Planning on going to Oxford or Cambridge to study law? Get ahead with these key books that stay on reading lists year after year.
So you've considered all the many reasons why you should study law at university, and now it's time to get familiar with the texts that grace the Oxbridge reading lists year after year.
Get ready for a long list.
The Key Texts for Law Reading
For your first introduction to law, you'll want to read Letters to a Law Student by Nicholas J. McBride, a popular guide giving practical advice to students, covering study techniques and how to think like a lawyer.
If you're confused about all the different areas in law, then What About Law? by Catherine Barnard, Janet O’Sullivan, and Graham Virgo is for you. It's a beginner-friendly introduction (law for dummies, if you will) to the subject areas covered in a law degree, like criminal, contract, and constitutional law.
Is Eating People Wrong? Great Legal Cases and How They Shaped the World by Allan C. Hutchinson is a fantastic book. Hutchinson uses famous legal cases to introduce readers to fundamental legal concepts and principles, keeping it engaging and educational at the same time.
Understanding Law by Geoffrey Rivlin does what it says on the tin. It's a great starting point for students interested in how laws evolve and are applied, focussing on English law.
Finding Your Interests
If you've read the above texts, you'll probably start to work out what areas of law you find most interesting.
Now the fun really starts. Here's some core reading sorted by type of law to help you branch out in your interest and find your niche.
Constitutional law defines the structure of government, the distribution of powers between branches, and the fundamental rights and freedoms of individuals. If you're interested in Constitutional law, you'll want to read The Rule of Law by Lord Tom Bingham, or Constitutional and Administrative Law by A. W. Bradley and K. D. Ewin. It provides an in-depth analysis of constitutional and administrative law in the UK, covering foundational principles and current developments.
Criminal law is a popular subsection of law, largely due to its variety, impact on society and high-profile cases. You'll want to look at Criminal Law by Nicola Lacey. She offers insightful perspectives on the field and is the perfect introductory to the complexities of criminal law. Smith, Hogan, & Ormerod's Criminal Law by David Ormerod and Karl Laird is also a decidedly authoritative text, and makes appearances on almost every UK law reading list.
Contract law focuses on the creation and fulfilment of agreements between parties, and makes sure that contracts are sound and legally binding. Students who are particularly detail-orientated tend to like this section of law. If this is you, have a read of Anson's Law of Contract by J. Beatson and A. Burrows. This provides a deeper insight into the fundamentals of contract law, including cases and application. Some other great options include Contract Law: Text, Cases, and Materials by Ewan McKendrick and Contract Law by Professor Louise Gullifer.
Legal Philosophy is also known as jurisprudence, and is often popular with philosophically-included students. It examines the theoretical foundations of law - particularly the ethical considerations around legal principles. An essential text is Ronald Dworkin's Law’s Empire. Dworkin is a big name in UK law, and in this book he argues for a moral reading of the law, and that legal interpretation should be guided by principles of justice and fairness. Feminist Jurisprudence: A Primer by Nancy J. Hirschmann is a fantastic book. She introduces debates in feminist legal theory, including how feminist perspectives challenge traditional legal doctrines and contribute to the development of more inclusive legal frameworks.
These are just a few of the most popular subsections of law. There are many others, including entertainment, gender, family, immigration, property, and civil law, all of which you'll come across over the duration of your degree at Oxford and Cambridge.
Biographies and Casual Reading
If you're usually more of a fiction reader, don't be afraid to take a break between the heavy law reading. Some of the great classics are centred around law.
Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird is a thought-provoking supplement to other reading, and the trial of Tom Robinson's character might help you connect the theories you've read with real world, historical and ethical cases.
If you're into criminal law, then you might have already read Dostoevsky's seminal Crime and Punishment. If you haven't, get yourself a copy now! Dostoevsky’s portrayal of crime and its consequences offers a nuanced view of the impact of crime on both the perpetrator and society. He explores the idea of punishment not only as a legal mechanism, but as a process with moral and psychological consequences.
Maybe you can't stomach a 500-page Russian novel. That's fine; read The Trial by Franz Kafka instead. Kafka’s exploration of slow bureaucracy and the nature of legal proceedings provides a critical perspective on the legal system.
If you're into biographies and autobiographies, you can learn about the experiences of a famous trial lawyer through My Life in Court by Louis Nizer. The Autobiography of Malcolm X is a great insight into civil rights and justice through the life of one of the most important activists of all time.
Other Ways of Soaking up Knowledge (That Aren't Reading)
Exhausted your reading capabilities? No worries, this is 2024. You have other options!
Podcasts are the way to go. Put down that Ed Gamble podcast; it's time to immerse yourself in the legal world. For legal analysis and current developments (great for showing commercial awareness in interviews), listen to Law Pod UK. If you're interested in careers and law school life, Thinking Like a Lawyer is another great option.
TED Talks are also a great resource for learning about law. Some particularly interesting ones include:
How forgiveness can create a more just legal system
Law professor Martha Minow makes the case for creating a system of restorative justice that focuses on accountability and reconciliation rather than punishment.
Why eyewitnesses get it wrong. In this powerful talk, Scott Fraser examines how close-up eyewitnesses to a crime can create "memories" they could not have seen.
How to put the power of law in people's hands. Vivek Maru speaks about how he started a global network of community paralegals who serve in their own communities and break the law down into simple terms.
Are you used to watching YouTube? Yale's Prof. Ian Shapiro has a lecture on The International Criminal Court and the Responsibility to Protect available on YouTube, and YaleCourses has plenty of other educational videos.
Maybe don't watch Suits, though. Your tutors will draw the line there.
Finally...
A diverse range of resources is crucial for understanding law comprehensively. That's why private tutoring at Avalon Education is a great way to delve into your supplementary learning. At Avalon, you'll be connected to an Oxbridge Law graduate who will meticulously plan your lessons to make sure you're getting the absolute most out of your time.
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