Will I need my law school books in my legal career? Or can I sell them and make extra money?

Question

In preparing for the bar, etc. will I need these books?

Answer 1

You probably won't need any law-school texts for the bar exam. Most bar prep stuff is prepackaged these days for optimum "test regurgitation" and is better for that specific task.

I kept only my hornbooks. Even so, most legal research is state specific and keyed to the West system or to tax services, and I rarely used those books in private practice. Casebooks are essentially worthless once you finish a course.

I'd sell the lot as soon as I could, especially if I were going to work for a firm with an inhouse library or near a large public law library. If you're going to solo in a rural county seat, maybe keep the treatises but not the casebooks.

Answer 2

Sell those things! If you can that is. Most law books are updated every 2-3 years, so they go out of date quickly. You'll get pennies on the dollar, but it's better than nothing. BARBRI teaches you everything needed to pass the Bar.

Answer 3

It couldn't hurt to save them and start a small law library for yourself. Inevitably you won't remember everything from every book, so it would be good to have them on hand to quickly look something up. Otherwise, you'll have to figure it out some other way. I know they're expensive and all, but I know I plan on keeping mine. Plus, it makes you look smarter when you have a bunch of books in your office.

Answer 4

Sell them before the editions roll, you are not going to e practicing law all over the map - but rather in small narrow focused areas - the subject matter treatises are better anyway .. casebooks are a ripoff - all that stuff is public domain anyway ..

Answer 5

I'd keep 'em. Im sure they look great on any bookshelf (your office or home) and they may come in handy when you do your own commercials for your law firm.

Much success in your legal career.

Answer 6

It's possible you might need them. I had a professor tell me to hang on to them for future reference. It sucks because they're so expensive, but you never know!