Guides: Study Aids for Law School Courses: Federal Courts

Circulation Policy

Study aids held in Closed Reserve:

Generally: 4 hour check out
First 2 weeks of term, Study Days, exam days: 2 hour check out
Cannot be charged to carrels or offices.

Types of Study Aids

Study Aid types:

Below are the types of aids you may find, listed in order of most comprehensive to least comprehensive:

Hornbook Series
A single-volume treatise on a topic of law. Contains extensive footnotes to statutes and cases. Normally the most comprehensive study aid.
Understanding Series
A slightly simplified type of Hornbook, with numerous footnotes as well as an index and table of cases.
Concise Hornbook Series
Another simplified version of the Hornbook. Contains some footnotes with citations, index and table of cases.
Concepts and Insights Series
Simplified treatise meant to complement casebook instruction, offering concise, conceptual overviews of important areas of law.
Examples & Explanations Series
Illustrative text with hypothetical and questions. Normally includes a glossary of technical terms, indexes and tables.
Mastering the Law Series
Contains many short sections, each describing a legal concept or key term.
Nutshell Series
Outlines the basic concept in an area of law and provides short descriptions for each principle.
Exam Pro Series
Sample multiple-choice and essay questions provide detailed fact patterns and then pose questions, simulating real exams.

Exam Study Aids

Law of Federal Courts (8th) by Charles Alan Wright, et. al.
Call Number: Closed Reserve KF8840 .W75 2017x and Electronic (West Study Aids)
Publication Date: 2017
Hornbook Series
Principles of Federal Jurisdiction (4th) by James Pfander
Call Number: Electronic (West Study Aids)
Publication Date: 2021
Concise Hornbook Series
Federal Courts: E & E (4th) by Laura E. Little
Call Number: Closed Reserve KF8719 .L58 2019
Publication Date: 2019
Examples & Explanations Series
Understanding Federal Courts and Jurisdiction (2d) by Linda S. Mullenix, et al.
Call Number: Closed Reserve KF8719 .M85 2015
Publication Date: 2015
Understanding Series
Federal Courts in a Nutshell (6th) by Donald Doernberg
Call Number: Closed Reserve KF8858 .C765 2021x and Electronic (West Study Aids)
Publication Date: 2021
Nutshell Series
Federal Jurisdiction (8th) by Erwin Chemerinsky
Call Number: Closed Reserve KF8858 .C48 2021
Publication Date: 2021
Aspen Treatise Series
Federal Civil Jurisdiction in a Nutshell (2d) by Lumen N. Mulligan
Call Number: Closed Reserve KF8858 .M85 2019x and Electronic (West Study Aids)
Publication Date: 2019
Nutshell Series

Need Help?

Call us at 734-764-9324

Text us at 734-329-5606

Tweet @ us!

Email us at askalawlibrarian@umich.edu. Emails are answered by Librarians during standard business hours, Monday-Friday. Patrons may expect a response within 1-2 business days for most emails.

Consult with us. Schedule an appointment to meet with a Reference Librarian.

Visit us at the Information Desk on Sub-1 for immediate in-person assistance. Open 8 am - midnight, Sunday-Thursday, and 8am - 10pm, Friday-Saturday*

The chat service is available to all of our patrons but is designed to meet the legal research needs of U-M students, staff, and faculty.

Chat is monitored from 1-6 pm Monday-Wednesday and 1-5 pm Thursday-Friday on days when class is in session.

*Excluding University holidays and semester breaks--check library hours for more information. The Building and library are available to law school community ONLY after 6 pm, and are closed to all but law school community on home football Saturdays.