Short answer: Buy the bare acts and the one textbook each teacher actually uses, wait for the rest, and use the library for cases you only need to read once.
The reading list is not a shopping list
Law colleges often share long reading lists in the first week. These list the books teachers recommend over the whole course, not the ones you must own on day one. Treat the list as a map of what exists and buy in the order you will actually use things.
Start with bare acts
Bare acts are the text of the law and you will refer to them constantly in class and in exams. Buy the current version of the acts you are studying this semester. Our guide to bare acts and case books explains how to check you have the up-to-date text.
One textbook per subject
For each subject, ask the teacher which single book to follow. Owning that book, with your own notes in it, is more useful than owning three overlapping ones. Case books and commentaries can often be consulted in the library.
What can wait
- Large commentaries used for one chapter only
- Case compilations your teacher will share as photocopies or PDFs
- Optional readings that are only for deeper study
Think about resale from the start
Keep books clean enough to sell once the semester ends, since a well-kept book is easier to resell. When you are ready, the sell law books page lists the steps.
Use the library and classmates
College libraries usually hold multiple copies of the main law textbooks and many case compilations. Make a habit of reading long case extracts there and noting only the facts, issue and decision in your own words. Classmates can also coordinate so that one person buys a commentary and others consult it during group study.
Check for amendments
Laws change through amendments. When you buy a book, look at the edition year and ask your teacher whether it reflects the current text. A slightly older textbook can still work for concepts, but the bare act should be the current version.
Final thoughts
Treat the first month as a trial period. Attend classes, note which books teachers actually open, and only then place orders. Most students find that the list shrinks considerably once they see how each subject is taught. Keep receipts or order details in case you need to return a wrong edition, and keep the books you buy clean so they are easy to resell later.
Where to buy
Compare second hand books with new books and confirm the edition year before you order, because law books change with amendments.
Frequently asked questions
Should I buy all textbooks on the reading list?
No. Buy bare acts and the one book each teacher follows, and add others only when a subject needs them.
Are second hand law books safe to buy?
They can be if the edition is recent, but check whether the law has been amended since that edition was printed.
Can I sell law books after the semester?
Yes. You can list them on Bookaao and payment is settled after delivery, after the platform fee.