Law is a complex and daunting field for many people. One of the best ways to gain access to some of the best law books is by reading them as non-lawyers.
These 20 best law books for non-lawyers are written with laypeople in mind, but they still contain plenty of legal information that can be useful to anyone who wants to know more about how our society functions.
20 Best Law Books for Non-Lawyers
If you’re interested to know laws and legal information, but don’t know where to start then these 20 books will help you.
These books are perfect for non-lawyers person who want to become familiarized with the laws in their country.
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The best way for non-lawyers to begin learning about the law is by reading legal fiction books that are written without too much jargon and focus on entertainment rather than taking a direct approach to explain complex concepts.
Table of Contents
Know Your Rights: A Survival Guide for Non-Lawyers
This book is a great tool for anyone who wants to learn more about the law.
It’s written in plain English and covers many areas of the law including employment, family, consumer, landlord/ tenant, and civil rights.
The book includes information on how to get legal help, how to find out if you have a case and what to do if you don’t know where to start.
Dictionary of Legal Terms: Definitions and Explanations for Non-Lawyers
This book is designed to provide definitions and explanations of legal terms that are commonly used in the law.
It provides a brief but comprehensive description of each term, including its definition and an explanation of how it is used in the law.
The book contains over 600 entries on various legal topics, including civil: law, criminal law, administrative law, public policy, and social justice.
Dictionary of Legal Terms is best for non-lawyers who have little or no prior knowledge about the legal system in their country.
The Family Court without a Lawyer: A Handbook for Litigants in Person
This book is written by an experienced family lawyer and mediator who has worked with clients in the Family Court for over 30 years.
It provides information about how to represent yourself effectively in court, including the preparation of documents and evidence, what to expect from the court process, and how to present your case.
The author also explains how you can get help from a solicitor or barrister if you need it, as well as where you can go for further advice on family law matters.
The Secret Barrister: Stories of the Law and How It’s Broken
The Secret Barrister is a pseudonymous criminal barrister who writes about the reality of the justice system.
The book contains a series of stories that are both shocking and hilarious, from how to get away with murder to what really happens in police stations across the country.
It reveals the truth behind some of our most controversial criminal cases and offers an insight into life at the Bar for one of Britain’s most junior barristers.
Arizona Laws 101: A Handbook for Non-Lawyers
This book is a must-have for every Arizona resident. It provides an easy-to-understand overview of the laws and court system in Arizona and will be especially useful to those who have recently moved to this state.
The guide covers topics such as Traffic Laws, Criminal Law, Family Law, Civil Law, Landlord-Tenant Law, Employment Law, Wills & Estates, and more!
The Little Black Book of Lawyer’s Wisdom
This book is a collection of “The Little Black Book” columns written by the author, James D. Zirin, Esq., for the New Jersey Law Journal during his tenure as its Legal-Ethics columnist from 1994 to 2005.
The book contains more than 200 columns written in a witty and entertaining style that makes it accessible to both lawyers and nonlawyers alike.
It is an excellent resource for those interested in becoming lawyers or practicing law, as well as those who are already practicing but want a refresher course on what constitutes unethical behavior by attorneys.
The Law Book: Big Ideas Simply Explained
“The Law Book: Big Ideas Simply Explained” is an essential guide to the law, providing a unique and accessible overview of the law in all its forms.
This book explains how the law works, what it can and cannot do, and why we have it.
It also looks at how legal systems work around the world, from common law to Sharia.
The Law of Innocence: The Brand New Lincoln Lawyer Thriller
The Law of Innocence: The Brand New Lincoln Lawyer Thriller is a legal thriller by Michael Connelly.
It is the first book in his new series, featuring defense attorney Mickey Haller.
Mickey Haller has been operating his own Los Angeles law practice since he was disbarred six years ago for having taken a bribe.
Now he’s broke and desperate enough to take on the case of a lifetime – defending an accused serial killer who claims that God told him to kill.
But as Haller prepares for trial, it becomes apparent that someone else is trying to get this client off the hook – and that they’re willing to kill to do it…
A Dictionary of Law (Oxford Quick Reference)
A Dictionary of Law (Oxford Quick Reference) is a handy, pocket-sized guide to legal definitions.
It includes over 2,000 entries on legal terms and concepts, including all the major areas of law.
This new edition has been fully revised and updated to include new words and phrases that have entered common usage since the last edition was published in 2008.
Fake Law: The Truth About Justice in an Age of Lies
The book “Fake Law: The Truth About Justice in an Age of Lies” is a non-fiction legal thriller that exposes the truth about the law, lawyers, and justice.
This book will make you see the world of law in a different way.
It will show you how it really works, what’s wrong with it, and how to fix it. It’s not just another boring lawyer book!
About Law by Tony Honoré
Tony Honoré is a leading authority on the law of contract. He has been called “the most brilliant and influential legal scholar in Britain” (The Times).
This book, first published in 2000, is an accessible introduction to the subject for students of law and related disciplines.
It covers all the major topics that are likely to be encountered by those who study contracts at the undergraduate level: formation of contract; interpretation; remedies for breach; exclusion clauses; unperformed obligations and unjust enrichment.
The book also discusses some aspects of other areas of private law which have close connections with contracts, such as torts, restitution, property, and trusts.
The Children Act, by Ian McEwan
The Children Act is a 2017 novel by British writer Ian McEwan.
It concerns Fiona Maye, a high court judge who must rule on the case of a 17-year-old boy refusing medical treatment for his cancer.
The book was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize and won the Costa Book Award for fiction in 2017.
Landmarks in the Law by Lord Denning
Lord Denning’s Landmarks in the Law is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand the English legal system.
This book explains and analyzes landmark cases that have shaped the law of England, and it provides an excellent introduction to the common law system.
The text is divided into eleven chapters: “The Common Law”, “The King’s Courts”, “Criminal Justice”, “The Court of Chancery”, “Equity and Trusts”, “Contracts and Torts”, “Property, Conveyancing, Wills, and Succession Duties”.
Each chapter covers one area of law; within each chapter are several cases that Lord Denning uses as examples.
Anonymous Lawyer, by Jeremy Blachman
Jeremy Blachman, a Harvard Law grad, and former Biglaw associate, left the law to pursue his dream of becoming a writer.
He wrote Anonymous Lawyer—a novel that is funny, engaging, and smart.
The book follows Michael Haller as he quits his job at one of the most prestigious law firms in New York City to start his own firm with two friends from college.
Along the way, they face challenges like how to pay their rent and how to convince clients that they are worth hiring.
Anonymous Lawyer is an entertaining read for anyone who has ever dreamed about leaving behind a life of drudgery for something more fulfilling.
It’s also a great story for anyone interested in what it’s really like to work as a lawyer.
Bleak House by Charles Dickens
The story of the case is told by a young woman, Esther Summerson, who is an illegitimate daughter of Mr. Jarndyce and lives with him in Bleak House.
The other main characters are Richard Carstone, Ada Clare (Richard’s cousin), Lady Dedlock (a former paramour of Mr. Jarndyce), her husband Sir Leicester Dedlock, Miss Flite (an old lady whose only friend is a pet bird), Harold Skimpole (a rich man who lives on others’ generosity) and Jo the crossing sweeper.
The novel satirizes the legal system in England at that time.
It also deals with themes such as identity and personal history, wealth and poverty, love and rejection.
The Caper Court Series by Caro Fraser
A gripping, fast-paced legal thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat!
A young lawyer is forced to defend a man she believes to be guilty. She must work with her ex-fiancé who is now a detective on the case.
Their relationship becomes strained as they both fight for what they believe in. Will their love survive?
The Caper Court Series has been described as “a cross between John Grisham and Robert Ludlum.”
If you like courtroom drama, mystery, suspense, romance, or thrillers then this book is for you!
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
The story is told through the eyes of Scout, a young girl growing up in Alabama during the Great Depression.
Her father, Atticus Finch, is a lawyer and has been appointed to defend Tom Robinson, an African American man who has been accused of raping a white woman.
As the trial unfolds and Scout learns more about her father’s character, she begins to understand racism against blacks and forms her own opinions on the subject.
It won both Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1961 and 1962 respectively. In 1999 it was voted as one of America’s best-loved novels by PBS viewers.
The novel has sold over 40 million copies worldwide.
Law and Disorder: Absurdly Funny Moments from the Courts
Law and Disorder presents hilarious true stories of real people in the legal system. In this book, you will find a wide variety of cases, each one more absurd than the next.
From a man who tried to sue his wife for having an affair, to a woman who sued McDonalds because she spilled hot coffee on her legs, these are some of the most ridiculous lawsuits ever known.
Jeremy Hutchinson’s Case Histories
Jeremy Hutchinson’s Case Histories is a collection of short stories that are based on actual cases from the author’s thirty-year career as a criminal attorney.
The book contains three case histories: “The Case of the Missing Wife”, “The Case of the Affair at the Hotel”, and “The Case of the Unhappy Husband”.
Agricultural and Agribusiness Law: An Introduction for Non-Lawyers
Agricultural and agribusiness law is a relatively new area of law that has grown dramatically in recent years.
This book provides an introduction to the field, covering basic principles and concepts, as well as more complex issues.
The text covers the full range of agricultural law subjects, including land use, water rights, crop insurance, farm credit, food safety, and biotechnology.
It also includes coverage of important international aspects of agriculture such as trade agreements and foreign investment.
If you are looking for a good law book to read, these 20 best law books for non-lawyers should help. It is compiled of books that have been written for non-lawyers so they will not be too technical or complicated.
If we missed any favorite book of yours, let us know in the comment section. Happy reading!