Berkeley Law students have free online access to a number of study aids through the Law Library. The study aids are organized by publisher (LexisNexis, West Academic, or Aspen Learning Library). Within each publisher, you can search for a specific title or simply browse. Scroll down for a link to each publisher and a list of available study aids.
A word of caution
It is not a good use of your time to browse through every available study aid. Don’t succumb to the fear of missing something! Ask your professors, classmates, and ASP fellow for recommendations. If you find a study aid that you like, stick with it. There is no need to look through all of them. For an introduction to law school skills, we recommend Bergman, Goodman & Holm, Cracking the Case Method and McClain, The Guide to Belonging in Law School. Both are available for free online with your CalNet ID. You also can purchase hard copies from your local book store or online book sellers.
Quimbee and CALI
Students also have free access to Quimbee and CALI. Quimbee provides access to case briefs, outlines, an outlining tool, on-demand videos, practice questions with answer explanations, and practice exams and model answers. CALI (Computer Assisted Legal Instruction) produces a series of online lessons covering over 30 legal topics, including a section on 1L courses, along with practice multiple-choice questions. If you have trouble accessing Quimbee or CALI, please contact the Law Library.
Available study aids listed by publisher
Aspen Learning Library
Subject-specific study aids (use the “Advanced Search” option to search by subject and/or by series):
- Examples & Explanations Series
- Emanuel Crunch Time Series
- Emanuel Law Outlines Series
- Glannon Guide Series
- Inside Series
- Steve Emanuel’s First Year Questions and Answers Series
- Jumpstart Series
- In Other Words Audio and Video Series
- Casenote Legal Briefs
Law school and academic skills:
- Strategies and Tactics for the First-Year Law Student
- Writing Essay Exams to Succeed in Law School
- Law School Exams: Preparing and Writing to Win
- LL.M. Roadmap: An International Student’s Guide to U.S. Law School Programs
- American Law and the American Legal System in a Nutshell
- Excelling in Law School: A Complete Approach
- Introduction to Law and Legal Reasoning
West Academic
Subject-specific study aids (find under the “Subjects” tab or the “Series” tab):
- Gilbert Law Summaries
- In a Nutshell Series
- Exam Pro Series
- Flash Cards Series
- Concise Hornbooks
- A Short and Happy Guide Series
- Acing Series
- Black Letter Outlines
- Sum and Substance Audio Book Series
Law school and academic skills:
- Cracking the Case Method
- The Guide to Belonging in Law School
- Critical Reading for Success in Law School and Beyond
- Critical Race Theory: A Primer
- A Weekly Guide to Being a Model Law Student
- 1L of a Ride
- Mastering the Law School Exam
- A Short and Happy Guide to Being a Law Student
- How to Write Law School Exams: IRAC Perfected
- Eight Secrets of Top Performance in Law School
- Law School Without Fear: Your Strategies for Success
- Law School Secrets: Outlining for Exam Success
- Get a Running Start: Your Comprehensive Guide to the First Year Curriculum
- Introduction to the Study and Practice of Law in a Nutshell
- Law School Success in a Nutshell
LexisNexis Digital Library
Subject-specific study aids:
- Understanding series
- Questions and Answers series
Law school and academic skills:
- Expert Learning for Law Students
- One L of a Year: How to Maximize Your Success in Law School
- What the L? 25 Things We Wish We’d Known Before Going to Law School
- Law 101: What Law School’s “Really” Like
- Hard-Nosed Advice from a Cranky Law Professor: How to Succeed in Law School
- Coming to Law School: How to Prepare Yourself for the Next Three Years
- Learning Outside the Box: A Handbook for Law Students Who Learn Differently
- Law School Exams: A Guide to Better Grades