Library Guides: Academic Success: Study Aids, Exam Prep, and More: Study Aids / Supplements

Introduction to Study Aids

Study aids (also referred to as supplements) are commercially produced resources that are designed to assist you in your law school learning. You can use study aids as explanatory material to get background and context on a legal topic, or to clarify confusion. You can also use study aids is to assess your knowledge and understanding of a topic, and test your ability to apply your knowledge. There are a variety of categories of study aids and each category is designed to help you in different ways.

This page contains information on the study aids that the Law Library has purchased for your use. Use the subtabs to locate information on accessing the library's study aids, information on the different categories of study aids, and when to use them throughout the semester.

Digital Study Aids

The law library subscribes to three electronic study aid platforms, Lexis Digital, West Academic, and Wolters Kluwer (WK).

West Academic

What Can I Find on West Academic?

Over twenty study aid series, including Acing, Short & Happy, High Court Case Summaries, and Exam Pro
Audio lectures: Sum & Substance and Law School Legends
Audio books for select series
Interactive quizzing feature (Exam Pro)
Academic and career success books

What Features are Available?

Create a West Academic login to download titles, highlight, take notes, print, and save favorites.
Download the Redshelf app for offline reading. Download the West Academic Audio app for offline listening.

How Do I Access?

Click the link below to access using your CUA network login.
Create a West Academic login to access directly, and to download titles, highlight, take notes, and save favorites.

West Academic Study Aids

West Academic - Offline Reading and Listening

Wolters Kluwer (WK)

What Can I Find on WK?

Nine study aid series, including Examples & Explanations, Emanuel Law Outlines, Glannon Guides
Video and audio: In Other Words series

What Features are Available?

Create a WK login to download titles, print, highlight, and take notes.
Download the iPublishCentral Reader app to your phone or tablet for offline reading . Follow the instructions below. Currently download of videos and audio is not supported.

How Do I Access?

Bookmark the link below to access using your CUA network login.
Create a WK login to download titles, print, highlight, and take notes.

Wolters Kluwer (WK) Study Aids

WK Study Aids - Offline Reading

Lexis Digital Library

What Can I Find on Lexis Digital Library?

Four study aids series: Mastering, Questions & Answers, Skills & Values, and Understanding. Select Browse Library to easily locate all four series.
Primary and secondary materials for DC, MD, and VA, and major treatises such as Moore's Federal Practice and Corbin on Contracts.

What Features Are Available?

Download titles, highlight, annotate, export annotations, print, and create tags. Your homepage automatically saves opened books and annotations for easy access.
Download the Lexis Digital app on your phone or tablet to read books offline. The first time you use the app, you need to enter this code: catholiclaw

How Do I Access?

Bookmark the link below. Login using your Use your CUA network account.

LexisNexis Digital Library

Lexis Digital - Offline Reading

Print Study Aids

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. Located at the Circulation Desk.

Print editions of first year subjects are available for the following series at the Circulation Desk: Acing Series, Emanuel Law Outlines, Examples and Explanations, Hornbook Treatises, Questions & Answers, Short & Happy Guides, and Understanding Series.

Current and previous editions of a number of print study aids are available in the library stacks for checkout. Search the online catalog or ask a librarian for assistance.

Audio and Video Study Aids

In Other Words Audio Series
From Wolters Kluwer, this series covers fundamental topics in law. Each lecture is written and presented by a law professor or legal practitioner.
In Other Words Video Video Series
From Wolters Kluwer, this series covers fundamental topics in law. Each lecture is written and presented by a law professor or legal practitioner.

West Academic

Listen to the following series online, or download the West Academic Audio app for offline listening.

Law School Legends Audio Series
From West Academic, 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.
Office Hours
From West Study Aids, this series is a collection of short audio and video tracks that tackle some of the thorniest questions plaguing law students.
Sum & Substance Audio Lectures
From West Academic, this 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.
West Academic Audio Books
West Academic audio books are available for select High Court Case Summaries, Short and Happy Guides, and Career Guides.

Study Aids Keyed to Casebooks

West Academic

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

Wolters Kluwer (WK)

Casenote Legal Briefs and Emanuel Law Outlines have titles which are keyed to casebooks. Filter by series to locate titles in each series.

Study Aids by Category

Key to abbreviations used below:

LD: Lexis Digital Library
WA: West Academic Online Study Aids
WK: WK Online Study Aids
P: Print only

Study Aid Category

Series

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)

Short & Happy Guides (WA)

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 should not be used as 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)

Gilbert Law Summaries (WA)

Quick Reviews (WA)

Treatises

These series provide comprehensive explanation and analysis. They are more detailed than other types of study aids. These are good resources when you need better understanding of specific concepts.

Aspen Student Treatise series (P)

Concise Hornbooks (WA)

Concepts & Insights (WA)

Examples & Explanations (WK)

Hornbooks (WA)

Mastering series ( LD)

Understanding series (LD)

Problem-Based

These series include problems/ questions and model answers relating to the area of law being discussed. These are good for exam preparation. Visit the Exam Prep page for more information on each series.

Acing series (WA)

Emanuel Crunchtime (WK)

Exam Pro (WA)

Examples & Explanations (WK)

Friedman's Practice Series (WK)

Glannon Guides (WK)

Questions and Answers (LD)

Skills-Based

This series explores topics important in law practice. Each chapter includes exercises designed to help students develop problem-solving skills for issues they might face in practice.

Bridge to Practice (WA)

Developing Professional Skills (WA)

Skills & Values series (LD)

Study Aids by Timing

Key to abbreviations used below:

LD: Lexis Digital Library
WA: West Academic Online Study Aids
WK: WK Online Study Aids
P: Print only

Timing

Series

Early Semester

Case Briefs
Treatises

Use treatises to get a better understanding of key concepts.

High Court Case Summaries (WA)

Legalines (WA)

Casenote Legal Briefs (WK)

Aspen Student Treatise series (P)

Concise Hornbooks (WA)

Concepts & Insights (WA)

Examples & Explanations (WK)

Hornbooks (WA)

Mastering series ( LD)

Understanding series (LD)

Mid Semester

Outlines
Overviews

Emanuel Law Outlines (WK)

Black Letter Outlines (WA)

Gilbert Law Summaries (WA)

Quick Reviews (WA)

Nutshells (WA)

Short & Happy Guides (WA)

Inside series (WK)

Jumpstart (WK)

Late Semester and Exam Time

Problem-based
Audio and Video

Acing series (WA)

Exam Pro (WA)

Emanuel Crunchtime (WK)

Examples & Explanations (WK)

Friedman's Practice Series (WK)

Glannon Guides (WK)

Questions and Answers (LD)

Law School Legends (WA)

Sum and Substance (WA)

Office Hours (WA)

In Other Words Audio (WK)

In Other Words Video (WK)

Summer - Prepare to Practice

Bridge to Practice (WA)

Developing Professional Skills (WA)

Skills & Values series (LD)

Study Aids Finder

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

Advice for Using Study Aids Effectively

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