Black's Law Dictionary, Eighth Edition (Black's Law Dictionary (Standard Edition))

If you are an attorney and do not buy this book it is either because you cannot afford it or because you already have a copy. Even if you have an earlier copy, the new edition is better. Therefore, pull out the credit card and get the new one!

Next to my law texts, Blacks is the most important book I have as a first year law student. Everything is in this book--every latin or french phrase, every abbreviation, etc. I've not grown up with lawyers, so I frequently find myself clueless as to a legal phrase/term and Black's has not yet failed me. Get the full edition, not the pocket, and you'll be pleased as well.

Every lawyer and law student should have a copy. It will last forever. It has every word you'll need in the legal profession.

If you don't like it, you can always bludgeon someone over the head with it. The book is huge.

This is the definitive law dictionary, now in its eighth edition. Whether you are an attorney, a student, an author, or other professional in need of legal definitions, Black's delivers. With thousands of concise, up to date legal definitions and cross references, this is often a first and last stop for information. There is also a thumb tabbed version available, which is suitable for frequent searches. You can't go wrong with Black's, the standout in its class.

I just finished reading "Black's Law Dictionary," and I must say I disagree with many of the reviews on this board. I thought the story was fairly uninteresting and the characters one-dimensional. It started strong (the "animus capiendi" scene comes to mind) but it dragged in the middle and ended flat (too much time spent on the "year-and-a-day rule"). I will admit I thoroughly enjoyed the list of British Regnal Years in Appendix G. Good effort by the author, the up-and-coming Black, but just two stars from this reviewer.