* Case briefs: Students read hundreds of court cases (judicial opinions), summarizing the facts, procedural history, issues, holding (ruling), reasoning, and dicta (additional comments by the judge). This requires close, analytical reading, often multiple times for a single case. The goal isn't just comprehension, but extracting the legal principles and understanding their implications.
* Textbook reading: While not as prevalent as case reading, textbooks provide foundational legal concepts and context. These are often dense, highly technical, and require meticulous reading to fully grasp the information.
* Statutory reading: Students analyze statutes (laws passed by legislatures). This necessitates understanding the precise wording and legislative intent, which often requires going beyond the literal text to interpret meaning. This involves considerable legal research and analysis.
* Secondary sources: Articles, law review journals, and treatises offer analysis and perspectives on legal issues. This reading helps broaden understanding beyond individual cases and statutes, showing how different scholars interpret the law.
* Preparation for class: The assigned readings are not just for background; they form the basis of class discussions. Professors frequently cold-call students to discuss specific cases or concepts, requiring deep understanding and the ability to articulate legal arguments on the spot.
* Research and writing: Legal research and writing assignments demand extensive reading of cases, statutes, and secondary sources to build a well-supported argument.
The volume of reading is significant. Students commonly report reading hundreds of pages per week, sometimes exceeding 1000 pages during peak times. The nature of the reading also demands active engagement – highlighting, outlining, note-taking, and constant analysis are crucial for effective learning. It's not passive reading; it's active engagement with the material for understanding, analysis, and application.