Should I Sell My Law School Casebooks?

Should I Sell My Law School Casebooks?

Wondering what do to do with your law school casebooks after class is over? In this article, we’ll discuss three reasons why you should sell your casebooks once your law school classes are done!

Should I Sell My Law School Casebooks?

1. Their value depreciates quickly.

The minute you purchase your law school case book—used or new—it immediately depreciates in value. Each year, casebook editors churn out new additions of a casebook, even if it only adds a few pages! This means the edition of the casebook you own probably won’t be used in future classes. Because of this, if you ever decide to sell your casebook, you (almost certainly) won’t get as much as you paid for it. As the semesters progress, and the longer you wait to sell, your old casebook edition will continually decrease in value.

Therefore, it is imperative to sell your casebooks as quickly as possible after you are finished using them. Not to mention, law school is expensive. But if you sell your casebooks sooner rather than later, you’ll ensure you recoup as much of your original investment as possible! You might also be able to put that money towards other (expensive) textbooks!

2. You won’t ever use them again.

You might be thinking, “But wait! I plan on practicing [insert your casebook’s type of law here] when I graduate. I’ll definitely need them to practice!” Not likely. A common misconception about law school casebooks is that they’ll come in handy when you actually begin to practice law. In fact, most of what you learn comes from on-the-job experience.  You won’t have time to refer back to your 1L Contracts casebook when drafting or reviewing a contract for a client. Likewise, you won’t refer back to your 1L Property casebook to cite the Rule Against Perpetuities when conducting real estate transactions.

 You might also be wondering, “Won’t I need these books in order to study for future law school classes or the bar exam?” Unless your professor explicitly tells you that your casebook is required for another course or a companion class, the answer to the previous question is “No.”  Once the semester is over, you will likely never look at the book again.

Moreover, once you begin your bar prep course, you’ll be given numerous other study materials from which to read. Bar prep courses are designed around their materials, and they include exactly what is necessary to pass the bar. Spending time looking at old casebooks as you study will likely be a waste of time.  And you need to use your time efficiently when preparing for the bar exam!

Ultimately, as they likely won’t help you study or assist you in practice, sell your casebooks! The sooner you sell them, the more money you are likely receive for them!

3. They’ll end up cluttering your home or workspace.

If saving money isn’t reason enough to sell your casebooks, you should also consider the fact that they will probably end up gathering dust in your home or workspace. Burgeoning attorneys accumulate a large amount of paper—case files, miscellaneous memos, etc.  The last thing you want is a dusty old casebook taking up space in your home or office.

Overall, unless you’re completely averse to saving money, or you simply want a casebook-shaped paperweight in your office, you should sell your casebooks before it’s too late! This means selling them as soon as your class is over. And remember: The longer you wait, the quicker they will depreciate in value! The sooner you sell them the better!

• Seeking Success in Law School?

  • Benefit from personalized one-on-one tutoring by our seasoned law school tutors.
  • Explore our NEW and highly acclaimed law school study aids, available for a free trial.