Narrative nonfiction has been shown to improve mental abilities and increase emotional intelligence. In law school, it provides a much needed break from the daily grind, which has been known to kill students’ love of learning and dull their motivation to pursue a law career.
To help you rekindle the fire in your heart, we have identified six books that every law student should read. These books will enrich your knowledge of the law, test your moral bearings and shed light on the law’s far-reaching effect on individuals and communities.
The books we chose encompass works that are designed to stretch your legal education beyond your brain and into your heart. Some provide practical insights with tips and tricks, while others examine the ethical dimensions of lawyering by delivering in-person accounts of what it’s like to fight for someone’s life.
So take a break from studying, and inspire yourself with these must-reads before your billable hours kick in.
One L: The Turbulent True Story of a First Year at Harvard Law School
By Scott Turow
Published: 2010
Publisher: Penguin Books
Available in e-book, audiobook, paperback
Synopsis: “One L” is a memoir by Scott Turow detailing his experiences and emotions during his first year at Harvard Law School. Turow gives an honest depiction of law students’ difficulties, both in their personal lives and in the classroom.
Turow’s account sheds light on the challenging curriculum, Socratic instruction style and competitive atmosphere. He explores the psychological and emotional toll that comes with attending law school by illuminating the fears, uncertainties and compromises frequently faced, while providing solace and insight to individuals facing the same difficulties.
A Civil Action
By Jonathan Harr
Published: 1995
Publisher: Knopf Doubleday
Available in e-book, paperback
Synopsis: “A Civil Action” is a legal thriller that tells the true story of a complex water contamination lawsuit, Anderson v. Cryovac, in the 1980s. When leukemia becomes prevalent in Woburn, Massachusetts, affected families hire Jan Schlichtmann as their lawyer. He finds evidence suggesting that three companies contaminated the town’s water supply with trichloroethylene.
This book offers a gripping narrative that brings to life the nuances of civil litigation, courtroom tactics and the legal process. It’s a vivid portrayal of the challenges lawyers encounter when handling high-stakes environmental cases.
Important ethical questions are raised, emphasizing the role of attorneys in pursuing justice and accountability. Harr focuses on the ramifications of legal decisions on people and communities. The book helps students understand how their work could affect society.
Harr is a professor at Smith College, where he teaches nonfiction writing. “A Civil Action” became a bestseller and won the National Book Critics Circle Award for nonfiction.
Fun Fact: “A Civil Action” was made into a movie starring John Travolta, Robert Duvall, Kathy Bates, Sydney Pollack, John Lithgow and William H. Macy.
The Happy Lawyer
By Nancy Levit &
Douglas O. Linder
Published: 2010
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Available in e-book, hardcover
Synopsis: “The Happy Lawyer: Making a Good Life in the Law” is an exciting book about how to be happy and healthy as a lawyer.
Stress, burnout and moral issues are common problems for lawyers. This book goes into detail about why lawyers are unhappy. Levit and Linder discuss these issues and give advice on how lawyers can live happy lives. The book helps readers identify and understand their personality types, values and strengths.
Brain chemistry, the science of happiness, and how modern law firms work are just some of the things that Levit and Linder delve into. They have advice for every stage of the journey:
• Law students: suggestions for selecting law schools that maximize their long-term happiness prospects
• Recent graduates: what happiness research says about which potential jobs hold the most promise
• Working lawyers: step-by-step instructions to help them boost their career happiness
• Firm managers: approaches that will help them remake their firm into a more rewarding workplace
Nancy Levit is a professor at University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Law. Douglas O. Linder is an American author, narrator and historian. He is the creator of the Famous Trials website, hosted by the University of Missouri, which covers more than 50 famous trials throughout history.
The Curmudgeon’s Guide to Practicing Law, 2nd edition
By Mark Herrmann
Published: 2020
Publisher: American Bar Association
Available in e-book and paperback
Synopsis: “The Curmudgeon’s Guide to Practicing Law” is a collection of funny and honest essays with valuable tips for students on their way to becoming lawyers. Herrmann uses his years of experience to offer practical advice for surviving and thriving at a law firm.
The author, who graduated from The University of Michigan Law School, gives a realistic picture of the legal world and law firm etiquette. Students can prepare for the practical parts of their future jobs by following his straightforward advice on how to bill hours, deal with difficult clients and build a law practice.
The book stresses the importance of communicating clearly in writing and in person. It also talks about the moral aspects of being a lawyer, outlining the ethical duties and behavior expected of lawyers.
Fun Fact: “The Curmudgeon’s Guide to Practicing Law” is the best-selling book in the history of the American Bar Association Litigation Section.
The Nine: Inside the Secret World
of the Supreme Court
By Jeffrey Toobin
Published: 2007
Publisher: Knopf Doubleday
Available in e-book, audiobook, paperback
Synopsis: “The Nine” is an exciting look at the U.S. Supreme Court between 1994 and 2005 and the nine justices who make the country’s laws. Toobin takes readers inside the Supreme Court and thoroughly examines its history, how it works, and the critical decisions that change America.
This book details the Supreme Court’s vital role in interpreting the Constitution and shaping American law, as well as examining how Supreme Court decisions affect society, politics and people’s rights. It helps law students think about the ethics and social aspects of the law and how decisions made by the courts affect people.
Toobin uses exclusive interviews with justices and former law clerks to illustrate how difficult it can sometimes be for judges to make decisions.
Toobin is a lawyer, author, blogger and legal analyst. He has a law degree from Harvard Law School.
Fun Fact: “The Nine” spent four months on The New York Times Best Sellers list and was a Best Book of the Year.
Just Mercy: A Story of Justice
and Redemption
By Bryan Stevenson
Published: 2014
Publisher: Spiegel & Grau
Available in e-book, audiobook, hardcover, paperback
Synopsis: “Just Mercy” is a memoir by Bryan Stevenson about his life and career as a lawyer fighting for justice for disadvantaged clients such as Walter McMillian. The book covers Stevenson’s fight to overturn McMillian’s wrongful conviction; his work on other cases, such as those involving children who receive life sentences; and his founding of the Equal Justice Initiative.
In 1988, McMillian was convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of Ronda Morrison in Monroeville, Alabama. His conviction was based mainly on testimony from a police informant and three others coerced by police. The jury decided to give him a life sentence. However, the judge overruled and sentenced McMillian to death.
Stevenson gives the reader a harsh, eye-opening look at flaws in the court system, especially when police and court officials lie, cheat and intimidate. He shows how poverty, race and not having a good lawyer can allow injustice to happen.
The book shows how powerful legal advocacy can be and how devoted lawyers can make a difference in people’s lives.
Fun Fact: The book was adapted into a feature-length film starring Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Foxx.
Other reading to consider
By Alexandra Sumner
I know, I know: You don’t want to do any more reading. Your eyes are tired. You’ve already had to change your glasses prescription twice since beginning law school. And you carry Visine in your pocket.
But hear me out. Reading for fun every once in a while can reignite the passion you once had for reading. Below is a list of the types of books that will both educate and entertain.
An autobiography of a famous attorney in your desired field: What better way to learn an area than to study the great ones? Pick someone you admire, and find out how they became so admirable. Then do what they did, rinse and repeat.
A social justice issue book: Pick a topic that inspires you. Maybe you’re interested in the housing crisis, or education, or freedom of speech. Whatever it is, find a notable book in that area and dive in. It will give you insight and anecdotes and provide you with information that is a bit more in-depth than your average social media post.
Some suggestions are: “No One Cares About Crazy People,” “The Color of Law,” “Educated: a Memoir,” “The Two Income Trap” and “Dreamland: The True Tale of America’s Opiate Epidemic.”
A legal scandal piece: I may have made a mistake on this one. I chose to read “Too Big to Fail.” Was it informative? Yes. What is fun? Well, no.
Find a good balance between the two, and pick up a book on a legal scandal you want to know more about, whether it be the famous McDonald’s hot coffee case, Silicon Valley, Enron or the Trump White House. Pick something that’s well-written and well-received, as there are plenty to choose from.
