I am thinking I should get the both Black’s Unabridged and Pocket Dictionaries? Do you think I will need both or can I get by with just the pocket?
You definitely don’t need both. In fact, I don’t even need the one I own. I’ve used the damn thing all of twice. I’m giving it away to my sister’s boyfriend who is starting lawschool next year.
If you plan on studying in the law library then you’ll almost never need it b/c they have a whole bunch scattered around. Looking back, I think the only thing I ever looked up in it was “trover.”
If you do insist on buying several then wait for the beginning of the year sales when all the 2Ls and 3Ls unload all them on unsuspecting 1Ls at reduced-but-still-inflationary prices! Your listserve will be swimming with For Sale lists.
We love Black’s and use it.
Get the big one for home. Don’t think you will be able to run out to the library every time you need it.
You can always grab it at a used grad bookstore.
I used a 6 dollar Gilbert’s legal dictionary … for first semester.
Then I threw it out because I stopped looking up every other word.
You can get by just looking at the legal dictionaries online as well.
- Peter Wiggen
I got a Gilbert’s pocket dictionary to look up unfamiliar words I heard in class. It’s a very convenient size, so you can just leave it in your book bag. But I hardly ever looked up anything in the big Black’s I bought for home. I think you’ll get by just fine with the portable one.
meh, you don’t really need one IMHO. I bought a Blacks and used it once–I think to look up quantum meruit or something like that and I guarantee I spelled that sucker wrong!
Use that money to buy outlines from previous students. Trust me, those will save your butt–espcecially for classes with teachers who have been there a long time.
BBJ, who graduated with honors from law school.
I used a pocket dictionary throughout (Barron’s I think), and it served me fine.
OT: Quantum meruit is my all-time favorite legal term (but assumpsit takes a close second–oh, and “trespass on the case” is pretty cool too). It just sounds cool, and the “quantum” part makes it sound all mysterious and vaguely sci-fi.
C’mon Tax Guy, what about all that fun crap in Property, remember right of seisin or seizin (see maybe I do need one of those damn dictionaries after all). Didn’t it involve breaking a stick on your land. That had to be my fave.
What about “replevin”?
What about “replevin”? I can’t say it without going into a Jerry Lewis impression. “Freunlavin!”