Law School Books: Buying New v. Buying Used v. Renting
I love it when you guys email me questions, and sometimes the answers turn into a blog post, so I’m giving you my two cents on books. TL;DR- rent if you don’t think you’ll need to write in your book, and buy used if you will.
Buying new
Some of the guides that I’ve kept are abridged statute books; you might need the full statute book, but if you don’t, these are so cheap that you might as well just buy them.
If you’re on the fence, get a used book first. Renting is another great option because it’s so cheap! But remember what I said earlier: cheap comes at a price. If you highlight in the books, you’ll be forced to buy them back at a new price.
Do I need to buy books for law school?
Textbooks are critical to your success in law school; some are required, while others are’recommended’ by the bookstore or professor; you should definitely purchase the required books, as they will provide you with a significant amount of information.
Is it better to rent or buy used textbooks?
Renting textbooks is much less expensive than buying them, and some bookstores even provide this service to their customers. Keep in mind, however, that you must return rented textbooks by a certain date.
How do you get cheap textbooks for law school?
The 24 Best Used Law Book Stores in the U.S.
- AddALL. Buy on Addall.com.
- Alibris. Buy on Alibris.com.
- Amazon Marketplace. Buy on Amazon.
- Barnes and Noble. Buy on Barnesandnoble.com.
- Better World Books. Buy on Betterworldbooks.com.
- Biblio. Buy on Biblio.com.
- Biblio.com.
How much do books cost in law school?
When compared to tuition and housing, law school textbooks can cost anywhere from $1,000 to $2,250 per year, but there are ways to keep your book costs down.
How do you save on law school books?
How to Save Money on Law School Textbooks in 5 Easy Steps
- Start looking early.
- Make sure you know exactly which books you require.
- Rent them. [
- Always buy used books (but keep in mind that the edition DOES matter).
- Share with your classmates.
How much do law school books cost per semester?
If you’re not careful, law textbooks can easily cost over $1,000 per semester; look for ways to cut costs, such as sharing books with a recent graduate or 2L. In some classes, the teachers may rely on more digital resources and may not refer to the book frequently enough to justify its cost.
Should I buy my textbook?
When you’re taking a course for your major or minor (if you have one), it’s better to buy a textbook because you may need it as a reference guide in the future. You should also consider buying your books if you want to take notes in the margins.
Should I keep my college textbooks?
If you need to look something up in the future, textbooks for courses in your major can be excellent resources; if this is the case, you should not keep the textbook. In short, you should keep textbooks for your major, especially the introductory textbook, because you may need to refer to it in the future.
Do you get money back from renting textbooks?
Yes, if you return the textbook in the same condition as when you received it within the first 30 days of your rental period, you will receive a full refund of the rental fee.
Why are law books so expensive?
There are no restrictions on who may publish or sell books; it is an open house; a competitive market. Because it is extremely rare to sell enough books to recoup the money within 30 days, an alternative source of funds is required.
What books should I read before law school?
Law School Preparation in Klovning: Ten Books to Read Before Beginning Law School
- Getting to Maybe: How to Excel on Law School Exams.
- 24 Hours with 24 Lawyers.
- Law School Confidential: A Complete Guide to the Law School Experience, by Students for Students
- Law School Confidential: A
What textbooks are used in law school?
Generally speaking
- Mandatory: Getting to Maybe. This is the classic book on how to approach law school exams.
- Mandatory: The Bluebook OR The ALWD Guide to Legal Citation. You will almost certainly be required to buy either the Bluebook or the ALWD Guide.
How much does a full set of law books cost?
If you buy law school textbooks brand new, they can cost anywhere from $1,500 to $3,000 per year, with some of the more expensive individual textbooks costing $300 or more.
How can I pay for law school with no money?
Make a budget for law school.
- Apply for u201cfreeu201d money first, such as law scholarships, grants, and assistantship positions, to supplement your savings.
- Apply for federal student aid.
- Consider a responsible private student loan for law school.
How many years does it take to get a law degree?
A traditional full-time J.D. program takes three years to complete, though accelerated programs can be completed in as little as two years, and part-time J.D. programs usually take at least four years to complete.