Thanks to all of you who responded to my request for information on which
textbooks you use for legal research and why. I received responses from 18
schools who use 25 textbooks (some institutions use different texts for
different sections of the legal research course or courses). I have lumped the
abridged and unabridged versions of Cohen and Jacobstein together for the
purposes of this count.
These books are (in order of frequency):
Kunz et al., THE PROCESS OF LEGAL RESEARCH 10 schools
Reasons: Good problems and samples of research strategies; clear and
not too wordy; approach thorough and practical; good balance between too much
and too little information.
Cohen et al., HOW TO FIND THE LAW (3 schools); FINDING THE LAW (2 schools);
NUTSHELL (1 school)
Reasons: Test easygoing, clear and understandable; assignments better
for large classes.
Jacobstein et al., FUNDAMENTALS OF LEGAL RESEARCH (3 schools); LEGAL RESEARCH
ILLUSTRATED (1 school)
Reasons: Clear and easy to follow.
Wren & Wren, LEGAL RESEARCH MANUAL 2 schools
Reasons: Good basic overview
Wrote own materials 2 schools
Reasons: None of the texts available met their needs.
Good, LEGAL RESEARCH WITHOUT LOSING YOUR MIND 1 school
Reasons: Covers basics in a very interesting manner.
(I used this text last year. The students liked it, but it has some
inaccuracies).
Again, thanks to all of you who responded to my request.
Mary G. Persyn
Law Librarian
Valparaiso University
Valparaiso, IN 46383
mpersyn@exodus.valpo.edu
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