Classic Legal Novels
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee: Written in the 1960s, the Pulitzer-prize-winning To Kill a Mockingbird, is the fictionalized account of a black man accused of raping a white woman in the segregation-era American South. The story unfolds in small-town Alabama, where the children of the defendant’s white attorney Scout and Jem learn about the struggles of their father’s case, bearing vivid testimony to the prejudice that still exists today. The novel has had an incredible impact across racial lines, and has been cited multiple times in Supreme Court decisions. It remains widely read and studied across the globe .
Bleak House by Charles Dickens: Published in 1853, Bleak House is a favorite of law scholars. The story is a critical look at the English government’s judicial system (and of its American counterpart), then marred by corruption and obsolescence. Still applicable to modern times, the work highlights the problems of docket control and the lag-time between an offense’s commission and the punishment of the offender – the latter factor in particular of continued relevance today. Bleak House, with its compelling characters and subplots, was ahead of its time and popular among its contemporaries, as well.
Modern Legal Thrillers
Contemporary legal thrillers like those of John Grisham and Scott Turow have a particular appeal to legal practitioners and students of the law. After all, they are works that are grounded in the hard numbers and sharp edges that real lawyers deal with. The drama lies in the small conflicts closely reflecting the challenges that we face on a daily basis. For example, in Grisham’s books, lawyers are faced with moral dilemmas surrounding their clients, and are often put into conflict with their deeply held ideological beliefs. Turow’s works often rely on smaller law offices that are high-stakes environments, and even smaller firms that rely on one or two partners to bring in the income needed to financially succeed. These high pressure environments are familiar to modern lawyers.
While there’s an impulse to see these as simply fiction, many legal thrillers are based on real events. Even if not all the details are in line with reality, they can give a deep insight into how lawyers operate.
While not every lawyer is going to enjoy these contemporary legal thrillers, there’s a good shot that you’re going to find something worth engaging with here.
Seminal Books on Legal Theory
A hallmark of a legal scholar is an ability to think deeply about the nature of law itself. To study legal philosophy is to probe the depths of not just the substantive content of the law, but also the fundamental questions of its nature and function within our societies. The following two works represent just a small sampling of the ever curious mind of a legal scholar:
The Common Law by Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr.
This most famous work of writing by one of the leaders of the American legal realist movement has been hailed by many as the most important book of legal philosophy to be published in this country. Written in 1881, this work illuminated the future direction of American common law practice and is still widely regarded as addressing major contemporary legal issues. In it, Holmes uses his wit and intellectual ingenuity to explain how judges decide cases and how they affect the development of the common law.
Legal Reasoning and Legal Theory by P.L. Nigel MacCormick
Written well into the 1990s, Legal Reasoning and Legal Theory provides a systematic analysis of legal reasoning and gives close attention to a range of matters in both practical and theoretical philosophy of law. In addition, MacCormick examines judicial precedent and statutory interpretation as well as the relationship of legal reasoning to jurisprudence.
Legal Biographies
Other than the obviously biographical classic, "The Rise and Fall of the American Republic" by Charles Beard and "Letters to a Young Lawyer" by Alan Dershowitz, let’s finish this post with some recent biographies of legal giants. RBG by Irin Carmon and Ruth Bader Ginsburg offers the life story of one the most influential judges in American history. The book is a collaboration between a journalist and a lawyer who have long covered countermovements and the most prominent fighter within them. It also presents a full picture of the well-known Justice Ginsburg through her own words alongside those of friends, family, foes, and faithful clerks . Great lawyers are often great storytellers, and RBG brings out the lawyer in one of the best storytellers of our time. Speaking of great storytelling by a great lawyer, in My Own Words Ruth Bader Ginsburg has given the world a look through her eyes at the most significant happenings in her life, ranging from her youth in Brooklyn to training as a top Supreme Court litigator, to her tenure as a judge, and beyond. As a lawyer and leading advocate for women’s rights, Justice Ginsburg’s observations and voice are nothing short of fascinating. It is full of insight, history, and yes, the occasional joke. This one, RBG I must admit, is my favorite biography on this list. And it more than likely won’t be her last. Pick them up today.
Crucial Legal Reference Works
For legal scholars, practitioners, and even many students, essential legal reference books are an indispensable addition to any law library. First among them is Black’s Law Dictionary, without question the most quoted publication in the legal profession, and the standard one-volume reference in the field. An entire ecosystem of legal education revolves around Black’s, which has emerged with each issue as the definitive interpretation of legal terms. Particularly useful for those just starting out in legal academia or practice, the dictionary combines thousands of legal definitions with Latin-American legal terms, Latin phrases, legal shorthand and acronyms, and numerous abbreviations, including common forms of law firm names. The black cover of each issue has become synonymous with clear and straightforward legal reference materials, and a favorite for novices and legal experts alike. The latest edition includes newly codified words and phrases recently published in court opinions and legislative materials, tracking the latest social and legal developments.
Elsewhere in the essential legal reference book universe, at the top of the essential additional list are Garner’s Dictionary of Legal Usage, spanning nearly 800 pages, and Legal Writing in Plain English: A Complete Guide to Writing Legal Documents, in a slightly leaner package of 200-250 pages. Garner’s Dictionary covers a wide range of legal writing suggestions and citations and styles, focusing on usage cases that can be confusing for law school graduates, attorneys, and other legal professionals alike. Legal Writing in Plain English takes a different approach, pushing editors and legal professionals toward plain language as a writing style. Since it was first published in 2001, Legal Writing in Plain English remains the essential writing guide in the field, useful for practicing attorneys, judges, and others who draft legal documents. Each of these reference books carries the same essential price tag for legal publications – between $20-45, from an actual price standpoint some of the most costly publications available on the market today.
Books About Landmark Cases
These books go beyond a single case to provide the intricacies of events that helped shape the law. For example, Gideon’s Trumpet by Anthony Lewis provides a thorough and well-written account of the landmark Supreme Court case Gideon v. Wainwright, which established the right to counsel for those unable to afford an attorney in the 1963 ruling. A classic in its own right, Lewis’ work recaps the findings and impact of the decision that governs current law . Similarly, The Brethren by Bob Woodward provides an inside look at landmark cases of the 1970s and ’80s, featuring Supreme Court greats such as Gesell v. Watergate Special Prosecution Force and Roe v. Wade. Woodward, known popularly for his work at the Washington Post in uncovering the Watergate scandal, also gained a reputation as an expert in court cases with The Brethren and many other titles.