Usefulness of print legal dictionaries?

[Netopalis]

Haldo,
  I was just wondering - for those of you who are current law students, how important do you feel that print legal dictionaries are?  Should they be brought to class or left at home if they are used?  Is a pocket or abridged version sufficient, or is the huge version necessary, in your opinion?  Any thoughts?  Any other tools that you could mention that were useful to you?

-Netopalis

[BikePilot]

For the first couple of weeks in no-laptop classes I found my compact legal dictionary quite helpful while studying. I don't recall ever using it in class, but couldn't hurt I suppose.

[RobWreck]

Black's pocket edition legal dictionary works well for me... it's small enough that it fits in the front pocket of my bag and it covers most of hte terms you may feel a need to look up during your first year.
I wouldn't spend the money on a full-sized one, and if you did you'd really have no reason to bring it with you to class.
Rob

[Susan B. Anthony]

I've never had one. It might be useful if you don't get westlaw/lexis access right away or if you study away from a computer.

[nealric]

I doubt it will be useful. Any terms you need will be defined for you in class. In the rare event that is not the case, google is much quicker.

[vap]

useless.

You can access a dictionary via Westlaw, and even before then Google will provide the answer.

[vap]

PS - I have a nice hardcover Black's Law Dictionary, 8th Edition, like new condition for sale if you want it.

[jacy85]

I never used mine for class.  I did use it at home when it was easier to look the damn word up than open a browser page, got to westlaw, and type in the word.

I use it a lot more often now in practice, as my Black's is usually more reliable than google and the westlaw black's is no longer free.

[k0em9u]

I consider using a laptop in class horribly damaging to your learning, and have therefore sworn by black's.

[Susan B. Anthony]

You really bring it to class and look stuff up? In my experience, anyway, the number of times a word came up in class that I didn't know (from looking it up when reading before class, for instance) and wasn't explained certainly did not outweigh the irritation of carrying around an extra book.