Why buy casebooks?

[antwan]

I have a question, why buy casebooks? Why not just get the assigned cases from lexis-nexis and not waste money on books? Any comments?

[kristin1644]

A lot of casebooks have abbreviated versions of the cases, so you don't have to read the whole opinion, just the part that is relevant to what you're currenty studying.  It'd be a pain in the ass to read really long opinions when the casebook can sum it up for you in a couple of pages.   

[squarre]

The cases in the casebooks are edited down to the focus of the class.  If you get the cases from Lexis or Westlaw you will have to read the full text of the cases, and for some that can be very long.  The casebook will also have notes after the cases that you will not have on Lexis or Westlaw.

[Coregram]

Also, some schools don't give access to Lexis or Westlaw to 1Ls; at least at the start of the semester.  Sometimes they wait until you get the "official training" from the vendors.

[casino]

imagine the logistics, as well.  that would be a lot of downloading and printing.

casino

[lincolnsgrandson]

early in my second year, I realized that I was doing most of studying through Lexis Nexis and Shepard's.  I don't highlight at all anymore.
So for one class, I didn't buy the casebook, and just studied with Lexis, the professor's lectures, Emanuel's, and treatises (in that order).  I did very well in the class.
I can't say it will work for everybody with every class. 

[casino]

what is a hornbook?

casino

[draino]

Hornbook is basically a more traditional "textbook" on the topic of interest where the authors are seemingly paid by the word.  Include an overabundance of information, much of which is repeated several times under different headings. 

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/031426485X/qid=1119926451/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/103-0172857-5709451?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

[slacker]

Some casebooks also have questions or notes at the end of the chapter. Some of my professors have made relatively heavy use of these. As already noted, many of the cases are also edited to focus on the point the authors are trying to stress. (eg., removing a lot of procedural arguments and getting to the substantive matters.)

[rezipsa]

Some casebooks also have questions or notes at the end of the chapter. Some of my professors have made relatively heavy use of these. As already noted, many of the cases are also edited to focus on the point the authors are trying to stress. (eg., removing a lot of procedural arguments and getting to the substantive matters.)

My Tort prof used one of the questions in the casebook for an exam question.