Torts

by Brooke Hettig, 1L

CALI: Computer Assisted Legal Instruction

http://www.cali.org
(Requires access code)

CALI is a fantastic resource for any subject, not just torts. It basically has a couple of pages of lessons followed by multiple choice questions relating to the topic.  The best part about CALI is that it provides explanations for why each of the answers is right or wrong. It’s a little intimidating when you look at the number and length of the lessons, but you can stop whenever you want and just go right back into it. Overall, CALI is great for any sort of review of in-depth or broad topics..

Torts Audio CDs (2^nd ed.)

Richard J. Conviser
KF1250 .A1 C66 2009 AUDIO
Law School Legends Series

These consist of four one-hour recordings of a lecture on torts. The lectures are geared toward exams, discussing outlining techniques as well as common “tricks” torts professors like to include in their exams. While it may seem tedious to listen to a four-hour torts lecture, the speaker’s voice is very clear, but not at all boring and everything he says is important and relevant. Conviser goes through and explains each element of each type of tort. As an added bonus, you can download the recordings directly to your computer, put them on your portable device, and listen to them on the go. I highly recommend these CDs.

Torts (3^rd ed.)

Steven L. Emanuel
KF1250 .Z9 E468 2011
CrunchTime Series

Like the name suggests, this book is designed for exam prep. The charts in the front of the book seem more confusing than helpful, but they are separate from the rest of the book and do not interfere with the rest. This book offers good definitions for some of the more confusing parts of torts. CrunchTime is very thorough, but I’m not the biggest fan of its layout.

Torts (24^th ed.)

Marc A. Franklin
KF1250 .Z9 F7 2008
Gilbert Law Summaries

This is an excellent supplement, the best I have read so far. It is very useful in outlining as it begins with an outline of all the topics it will cover, with corresponding sections in the middle of the book that go into great detail on each topic, even with the most-minute things such as the seat belt defense. My one complaint about this book is that it may be too detailed; it goes further into detail than we have covered in Torts class and this may be confusing.

Acing Tort Law (2^nd ed.)

Shubha Ghosh
KF1250 .Z9 G48 2012
Acing Law School Series

This supplement, at just 240 pages, can be used as a refresher of the basic concepts of torts. However, it does not go very far in depth with the topics. Nor does it lay out the elements in the way we did in my torts class. It also does not use the same common language that torts cases use, I did not see any references to the Restatement of Torts, and it references only the most common of cases. This supplement does cover all of the necessary topics, however it is written rather densely. The checklists at the end of each chapter are the most useful part of this supplement. I might recommend using those, and then if you have more questions about any of the items on the list, I would recommend using a different supplement to explain it better.

The Law of Torts: Examples & Explanations (2^nd ed.)

Joseph W. Glannon
KF1250 .Z9 G58 2010
Examples & Explanations Series

Unlike Acing Tort Law, this supplement clearly lays out the elements of a tort: duty, breach, causation, and damages. As the title suggests, this book relies heavily on examples, which, considering the format of law school exams, is very beneficial. However, because it focuses so much on examples and hypos, it might be best to review before opening this book; sometimes the chapters jump into the examples too readily without defining clearly what the chapter is about. This supplement explores the theoretical and policy sides of torts that some might have found confusing in class. It also cites cases, which may or may not be useful depending on whether you read them in your torts class.  Overall, I think this book is excellent for exam review after you have already started studying. The tips in the final chapters are very useful in learning how to formulate an answer to a torts exam question. The supplement is not ideal for outlining, but will be good for final exam preparation.

The Glannon Guide to Torts (2^nd ed.)

Richard L. Hasen
KF1250 .Z9 H375 2011
Glannon Guides Series

The Glannon Guide to Torts is an excellent supplement that combines all the best elements of the other supplements. The book has brief introductions to every torts topic, followed by multiple-choice questions relating to that topic. After the question, the book goes into detail analyzing why each answer is correct or incorrect. This supplement is not as useful as some of the others for outlining because it focuses more on application than explanation, but it is very useful for understanding the topics and learning what different tortious situations look like. I would recommend this supplement if you like doing those mini-hypos that professors use in class.