Treatises provide detailed coverage on a specific area of the law. They are usually multi-volume works and they include extensive citation to primary law.
Hornbooks provide an overview of a specific area of the law. They are usually less detailed than treatises and the intended audience is law students. Reference to primary authority is included. Many of the LRC's current Hornbooks and Concise Hornbooks are available on reserve at the circulation desk.
Practitioner guides are written primarily for practicing attorneys, but they are also useful to law students. They are usually focused on one area of the law and often provide detailed checklists and forms, as well as reference to primary authority and other secondary resources.
In the LRC, we have many practitioner guides available both in print and electronically. We have a large collection of PBI (Pennsylvania Bar Institute) materials, including CLE materials.
Form books provide sample forms, as well as practitioner-oriented explanatory text, which can be invaluable to a practitioner. References to primary authority and other secondary resources are also usually included. Forms books can focus on a specific area of the law or they can provide general legal guidance.
We have numerous form books in the LRC. Check out either of the following for general Pennsylvania form books.
There are many different types of study guides available, including Examples & Explanations, Nutshells, and Outlines. Current legal study guides are kept on reserve and are available at the circulation desk in the LRC.
For more information on study guides check out our guide to Course Reserves and Study Guides.