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Best Hornbook for Property and Criminal Law

Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 12:41 am
by iheartlaw
Hey guys the new semester just started, and I was wondering if anyone could offer me any insight on which hornbooks to purchase for Criminal Law and for Property. For Criminal Law I have the Dressler 4th Ed. and for Property I have the Property Law: Rules, Policies, and Practices by Singer (also the 4th ed.).

Thank you for your advice and help! I hope everyone kicked ass last semester.

Re: Best Hornbook for Property and Criminal Law

Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 1:11 am
by jp0094
Crim - no doubt you want the hornbook by dressler, Understanding Criminal Law
Property - I've heard the understanding property law supplement is also recommended, especially w/r/t Singer's casebook

Edit: Also, use the damn search function before posting next time

Re: Best Hornbook for Property and Criminal Law

Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 1:17 am
by Snooker
+10 for the Sprankling Understanding Property Law. It's a good book, clearly written, lays out the issues and concepts.

Re: Best Hornbook for Property and Criminal Law

Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 1:47 am
by jp0094
Snooker wrote:+10 for the Sprankling Understanding Property Law. It's a good book, clearly written, lays out the issues and concepts.
Amazon has a bunch of cheap used copies of this book (we're talking $5+ S/h)

Re: Best Hornbook for Property and Criminal Law

Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 2:19 am
by iheartlaw
Haha I used the search function, but was seeing if anyone else had any further input.

But I appreciate the suggestions. I have heard good things about the Understanding series for both courses as well. I have also heard good things about the Gilbert's for Property. What does w/r/t mean?

Re: Best Hornbook for Property and Criminal Law

Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 3:07 am
by jp0094
with regards to

Re: Best Hornbook for Property and Criminal Law

Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 1:20 pm
by VincentChase
I really liked the Gilbert's property outline by James Krier, but since I had Krier as my professor, I'm probably biased toward it.

Re: Best Hornbook for Property and Criminal Law

Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 1:45 pm
by apper123
VincentChase wrote:I really liked the Gilbert's property outline by James Krier, but since I had Krier as my professor, I'm probably biased toward it.
I can also recommend this. It's the only supplement I used outside of the Future Interests book everyone uses anyways, and I got an A in the course.

It's worth noting while Krier was not my prof, we did use the Dukeminier/Krier casebook.

Re: Best Hornbook for Property and Criminal Law

Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 1:52 pm
by Oban
Get something on Easements and E&FI for property.

Re: Best Hornbook for Property and Criminal Law

Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 1:54 pm
by apper123
Also worth noting I bought Understanding Property and did not find it to be useful.

Re: Best Hornbook for Property and Criminal Law

Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2010 1:58 pm
by VincentChase
apper123 wrote:Also worth noting I bought Understanding Property and did not find it to be useful.
I didn't either.

One thing that's great about the Krier book is that a lot of the hypotheticals in the notes and discussion section are answered in there in the examples sprinkled throughout the outline.

Overall, however, I've found that supplements are less important than:

1. Reading for class
2. Paying attention in class
3. Knowing what your professor wants you to know
4. Practicing hypotheticals during study period

Re: Best Hornbook for Property and Criminal Law

Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 8:44 pm
by rbgrocio
Our professor recommended using Inside Property Law: What Matters and Why by Aspen Publishers. It is a study aid, not a hornbook.