LibGuides: Guide for First-Year Law Students: Study Aids by Subject

Study Aids & Resources

Study aids are written in a more straightforward manner than case books and can be used to obtain a solid overview of legal topics and to review concepts learned in your first-year classes.

The library has a number of study aids available on reserve to help students prepare for exams, including hornbooks, West's Nutshell series, Aspen's Examples & Explanations series, and LexisNexis's Questions & Answers series. Most titles can be accessed remotely through the Aspen Learning Library or LexisNexis Digital Library. To learn more, click HERE.

You can view a list of selected resources by clicking on one of the links below for information on a specific legal subject.

Civil Procedure
The course examines the powers of state and federal courts (with an emphasis on subject matter and personal jurisdiction) and the sources of the substantive and procedural law to be applied in each. It also provides an overview of litigation from commencement through appeal: pleading and challenges thereto, joinder of parties and claims, judicial management of pretrial and discovery, trial, post-trial motions, and the conclusiveness of judgments (res judicata, and collateral estoppel).
Contracts
A study of the formation, interpretation, and performance of contracts. Historical development of the basic contractual concepts is traced as a foundation for modern contract law. Special attention is given to the requirements of mutual assent, offer and acceptance, consideration and reliance, and conditions; the performance assignment, and breach of contracts are studied, as well as the remedies for breach and issues pertaining to guaranty and suretyship. The relationships between common law, contract law, and the Uniform Commercial Code are considered.
Property
This course covers both personal and real property concepts that provide a necessary foundation for many advanced courses. It includes the law of finds, capture, gifts, adverse possession, estates in land and future interests, cotenancies, landlord/tenant relations, easements, covenants, the law of nuisance, and basic principles of land use.
Torts
Torts is the study of civil legal wrongs (other than those based on contract). The course focuses principally on negligence, but includes introductions to intentional torts, strict liability, and product liability.

Westlaw & Lexis Outlines

LexisNexis Area of Law Outlines and Westlaw 1L Outline Shells provide an overview of the essential topics of a legal subject and can be used to prepare for class, organize your notes, and study for exams.

CALI Lessons

Access free outlines and video lessons on dozens of subjects using CALI Online Lessons. These interactive tutorials are written by law professors and geared toward law students of every level.

Before you can access CALI lessons, you will need to create an account using the school's CALI authorization code, found in your orientation packet or available at the library. If you need a code, please email lawlibrary@udmercy.edu.

CALI Lessons: First Year Topics