1L question (or questions, maybe?)

[GBear1]

Just a quick question that a few fellow 1L's may also have regarding textbooks...

When it comes to the textbook edition/version, how important is it to have the latest edition, or the exact edition as provided under the official list of required textbooks?

I know at the undergrad level, profs were always understanding of the "student budget" element in the room and worked around different editions of the same textbook (especially as the changes between versions were always very minor, or were otherwise directly distinguished/discussed/clarified in class). Just wondering if this plays out similarly at the law school level, or do you actually NEED the most recent edition or the exact edition that is listed as "required"?

Any other recommendations around textbooks would be greatly appreciated!

[cokezero]

It’s not at all necessary to have the most recent version of the textbook. I mean, maybe don’t get the 1976 version of the book if the prof asks for the 2020 version, but if your book is one or two editions older the difference is will be largely negligible (e.g. just slightly different page numbers, maybe one or two different cases). Some of the profs are even nice and will note the corresponding pages in older editions when assigning their readings.

Also, most of the cases you’ll be assigned will be available the online legal databases, so in the rare instances where you might be missing a case or two, you can supplement with the online versions (note that this is NOT a recommendation to forgo the texts in favour of online versions entirely, as your books will provide short excerpts of the assigned cases rather than the full version, which is very helpful when you’re just starting out with law school and aren’t yet certain on how to pick out the important parts of the case).

The College runs a second-hand book sale on Facebook (there’s a usask law book sale page) around the end of August, and many students sell their 1L books via the lsa Facebook group throughout the summer. Also check the Canadian Law School Textbook Exchange group on Facebook. 
 

good luck!!

Edited July 29, 2021 by cokezero

[Mike Ross]

Have they Released the textbooks for the fall term? And at Usask are you able to pay tuition with your credit card ?