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Northern Illinois University
College of Law
David C. Shapiro Memorial Law Library

Basic Legal Research

Examples & Explanations

The Examples & Explanations series, published by Wolters Kluwer, offers hypothetical questions complemented by detailed explanations in a clear, conversational style. The books can be used throughout the semester to test your understanding and at exam time to help you review.

  • Current editions are shelved in the Browseable Reserves area near the Circulation Desk and can be checked out for one day. (During reading period and exams the loan period is reduced to four hours.)
  • Older editions are shelved in the Stacks (General Collection) and have a longer check-out period.
  • The Law Library owns most of the titles in the series; the cover image below is just one example.

Understanding... Series

The Understanding... series, published by LexisNexis, provide a concise but comprehensive overview of specific areas of law.

  • Many of the titles in the Understanding... series are available online through the LexisNexis Digital Library. You can log in with your student ID and password and are able to highlight and create and save notes as you read.  Online titles can be checked out for four weeks and your notes and highlights are saved.
  • Current print editions of the Understanding... series are shelved in the Browseable Reserves area near the Circulation Desk and can be checked out for one day. (During reading period and exams the loan period is reduced to four hours.)
  • Older print editions are shelved in the Stacks (General Collection) and have a longer check-out period.
  • The Law Library owns most of the titles in the series; the link and cover image below is just one example.

Nutshells

Nutshells are a series of books published by West Academic that provide a quick overview of important issues of law, highlighting key cases and statutes.

  • Current editions of Nutshells are shelved in the "Nutshell Nook" area near the Circulation Desk. They can be checked out for one day.
  • Older editions of Nutshells are shelved in the Stacks (General Collection) and have a longer check-out period.
  • The Law Library owns many of the titles in the series; the cover image below is just one example.

Hornbooks

Hornbooks are summaries and explanations of a particular area of law. Most are written by law professors and intended for use by law students. They usually discuss major cases and present “black letter law” in that particular specialty. There are also "Concise Hornbooks" which do not include as much detail as regular Hornbooks.  Most Hornbooks are published by West.

  • The Law Library has a selection of Hornbooks on various topics.
  • Newer and more popular editions are in the Browseable Reserve collection shelved near the Circulation Desk. Those shelved in Browseable Reserve can be checked out for one day.
  • More Hornbooks can be found shelved in the Stacks (General Collection) and have a longer check-out period.

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