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Professor just suggested buying a copy of Black's Law Dictionary. Kind of expensive. Seems easier to just look stuff online at a reputable website.

Any insight on why someone would want/need a copy of Black's, and have you guys found any particular online dictionaries useful?

I think profs suggest this because when they went to school, Black's was only available in hard copy. You don't need to buy it. You can either use Black's on Westlaw/Lexis, or you can google. (I do like Black's, but wouldn't buy it.)

no

I definitely never needed one until journal write-on competition at the end of 1L. Then not only did we need a hard copy, it had to be Black's and not some other legal dictionary. (Of course, your school may have different requirements and it's on the honor system anyway whether you obey, so ymmv).

rinkrat19 wrote:I definitely never needed one until journal write-on competition at the end of 1L. Then not only did we need a hard copy, it had to be Black's and not some other legal dictionary. (Of course, your school may have different requirements and it's on the honor system anyway whether you obey, so ymmv).

What'd you even need it for? I think we may have been allowed to use one but I don't even remember because I had no use for it.

Re: the OP, I just google.

It isn't necessary. Even if for some reason you needed to specifically reference Black's, it's available online through Westlaw.

For what it's worth, as a 3L, I never needed one.

Absolutely no.

Da1andOnlyPharo wrote:Professor just suggested buying a copy of Black's Law Dictionary. Kind of expensive. Seems easier to just look stuff online at a reputable website.

Any insight on why someone would want/need a copy of Black's, and have you guys found any particular online dictionaries useful?

No. Black's law dictionary is the biggest flame a professor will try and pull on 1Ls. I told all my classmates not to get it, and I got some pretty amusing excuses in return. Guess who was laughing when they told us we could all use westlaw to look up the dictionary. Plus your law library probably has a gajillion copies of the thing, at least one chained to the shelf so that people can't steal it.

rinkrat19 wrote:I definitely never needed one until journal write-on competition at the end of 1L. Then not only did we need a hard copy, it had to be Black's and not some other legal dictionary. (Of course, your school may have different requirements and it's on the honor system anyway whether you obey, so ymmv).

Your write-on competition has a serious stick up its ass. What in the hell are you going to write for a journal competition that is so worthwhile and important it requires an $80 book? I understand the bluebook and anal citation, but a legal dictionary? Wtf is up with that?

Scotusnerd wrote:

Da1andOnlyPharo wrote:Professor just suggested buying a copy of Black's Law Dictionary. Kind of expensive. Seems easier to just look stuff online at a reputable website.

Any insight on why someone would want/need a copy of Black's, and have you guys found any particular online dictionaries useful?

No. Black's law dictionary is the biggest flame a professor will try and pull on 1Ls. I told all my classmates not to get it, and I got some pretty amusing excuses in return. Guess who was laughing when they told us we could all use westlaw to look up the dictionary. Plus your law library probably has a gajillion copies of the thing, at least one chained to the shelf so that people can't steal it.

rinkrat19 wrote:I definitely never needed one until journal write-on competition at the end of 1L. Then not only did we need a hard copy, it had to be Black's and not some other legal dictionary. (Of course, your school may have different requirements and it's on the honor system anyway whether you obey, so ymmv).

Your write-on competition has a serious stick up its ass. What in the hell are you going to write for a journal competition that is so worthwhile and important it requires an $80 book? I understand the bluebook and anal citation, but a legal dictionary? Wtf is up with that?

I totally agree that our write-on is stupidly anal, but where the hell are you paying $80 for Black's? Amazon has the hardback for $33 and the paperback for $26.

I actually ended up using Black's at work a bit this summer, so I'm ok with the money spent.

Yeah, you don't need it.

Just use the Westlaw version.

Can't think of a situation in which you would need it. I never did.

TheFutureLawyer wrote:For what it's worth, as a 3L, I never needed one.

Same here. This is just a first in a long line of lessons you'll learn demonstrating how out of touch professors (generally) are.

Absolutely not. Download the app for your phone, call it a day.

conwaystern wrote:Absolutely not. Download the app for your phone, call it a day.

Except don't do that because it (Black's) costs $55.

rinkrat19 wrote:

Scotusnerd wrote:

Da1andOnlyPharo wrote:Professor just suggested buying a copy of Black's Law Dictionary. Kind of expensive. Seems easier to just look stuff online at a reputable website.

Any insight on why someone would want/need a copy of Black's, and have you guys found any particular online dictionaries useful?

No. Black's law dictionary is the biggest flame a professor will try and pull on 1Ls. I told all my classmates not to get it, and I got some pretty amusing excuses in return. Guess who was laughing when they told us we could all use westlaw to look up the dictionary. Plus your law library probably has a gajillion copies of the thing, at least one chained to the shelf so that people can't steal it.

rinkrat19 wrote:I definitely never needed one until journal write-on competition at the end of 1L. Then not only did we need a hard copy, it had to be Black's and not some other legal dictionary. (Of course, your school may have different requirements and it's on the honor system anyway whether you obey, so ymmv).

Your write-on competition has a serious stick up its ass. What in the hell are you going to write for a journal competition that is so worthwhile and important it requires an $80 book? I understand the bluebook and anal citation, but a legal dictionary? Wtf is up with that?

I totally agree that our write-on is stupidly anal, but where the hell are you paying $80 for Black's? Amazon has the hardback for $33 and the paperback for $26.

I actually ended up using Black's at work a bit this summer, so I'm ok with the money spent.

Not if you're buying it new... $67 http://www.amazon.com/Blacks-Law-Dictio ... onary+2013. It's $80 on Black's website,

Are you looking at the abridged version?

Regardless, OP doesn't need it.