Library Guides: Academic Skills: Study Aids, Exam Prep, and More: Study Aids

What are Study Aids?

Study aids (sometimes referred to as supplements) are intended to assist students in a variety of ways. Students can use study aids to acquire a broad overview of a topic, review and better understand specific concepts, and test the application of concepts. Unlike casebooks, study aids provide explanations, analysis, practice questions, and model answers.

This page lists the various study aids that the law library has purchased for your use.

How to Use Study Aids in Law School (ABA)
Using Study Aids Wisely to Maximize Learning within Time Restraints
Amy Jarmon, Texas Tech Univ. School of Law

Wolters Kluwer (WK) Online Study Aids

WK Study Aids provides unlimited online access to hundreds of titles from Wolters Kluwer Legal Education. Nine series are available, including Examples & Explanations, Emanuel Law Outlines, and Glannon Guides. Books on academic success are also included.

You must access the study aids through the library's proxy server if you are on the wifi or off-campus. Bookmark the link below.
You must create a WK login to download titles, print, highlight, and take notes.

Wolters Kluwer (WK) Study Aids

WK Study Aids - Offline Reading

WK Study Aids is limited to CUA Law students and faculty.

West Academic Online Study Aids

West Academic Study Aids provides unlimited online access to hundreds of titles from West Academic Publishing. Over twenty series are available, including High Court Case Summaries, Exam Pro, Gilberts, audio lectures, and more. Books on academic success, bar preparation, and career success are also included.

Access West Study Aids through the library website, or through subscription.westacademic.com
You must create a West Academic login (not the same as your Westlaw login) to download titles, highlight, take notes, and save favorites

West Academic Study Aids

West Academic Study Aids is limited to CUA Law students and faculty.

Study Aids on Reserve

Current editions of the following series are on reserve at the circulation desk. The library purchases titles for all required and staple subjects. Other subjects are purchased on a select basis. Older editions for select titles are available in the stacks. Linked series are available online in full-text through either West Academic Study Aids or WK Study Aids.

Acing Series
The Acing Series uses a checklist format with sequential questions that help students fully evaluate a subject. The books also present numerous hypothetical problems and sample answers. This series is particularly helpful for exam preparation.
Aspen Student Treatise Series
These titles are meant to supplement your casebook by helping you to focus on the essentials of each subject. Coverage of each topic is comprehensive, with clear descriptions and analyses.
Concise Hornbooks
This series features concise analyses of fundamental areas of the law by prominent legal scholars. Each text is lightly footnoted and focuses on the core principles and concepts fundamental to understanding the subject matter.
Emanuel Law Outlines
This series contains outlines, summaries, and Q&A (essay and multiple choice). Some titles are keyed to major casebooks. All titles have a cross reference table of cases for all of the leading casebooks.
Examples & Explanations series
This series offers hypothetical questions complimented by detailed explanations that allow you to test your knowledge of the topic and compare your own analysis. A series of problems at the end of each section or chapter assist you in testing your understanding. Answers are provided for these problems.
Gilbert Law Summaries
Gilbert Law Summaries give students a detailed, comprehensive outline to prepare for exams. Each title also includes a capsule summary that is perfect for last minute review. Each outline features actual exam questions (multiple choice, short answer, and essay) and model answers. Each question is cross-referenced back to the main outline for further review.
Hornbooks
Hornbooks are in-depth texts that address the major questions in specific areas of law. Hornbooks are not suitable for cover to cover reading. Hornbooks do usually cover cases used in law school classes. Use the table of contents, index, or table of cases to focus on your particular questions.
Mastering Series
This series includes features designed to improve learning and retention of each topic. At the beginning of each chapter, a Roadmap introduces the chapter and provides readers with an overview of the material that will be covered. Checkpoints at the end of each chapter enable readers to review key concepts. A Master Checklist at the end of each book reinforces what has been covered and helps readers identify any areas that need review.
Nutshell Series
Nutshells provide a concise narrative explanation of the major doctrines in each substantive area of law, and offer a good introduction to key concepts and legal terminology and jargon.
Questions & Answers Series
Each title in this series contains multiple-choice and short-answer questions arranged topically, with questions comprising a comprehensive practice final exam. Each multiple-choice question is accompanied by a detailed answer that indicates which option is the best answer, and why. Each short-answer question is accompanied by a short model answer.
Short & Happy Guides
The Short & Happy series take difficult subject matter and make it accessible and easy to remember. They provide clear explanations, logical sequencing of the material, colorful acronyms, metaphor and imagery.

Select titles are available as audio books. To locate, select Type under Filter Results and select Audio.
Understanding Series
This series provides in-depth analysis of the central concepts and issues for each subject.

Study Aids: Audio

Physical CDs are located in the Reference Room and can be checked out for 1 week with 1 renewal. Audio lectures are also available via West Online Study Aids. Click the "series" tab on West Academic Study Aids to locate, or click the links below.

Sum & Substance Audio Lectures
The Sum & Substance audio series presents the essentials of each subject in a clear, time-saving format. Includes quick reference indexing, allowing you to quickly locate all topics in the recording, and informed exam tips to help maximize your performance.
Law School Legends Audio Series
This series features renowned law school professors explaining entire subjects in one concise lecture. Each lecture covers the important concepts for each subject, and how a student can use the concepts to answer any question a professor might ask in class or on the exam.
Short & Happy Guides
Select titles available as audio books. To locate, select Type under Filter Results and select Audio.

High Court Case Summaries
Select titles available as audio books. To locate audio, select Type under Filter Results and select Audio.

Study Aids Keyed to Casebooks

Casenote Legal Briefs
High Court Case Summaries
Select titles available as audio books. To locate audio, select Type under Filter Results and select Audio.
Legallines

Emanuel Law Outlines

Restatements

Restatements are secondary sources that seek to create a uniform "restatement" of the legal rules that constitute the common law in a particular area. They are written by the American Law Institute (ALI), a prestigious legal organization composed of noted professors, judges and lawyers. They are not binding legal authority.

Each Restatement consists of a set of topical volumes, which contain the actual "black letter" legal rules and drafters' commentary, and a set of Appendix volumes, which contain summaries of cases which have adopted or interpreted the Restatement rules.

To locate Restatements, do a keyword search in the law library catalog.

Study Aids Finder

Study Aids Finder
This resource lists library study aids by topic.

Study Aids by Type (Case Briefs, Outlines, Problem-Based, etc.)

Key to abbreviations used below:

WA: West Academic Online Study Aids
WK: WK Online Study Aids
P: Print (on reserve at the circulation desk)

Treatises

These series provide comprehensive explanation and analysis. They are more detailed than other types of study aids.

Aspen Student Treatise series (P)
Concise Hornbooks (WA, P)
Examples & Explanations (WK, P)
Hornbooks (WA, P)
Mastering series (P)
Understanding series (P)

Case Briefs

Case briefs summarize the law, facts, and analysis of the cases students are assigned in course casebooks. Many are keyed to specific casebooks. Commercial case briefs are not a substitute for reading and briefing assigned cases.

Casenote Legal Briefs (WK)
High Court Case Summaries (WA)
Legalines (WA)

Outlines

These titles focus on black letter law and legal rules. They often include exam tips and sample questions. Some outlines are keyed to specific casebooks. Commercial outlines are not a substitute for creating your own outline.

Black Letter Outlines (WA)
Emanuel Law Outlines (WK, P)
Gilbert Law Summaries (WA, P)
Quick Reviews (WA)

Overviews

These titles provide a concise narrative explanation of the major doctrines in each substantive area of law, and offer a good introduction to key concepts and legal terminology.

Inside series (WK)
Jumpstart (WK)
Nutshells (WA, P)
Short & Happy Guides (WA, P)

Problem-Based

These series include problems/ questions and model answers relating to the area of law being discussed. These are good for exam preparation.

Acing series (WA, P)
Emanuel Crunchtime (WK)
Exam Pro (WA)
Examples & Explanations (WK, P)
Friedman's Practice Series (WK)
Glannon Guides (WK)
Questions and Answers (P)