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Casebooks, Study Aids & Guides for Law School Courses & Bar Exams: Wills, Trusts & Estates

Note

Content on this page is reproduced from the BLS LibGuide: Wills, Trusts & Estates by Grace Wagner (& updated by Jean Davis).

Casebooks

Hornbook

Hornbooks are primers for study. The term "hornbook" originated in England.  In the U.S., a legal hornbook is a text that provides an overview of an area of law.  A legal hornbook is a type of treatise. It might be a shorter (often single-volume) version of a multi-volume treatise. Students in U.S. law schools often use a hornbook as a supplement to a casebook.

Restatements in Lexis & Westlaw

Restatements of the Law are frequently cited secondary sources published by the American Law Institute (ALI).  According to ALI's FAQs, Restatements are "primarily addressed to courts."  A Restatement section generally includes: "black letter" law in bold text; a Comment (which includes illustrations); a Reporter's Note; & Case Citations (to decisions that cite to a Restatement section).  For a more detailed description of Restatements, see this BLS Library LibGuide.

Understanding Series

Examples & Explanations Series

This volume of Examples & Explanations includes hypothetical questions and in-depth explanations to help students test their knowledge/analysis of  topics.

Emanuel Law Outlines Series

The Emanuel Law Outlines below provide both capsule and detailed explanations of key issues, topics and law.  Chapters include a "Quiz Yourself" feature (short answer questions & sample answers) + Exam Tips. At the end of both outlines, there are 3 Essay Exam Questions/Answers.

Older Emanuel Law Outline available in Aspen Learning Library:

Nutshell Series

Nutshells are short works that provide simple overviews of legal topics.  Do not cite a Nutshell in a legal document.

Gilbert Law Summaries Series

This volume of Gilbert Law Summaries includes 100 multiple choice review questions/answers and practice exam essay questions/answers for students.

Questions & Answers Series

The Questions & Answers series volume below provides multiple-choice and short-answer questions arranged by topic and a practice exam/answers.