10 Must-Read Law Books for Students

Whether you are a student of law or just have an interest in it, the books in this list have all the information you need. Contained within the bountiful pages of these 10 books are facts, cases, discussions, and guides galore, everything you could possibly need to enhance your knowledge of law and order.

About Law: An Introduction

Author: Tony Honoré

About Law: an introduction is a brief yet comprehensive insight into the inner workings of law. The book delves into the intellectual challenges presented in Western law, addressing constitutional law, criminal law, property, and contract law. Written by one of the secular traditions' most revered scholars, Tony Honoré, About Law offers you the opportunity to develop a better understanding of the nature of law and how it fits into society without bombarding you with technicalities and over-complicated language.

Bleak House

Author: Charles Dickens

Set in the early 19th century, Bleak House is a fictional story that revolves around an ongoing court case to settle a matter of finance. With themes of poverty, helplessness, and the inefficiency of the 1800’s legal system, Bleak House has been credited with helping to support the real judicial reform movement that ended in 1870 with the creation of the Judicature Acts. When it was initially published in 1853, Charles Dickens prefaced the first edition saying that there were a number of real-life precedents that influenced his writing.

Is Eating People Wrong?: Great Legal Cases and How they Shaped the World

Author: Allan C. Hutchinson

Is Eating People Wrong?: Great Legal Cases and How They Shaped the World Great Debates in Criminal Law shows by example, how the law is ever-evolving to adapt to a constantly changing society. Allan C. Hutchinson looks into eight iconic cases from the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia that provide stark evidence of how the judicial system is consistently forced to adapt. This book shines light on some of the individuals and institutions that helped shape the law into what it is today.

Landmarks in the Law

Author: Lord Denning

In Landmarks in the Law, Alfred Thompson Denning discusses some of the most notable and recognisable cases in British law, touching on, what he describes as, his most important case – the Profumo Inquiry. Denning’s curation of famous cases is organised into groups under headings like High Treason, Freedom of Press, and murder. Providing not only a deeply interesting read but and insightful exploration of the British law.

Great Debates in Criminal Law

Author: Jonathan Herring

Designed to help students develop their critical thinking and analysis skills, Great Debates in Criminal Law provides a detailed introduction to the more advanced writings in criminal law. The contents of this books are structured around key questions, helping it to illustrate the conversations and debates that are shaping the current legal environment rather than to give an arching overview of the theoretical issues in criminal law.

The Rule of Law

Author: Tom Bingham

The phrase ‘The Rule of Law’ is commonplace, but how many of us actually know what it means, or where it came from? In this book, Tom Bingham gives a brief explanation of the origins of the phrase and goes on to elaborate on eight conditions that define what the rule of law is, creating a clear understanding of what ‘the rule of law’ actually is.

How the Law Works

Author: Gary Slapper

While the law is designed to maintain order and keep us safe, being able to navigate it, especially to the untrained eye, is no easy task. Even if you were to take it upon yourself to try and teach yourself the ins and outs of the legal system, the reading material available to you is just as likely to confuse you even more as it is to help you. That is why Gary Slapper has created this clear, accessible, and irreverent guide to the inner workings of law. How the Law Works makes understanding the law easy, as it cuts through the jargon and gets straight to the important bits.

Letters to a Law Student: A Guide to Studying Law at University

Author: Nicholas J. McBride

Letters to a Law Student: A Guide to Studying Law at University is the perfect starting point for anyone thinking of studying law. Focussing more on what to expect going ahead rather than on the law itself, Letters to a Law Student discusses subjects like what law students do, how to get top marks in exams, and what you can do with a law degree, making it a great tool for any student of whether young or old.

Learning the Law

Authors: Glanville Williams

Learning the Law has been a staple for law students for more than half a century, providing essential guidance for undergraduate law students and providing a clear introduction to the methods and techniques crucial to successfully completing a degree in law. Glanville Williams, the author, includes an array of valuable skills such as case law techniques, interpreting statutes, research methods, participation in mock trials, and how to prepare for exams.

The Secret Barrister: Stories of the Law and How it’s Broken

Author: The Secret Barrister

The Secret Barrister: Stories of the Law and How it’s Broken is an exploration of the judicial system from the perspective of a barrister. This collection of stories from inside the courtroom highlights the fundamental flaws within UK law. It touches on the lives of the people involved from the judges, the lawyers, and the barristers, to the victims, criminals, and witnesses.

So, that brings our must-read list for law students, practitioners, and hobbyists to an end. Whether you are thinking about taking your studies to the next level or you are a seasoned practitioner, we hope we’ve been able to help you in your search for knowledge.

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