University of Oxford's Reading List for Law Students
6 Best Books for Law Students, chosen by Professors of Law at Oxford's Balliol College.
Oxford's Balliol College is one of the UK’s top universities for law. Whether you applied or got accepted into another university, this law reading list will benefit any soon-to-be law student looking to apply themselves at the highest level.
The study of law is complex. Building a foundation of knowledge and a legal perspective, prior to starting your degree, will aid any law student in comprehending legal principles not just in the early stages of their LLB or degree, but throughout its entirety. This reading list, as recommended by the professors at Oxford’s Balliol College, will offer solid starting base to build upon through your studies.
Do you want to know what it takes to succeed as a law student? Letters to a Law Student by Nicholas McBride has become a classic recommendation to any perspective law student His guide to studying law at university is full of practical advice and helpful answers to the most common questions about studying law or an LLB at university. For those more advanced in their studies, this book is still a great tool to refresh your knowledge, manage your workload and reinforce critical learning tips.
Being able to approach and critically break down legal issues are essential skills to develop and hone throughout your law studies. Great Debates in Criminal Law (2020) by Jonathan Herring is an introduction to more advanced writings on criminal law, primarily designed to allow students to think critically and analyse specific topics. The book aims to illustrate the current debates among those working in shaping the area.
Those are just a few examples of what the professors at Oxford University’s Balliol College Law School are suggested their law students read in preparation of starting their studies. Below is their complete list of recommendations.
Introductions to the Legal System
.jpg)
Letters to a Law Student: A guide to studying law at university (2017)
Nicholas McBride (Author)
What does it take to succeed as a law student? This book will show you how.
Voted one of the top 6 books that all future law students should read by The Guardian’s studying law website*, Letters to a Law Student is packed full of practical advice and helpful answers to the most common questions about studying law at University across every stage of taking, or thinking about taking, a law degree.
Discover:
· Whether reading law at University is the right thing for you;
· What law students do;
· How to get the best marks in exams;
· Tips on coping with the challenges of studying law;
· What you can do with a law degree;
· The way in which qualifying as a solicitor is set to change in the future,
.jpg)
Glanville Williams: Learning the Law (2020)
ATH Smith (author)
paperback
£14.95
paperback
£7.99
First published in 1945, Glanville Williams: Learning the Law has been introducing new and prospective law students to the foundation skills needed to study law effectively for over 70 years. Presenting an overview of the English Legal System and covering the essential legal skills that students need to master if they want to succeed both in their legal studies and in their future careers, this is a must-have book for all new law students! - Introduces students to the basic legal materials such as statutes and case law, and explains how these are to be read and interpreted in the light of common law doctrines of precedent; - Explains how legal problems are to be solved and discussed in the examination room; - Offers advice on study methods, exam preparation, time and stress management; - Discusses the methods of legal research, and explains where to look for the law, both on paper and electronically; - Covers participation in moots, mock trials and other competitions; - Discusses employment prospects and gives advice on seeking and obtaining work; - Provides recommendations for further reading within and outside the law
Constitutional Law
Written in the well-established tradition of the Clarendon Law Series, Public Law offers a stimulating re-interpretation of the central themes and problems of English constitutional law. It offers full consideration of the historical development of public law. This book is an introduction that will be especially appealing to the enquiring student who is looking to reflect critically on the assumptions underpinning the standard presentation of the subject. Written throughout in an engaging and accessible style, Public Law examines the issues of power and accountability that are central to constitutional and administrative law. Among the topics considered are the unwritten nature of the constitution, the changing relationship between the law and the politics of the constitution, the separation of powers, the enduring influence of the crown, the role and functions of Parliament, questions of responsible government, and the law of judicial review and human rights.
.jpg)
The Rule of Law (2011)
Rt Hon Lord Bingham of Cornhill KG PC FBA Tom Bingham (Author)
paperback
£7.95
paperback
£9.99
'A gem of a book ... Inspiring and timely. Everyone should read it' Independent
'The Rule of Law' is a phrase much used but little examined. The idea of the rule of law as the foundation of modern states and civilisations has recently become even more talismanic than that of democracy, but what does it actually consist of?
In this brilliant short book, Britain's former senior law lord, and one of the world's most acute legal minds, examines what the idea actually means. He makes clear that the rule of law is not an arid legal doctrine but is the foundation of a fair and just society, is a guarantee of responsible government, is an important contribution to economic growth and offers the best means yet devised for securing peace and co-operation. He briefly examines the historical origins of the rule, and then advances eight conditions which capture its essence as understood in western democracies today. He also discusses the strains imposed on the rule of law by the threat and experience of international terrorism.
The book will be influential in many different fields and should become a key text for anyone interested in politics, society and the state of our world.
Criminal Law
%20(2020).jpg)
Great Debates in Criminal Law (Great Debates in Law) (2020)
Jonathan Herring (Author)
paperback
£29.88
paperback
£29.99
This textbook is an introduction to more advanced writings on criminal law, primarily designed to allow students to think critically and analyse specific topics. Each chapter is structured around key questions and debates that provoke deeper thought. It asks questions such as: Why do we have the laws that we have? Could the criminal law look differently? How should the law be applied to novel situations? Does the law in fact reflect prejudices?The aim of the book is not to present a complete overview of theoretical issues in criminal law, but rather to illustrate the current debates among those working in shaping the area. The text features summaries of the views of notable experts on key topics and each chapter ends with a list of guided further reading.
Roman Law
%20(1976).jpg)
An Introduction to Roman Law (Clarendon Law Series) (1976)
Barry Nicholas (author), Ernest Metzger (author)
paperback
£38.99
paperback
£48.49
This book sketches the history of Roman Private Law from the Twelve Tables to modern times, and sets out the elements of the system. It does not attempt to summarize the whole law, but explains and evaluates its most characteristic and influential features.
You may also be interested in....
