The 10 Best Pre-Law Textbooks

Thinking Like a Lawyer provides an uncomplicated yet useful introduction to reasoning as it defines what it means to put your brain to work in this field. You might consider it a navigational aid to guide you on your way as you learn about contracts, procedures, and so on.

Respected Harvard professor Michael Sandel offers a thoughtful unpacking of public life and political philosophy in Justice: What’s the Right Thing to Do? With its nuanced look at highly charged issues, such as affirmative action, it guides readers to new understandings.

Escape the tedium of endless texts and read one of the most highly recommended narrative works for those entering the field when you pick up In Cold Blood by Truman Capote. It’s an engaging account of a chilling murder case that offers insight into American justice.

Everyone, from law students to established professionals in the field, can benefit from Legal Writing in Plain English, which teaches readers through both instruction and exercises how to create clear, concise documents and avoid obfuscating legalese.

For a taste of what law school can be like, check out One L by Scott Turow. He shares his experiences as a first year student at Harvard, taking you on a voyage through his highs and lows that is both engrossing and honest.

Anyone interested in pre-law would do well to take courses in writing, logic, and rhetoric and read books in these areas, including A Rulebook for Arguments. It covers the type of sound thinking you’ll need in crafting everything from academic writing to public debate.

In order to succeed, you’re going to need to know more than just your subject material. You’ll also need guidance as you navigate the entire schooling experience, which is where Law School Confidential comes in. It’ll take you from admissions to passing the bar and beyond.

Before you can become an attorney, you’re going to have to take tests. Lots and lots of tests. Reading Getting to Maybe will not only help you boost your performance but could also help you feel less stressed about the whole ordeal.

In "Law 101: Everything You Need to Know About American Law," author Jay Feinman offers an overview of the inner workings of the legal system through noteworthy cases. He also breaks down key vocabulary and distinguishes between terms that are similar.

It wouldn’t be surprising to see A Critical Thinking Approach in a law school classroom, but there’s nothing stopping you from getting a head start. The work is comprehensive and divided into two parts, Introduction to the Legal System and Basic Legal Concepts.