10 Books to Read Before Starting Law School

Before the required reading begins, do some reading on your own to prepare yourself for your new professional education.

So you’re headed to law school in the fall – congratulations! You’re in for a challenging, rewarding, wild ride. Before you get down to business, take some time to prepare yourself for what is to come by reading a bit about the field you’re diving into and perfecting some of the skills necessary to succeed. Here are ten books that will help you prepare for the adventure of law school:

1. Law School Confidential: A Complete Guide to the Law School Experience, by Students for Students

This book was found on nearly every list of recommended reading for rising 1Ls. It is a general overview of law school as a whole, detailing what incoming students should expect and how to handle nearly every situation that you may find yourself in. This is a great place to start in your pre-law reading, as it will help prepare you for what is to come.

2. Getting to Maybe: How to Excel on Law School Exams

If you’re headed to law school, you’ve likely already heard about the importance of exams. In this book, two professors break down law school exams and detail how to do your best when you’re taking them. This is another book that appeared on nearly every list, so it comes very highly recommended.

3. 24 Hours with 24 Lawyers

Have you wondered what different types of lawyers do in a typical day? This book holds the answers. Whether you know what type of law you want to focus in or you’re still trying to figure that part out, this book will illuminate the different types of law careers available and show you what happens in the day-to-day in those jobs.

4. I Thought It Was Just Me (But It Isn’t): Making the Journey from “What Will People Think?” to “I Am Enough”

Shooting for perfection is not only unrealistic, but it is also setting you up for failure. Failing in law school is something that you definitely want to avoid. This book will help you find the right mindset to tackle the new adventure that lies ahead.

5. 1L of a Ride

The first year of law school is arguably the most important year of law school, and this book helps break down the year in a way that will navigate new students toward their desired goals. You’ll learn what to expect, how you should be feeling, and what to do if you’re a little off track. This was another book that was on multiple recommended reading lists.

6. Law 101: Everything You Need to Know about the American Legal System

Since you’ve chosen to attend law school, you likely have the basics down. If you’re looking for an overview of all of the topics you’ll be learning about in the next three years, however, this is the place you should start. Everything that is important to the American legal system is in this book – what a great way to start preparing yourself for what is to come.

7. The Sex.Com Chronicles: A White-Hat Lawyer’s Journey to the Dark Side of the Internet

When the internet first came into existence, there were a lot of civil cases surrounding this new concept of communication and technology. This book, written by the trial lawyer who won the case to recover an extremely valuable domain name, details civil procedure in a way that few other books do, and is easy to read and exciting. It’s a great introduction to civil law in a way that will make you excited to learn more.

8. In Cold Blood

In this famous and notorious book, Truman Capote details a heinous small-town crime, but also delves into the workings of the criminal justice system and capital punishment. It’s a fascinating look at a certain aspect of the legal system and will keep you interested until the very end.

9. The Bramble Bush

This book is a collection of lectures delivered by the author to the 1929 entering class of Columbia Law School. Nearly a century later, this book is still one of the most highly recommended for pre-laws who are preparing to start law school.

10. Damages

This true story details a famous malpractice lawsuit, showing everything that happened in the family’s seven-year struggle after the birth of their severely disabled son. It shows many different aspects of the legal system, especially where it wasn’t working to protect people the way it should have.

This was just a taste of some of the resources out there for rising 1L students. For more suggestions and recommended readings, there are lists from LSAC, HubPages, LawSchooli, The Law School Guys, Amazon, Business Insider, Harvard Law School, and the University of Washington School of Law, just to name a few. Make sure that you enjoy your time before law school starts, while you have a little extra time. Good luck with your future in law school!