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Anyone have any thoughts on getting a subscription to the Bluebook online? 1 year costs 35 dollars or so. I have the print edition but I wonder if the search function online would make things easier to find.

I have both. I think it's actually easier to learn to Bluebook with the book, as it's easier to flip pages and find what you need. But once you get into any serious writing (a student note, a long assignment over the summer, etc.), it's nice not to need to leave the keyboard to look something up.

esmagalhaes wrote:I wonder if the search function online would make things easier to find.

Yeah, I think the search function makes the online version far more useful. Haven't used the print version in over a year.

I'm necroing this thread in the hopes of getting some more opinions about the online version. It's 50 bucks for 3 years, and I'm considering getting it so I don't have to haul another book around with me.

Are there any disadvantages to starting with the online version and just forgoing the book entirely?

Also, a dumb 1L question, how often is the Bluebook updated generally?

This is all you need

http://www.law.cornell.edu/citation/

.

The online bluebook is goddamn amazing, but probably not worth it if all you're going to use it for is LPW. But if you're doing journal work and the journal isn't paying, it's probably worth the money.

I got the online and like it. But, I got the book too and also like it for different reasons-mainly the index.

yea I use them both. The search function online is nice but it ain't Google. It can still sometimes be easier to just flip through the book.

Meh just use the index. It's pretty damn good.

Also, just to add, if you get the online version, you will end up having to get the print version anyway if you do a Law Review write-on.

kalvano wrote:Also, just to add, if you get the online version, you will end up having to get the print version anyway if you do a Law Review write-on.

Fuuuuk. Maybe I'll grade on (unlikely). Maybe the rules are different here, I'll have to ask. I suppose I can always borrow someone's.

The online version is pretty sweet though.

I got the online version after I got on law review. Love it! I haven't had any problems with the search function and the table of contents is easy to use. Plus, it is one less book to haul around.

I got the online version, and hate it.

1. Download 15th edition here: http://www.legalbluebook.com/Public/Introduction.aspx
2. Run Adobe OCI to make text searchable
3. ???
4. Profit

UML wrote:1. Download 15th edition here: http://www.legalbluebook.com/Public/Introduction.aspx
2. Run Adobe OCI to make text searchable
3. ???
4. Profit

Bad idea. At the very least, abbreviations have changed.

ahduth wrote:

kalvano wrote:Also, just to add, if you get the online version, you will end up having to get the print version anyway if you do a Law Review write-on.

Fuuuuk. Maybe I'll grade on (unlikely). Maybe the rules are different here, I'll have to ask. I suppose I can always borrow someone's.

The online version is pretty sweet though.

If you find out that the online version will not be available to you, you should gain familiarity with the paper version before your competition. If the competition is timed and you are not used to using the paper copy, you will be at a significant disadvantage.

run26.2 wrote:

UML wrote:1. Download 15th edition here: http://www.legalbluebook.com/Public/Introduction.aspx
2. Run Adobe OCI to make text searchable
3. ???
4. Profit

Bad idea. At the very least, abbreviations have changed.

Sure. But the point of having an electronic version is that it's searchable. If I can't find something in the current edition hard copy, I search the electronic version and find the section, say, section 10.1. Then I turn to section 10.1 in my current edition and I have what I need. I wouldn't base anything off the 15th edition, but it's okay for searching.