definitely do get the newest editions! :smile:

Reply 5

Lawboy1985

Too much!
Statute books - £16.99
Core textbooks - £26.99 - £34.99

Studying three modules each semester, with at least 2 recommended core texbooks and the relevant statute books - Sheesh, at least £250 - £300 a semester.

Not to mention the silly nutshells/revision guides you buy!

Don't buy the statute books right away, as some Universities allow photocopies in the exam, and in reality you only refer to a handful of statutes, as everything is based upon cases and how the judges construed those statutes.

Though I would recommend one for "Property Law I".

Reply 6

LawQueen

£900 in a year, I can't afford that!

How long to text books you buy during freshers last? Is it possible to get what you need for each of the four core modules to last for the year?

Root xx

Reply 7

poltroon

I genuinely do not understand either of your last two questions. :redface:

Reply 8

LawQueen

I meant will the text books you buy in freshers last you the year? I.e. not have to buy any more.

Reply 9

Lawboy1985

Root

I meant will the text books you buy in freshers last you the year? I.e. not have to buy any more.

Just for you I shall elaborate:

At my University there are two semesters and we study three modules, in my first year I think I did:

Contract Law
Property Law I
Introduction to Law and Legal Systems I

Second semester of my first year:

Torts
Public Law I
Introduction to Law and Legal Systems II

For my first year, all these modules where compulsory, I couldn't choose any other modules at all, and so I had to buy the recommended core text books.

For my second year, my first semester I think was:

Property Law II
Criminal Law
Company Law I

My second semester was:

Jurisprudence A: Law and Morality
Public Law II
Corporate Insolvency Law

In my second year I had four compulsory modules and two optional modules. My two options I chose were Company Law and Corporate Insolvency Law, thankfully the statute book I bought for Company Law contained all the relevant laws for Insolvency Law, and the core textbook I bought for Company Law I, was extensively referenced as well.

It seems I have never really re-used any of the textbooks I bought for the previous year for the compulsory modules in my second year. You would think Public Law I materials would be relevant, right? Nope, they were never referenced in any of the lecture handouts or in any seminars. This was because Public Law I focused on Domestic Law, whereas Public Law II focused on EU law.

My third and final year allows me to choose any six modules I want, amongst them I have chosen Law&Medicine and Commercial Law I. I think there is in all likelihood be some element of Tort and Contract Law, so I'm glad I didn't sell those textbooks.

Wow, never typed so much stuff, hope it makes sense. Anyway the point I'm trying to get across is that:

a)More than likely your first year will have compulsory modules (I think this is to exempt you from certain exams required professionally) like Contract and Public.

b)It's only towards the end of your 1st year, you should be thinking what area you want to specialise in, e.g. commercial law, etc.

c)By your 2nd year, your course may give you some flexibility in terms of module choices, though no doubt there will be compulsory modules. So if you decided on say commercial law, then choosing similiar modules will save you money. e.g. Company Law I and Company Law II - Same statute book, most likely same core textbook.

d)In your 3rd year you'll have the most flexibility as most if not all your modules may be optional. So you can for example focus on criminal law, by picking those modules that are relevant. Many of the textbooks will overlap, and you may find yourself referencing back to your first year core textbook for criminal law. I found myself when studying Company Law I, looking back at Property Law and Contract Law.

Oh *******s, re-read your question, can't be bothered to erase what I've jsut typed.

Anyway, yes the core textbooks recommended by your Lecturer should last you the whole semester, however don't think you can just relly solely on that textbook. On your lecture handouts/lecturer's powerpoint presentations, there will be a recommended reading list, and trust me, in some cases it can be quite extensive. For example it may say read Chapter 1-3 of "The Law of Contract" then another chapter from another book, then five chapters out of another. Don't be put off though, as your core text should just give you an understanding of the topic and the others will just further ground it into you and offer different perspectives.

The core textbook should last you the semester, for the other's it is advisable to become well acquainted with your law librarian, and get in before everybody else. Having said that, you should have access to electronic resources and be able to read ejournals/reports/etc online.

Anyway, it's late and I'm tired after all this typing. As long as you read the recomended reading, and most importantly, read THE DAMN CASES, you should do alright, the textbooks tell you Conceptually what the law is, whereas the cases tell you how to apply it.

Good luck, oh and, if like my Uni, the first year marks don't count to your degree classification, do not take slack, because you need good marks in your first year to get vacations placements/work experience for your 2nd!!!! Don't mess about!!!

Regards. PM if you have any other questions.

Gooooooooooooooooooooooodddddddddd Night.

Reply 10

Lewisy-boy

In my first and second year all the modules were year long which meant only one book. Final year when most options are per semester though its gonna cost me alot mroe... 1200 quid though, sheesh!

I cant be bothered to read the above, but its probably right lol.

Reply 11

ellewoods

Lewis-HuStuJCR

1200 quid though, sheesh!

I know

Don't regret spending it though, I couldn't have done without having my own baby library at home. Between that and having access to Westlaw and Lexis via the uni portal meant that I didn't have to drive up to Leeds on my days off and at weekends :smile:

Reply 12

Lewisy-boy

Lexis and westlaw are godsends huh! For cases I prefer Justis though... have you used it?

Reply 13

ellewoods

Lewis-HuStuJCR

Lexis and westlaw are godsends huh! For cases I prefer Justis though... have you used it?

No, I haven't.... have you got a link, or is it a uni subscribed service?

Reply 14

Lewisy-boy

its on athens ... its just www.justis.com if you have an athens user/pw you should be able to get in

Reply 15

ellewoods

Lewis-HuStuJCR

its on athens ... its just www.justis.com if you have an athens user/pw you should be able to get in

Thanks, I shall try this :wink:

Reply 16

Lawboy1985

Oh, it may be wise to set aside £30-£40 per semester for those pesky revision guides/nutshells. Well worth getting.

Reply 17

Danny5876

Nutshells? I keep hearing bad hings about this series by the TSR law elite. I personally used Jacqueline Martin's Criminal Law key notes for a revision guide for my A level.

Reply 18

Lewisy-boy

Nutshells etc are only good for the very basics and tbh unless you are really struggling dont touch them as they will get you into bad habits of over simplyfying ... they are fine for learning the law but as already outlined they contain no policy arguments and so are indicative of a 2.2 grade or worse.

Reply 19

chriswhit

if you are worried about money, just stick to the core texts as has been said. Is also worth looking through the course outline if you get one to try and gain an idea of just exactly how much you will use a book you are intending to buy. If it comes up just the once then you are probably just better photocopying the bits you need for this week.

Annoyingly, in a few cases, lecturers *can* tell you to buy the book they have just written for very little reason other than its the book they have just written - ie buying it won't help you with the course v much.

Is also worth shopping around for book prices as you can save a lot of money in some cases by using price comparison sites

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