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Hey guys, I'm a 0L in the market for a law school dictionary. Everyone I talk to says getting the latest version of Black's Law would be the best, however is it really worth $100?? That is instead of settling for a more cheaper previous version or even for Webster's version which is a lot less $$?? Thanx.

You don't need a law school dictionary.

What is a law school dictionary? Black's Law Dictionary is a law dictionary. I've never heard of a law school dictionary...

A law dictionary is not worth the paper it's printed on.

Don't spend your money on a dictionary. You'll get access to Black's on Westlaw or Nexis, I don't remember.

Also, Google usually suffices.

jockinjay-z wrote:Hey guys, I'm a 0L in the market for a law school dictionary. Everyone I talk to says getting the latest version of Black's Law would be the best, however is it really worth $100?? That is instead of settling for a more cheaper previous version or even for Webster's version which is a lot less $$?? Thanx.

Only if you're retarded and don't know how to use a computer or the internet. Go slam your head into a wall a few times for this topic. Who, your dad?

jockinjay-z wrote:Hey guys, I'm a 0L in the market for a law school dictionary. Everyone I talk to says getting the latest version of Black's Law would be the best, however is it really worth $100?? That is instead of settling for a more cheaper previous version or even for Webster's version which is a lot less $$?? Thanx.

Buy the Black's pocket law dictionary for ~ $30. Use it for the first 3 weeks of law school when you have no idea what anything means... then put it on your shelf and use it the rare time that you have to look up 'assumpsit.'

I bought the $30 Black's, used it for the first two weeks, and now it's gathering dust on my bookshelf. It was worth it until we had Lexis and WestLaw, which weren't set up until the second or third week of school.

vamedic03 wrote:

jockinjay-z wrote:Hey guys, I'm a 0L in the market for a law school dictionary. Everyone I talk to says getting the latest version of Black's Law would be the best, however is it really worth $100?? That is instead of settling for a more cheaper previous version or even for Webster's version which is a lot less $$?? Thanx.

Buy the Black's pocket law dictionary for ~ $30. Use it for the first 3 weeks of law school when you have no idea what anything means... then put it on your shelf and use it the rare time that you have to look up 'assumpsit.'

15 seconds on Google yields this:
http://www.answers.com/topic/assumpsit

Good enough?

i have had the big Black's Law Dictonary for years. And the day I moved in to my houes in the city i went to law school in I found the door to my office would not stay open so i used the blacks to prop it opemn. There is has satyed untouched for five years. You don't need it and won't use it.

RUQRU wrote:

vamedic03 wrote:

jockinjay-z wrote:Hey guys, I'm a 0L in the market for a law school dictionary. Everyone I talk to says getting the latest version of Black's Law would be the best, however is it really worth $100?? That is instead of settling for a more cheaper previous version or even for Webster's version which is a lot less $$?? Thanx.

Buy the Black's pocket law dictionary for ~ $30. Use it for the first 3 weeks of law school when you have no idea what anything means... then put it on your shelf and use it the rare time that you have to look up 'assumpsit.'

15 seconds on Google Images yields this:
quote]

yields pictures that would likley get me baned for posting a link to, but are now in my favorites for later viewing

Matthies wrote:

RUQRU wrote:

vamedic03 wrote:

jockinjay-z wrote:Hey guys, I'm a 0L in the market for a law school dictionary. Everyone I talk to says getting the latest version of Black's Law would be the best, however is it really worth $100?? That is instead of settling for a more cheaper previous version or even for Webster's version which is a lot less $$?? Thanx.

Buy the Black's pocket law dictionary for ~ $30. Use it for the first 3 weeks of law school when you have no idea what anything means... then put it on your shelf and use it the rare time that you have to look up 'assumpsit.'

15 seconds on Google Images yields this:
quote]

yields pictures that would likley get me baned for posting a link to, but are now in my favorites for later viewing

ITT: We learn that 1) purchasing a law dictionary is a waste of money and 2) matthies is an ass man.

vamedic03 wrote:

jockinjay-z wrote:Hey guys, I'm a 0L in the market for a law school dictionary. Everyone I talk to says getting the latest version of Black's Law would be the best, however is it really worth $100?? That is instead of settling for a more cheaper previous version or even for Webster's version which is a lot less $$?? Thanx.

Buy the Black's pocket law dictionary for ~ $30. Use it for the first 3 weeks of law school when you have no idea what anything means... then put it on your shelf and use it the rare time that you have to look up 'assumpsit.'

"assumpsit" causes me to maniacally cackle every time I see it.

they call me assumpsit, cuz when i see an ass I humps it

I got the "pocket" version. It's much cheaper and has pretty much every work you'll need at this level. And I only got it because I didn't have internet for a few weeks.

its on my list of required books, should I still skip it?

goosey wrote:its on my list of required books, should I still skip it?

Required by who?

vanwinkle wrote:

goosey wrote:its on my list of required books, should I still skip it?

Required by who?

legal writing professor

goosey wrote:

vanwinkle wrote:

goosey wrote:its on my list of required books, should I still skip it?

Required by who?

legal writing professor

That's such BS. If you actually need to look a word up, use the Internet. If you need the dictionary for some bizarre reason (he's crazy enough to give you an assignment requiring it) your law library should have at least one copy on reserve. You should be able to avoid needing to buy one.

If you're referencing the big, giant one... don't get it.

Get the cheaper pocket edition if you get one at all. That is something that I actually did use in law school. It's a lot lighter and has practically any term you would encounter as a 1L. Although you could probably get by without one, I found having one on hand helpful.

If you must spend $100, at least get the pocket one that comes with a disc. That disc has what the full one has. You can just type in the word (which unfortunately requires knowing what it is... unless you just want to look at a list of words).

And before anyone goes on about how it's free on WEST... c'mon... it's a total pain to use Black's on WEST. It would be so much easier to have no hassle and use it in one of the aforementioned ways.

Lexis and WestLaw probably have access to Black's. If not, use the one in the library.

West has it. You won't ever really need it because, as so many people have said, you can google anything you don't know. Also, the book was required for our class too... I didn't buy it, and it was never needed. Don't waste money - especially $100. That is absurd.

I thought it was worth it, but then I like dictionaries.

Do you need it? Absolutely not. You'll have access for free via Westlaw. (And if somehow you don't, you can always decide to buy one then.)

If you really feel you need one there is a Black's Law dictionary app if you have an iPhone. It's way cheaper than the printed one.

As said before, westlaw has Black's available online. No point in purchasing a paperweight.