489

CHAPTER XIV.

HINTS TO YOUNG ATTORNEYS AND SOLICITORS FOR LAYING IN A LAW LIBRARY.

THE formation of a law library is rather a formidable task to the young practitioner, on account of its expense, and the difficulty of selection. This is chiefly the case with those who are setting out as attorneys and solicitors; to whom, therefore, it is thought that the few following suggestions will not prove unacceptable.

The very great changes which have been effected in the law within the last year or two, have made sad havoc with law-books. They have rendered large and expensive editions of some of the best standard works almost useless. The purchaser must, therefore, with reference to all text-books and digests, be now more particular than ever about ordering none but the very latest editions. Every one must, at least, for the present, look chiefly, if not altogether, to the Reports, for an accurate and authoritative statement of the law.

These remarks, though partially applicable to works upon conveyancing and chancery, are made principally with reference to the common law.

It is conceived, then, that an attorney or solicitor should, on commencing business, purchase the following works, or such of them as experienced friends may point out to him :—

ARCHBOLD'S PRACTICE, with the Forms. In all, 3 vols. 12mo, 2nd edition. 1835. By Mr. T. CHITTY. Ante, 326-7.

Tidd's Practice is, in its present form, too cumbrous and difficult of access. It will be both troublesome and dangerous for the young practitioner to have to pick his way, in the emergencies of business, through three or four supplements. When a new edition of this truly admirable work shall make its appearance, no lawyer's library should be long without it.

GRANT'S PRACTICE OF THE COURTS OF CHANCERY. 2 vols. 12mo, 3rd edition. 1833.

BACON'S ABRIDGMENT. 7 vols. 8vo. Very ably edited by Mr. Dodd, and published in 1832.

This is the favourite with the conveyancers, as Comyn's Digest with the common lawyers. Both of them are very valuable and authoritative works. A new edition of the latter has been for some time announced as in preparation. It is to be hoped that it will be carefully executed. A new edition, the fourth of that admirable work, CRUISE'S DIGEST of the Law of Real Property, in 7 vols. 8vo, has just been pub

lished, and, it need hardly be said, will prove eminently useful, especially to the country practitioner.

COKE UPON LITTLETON. 2 vols, royal 8vo. By HARGRAVE and BUTLER. 19th Edition. 1832.

CHITTY'S [E.] EQUITY INDEX. In 2 vols. royal 8vo. A second edition of this elaborate and useful work is announced to be forthcoming.

HARRISON'S DIGEST. 3 vols. 8vo, 2nd edition. 1835.

This edition comprises all the alterations in the law that have been effected down to the period of its publication, stated with great care and perspicuity. Ante, 365 (n).

EVANS' STATUTES. 8 vols. 8vo, 3rd edition.

1829.

These are continued down to the 10th Geo. IV., and with themshould be purchased the octavo edition of the statutes from that year, published annually. Mr. Chitty (sen.) has also published a very valuable "Collection of Statutes of Practical Utility, with notes," in 2 vols. royal 8vo, 1829. Either of these two works may be purchased by the young practitioner, with great advantage, in lieu of the unwieldy and very expensive Statutes at large.

PHILLIPS, STARKIE, ROSCOE ON EVIDENCE. A new

edition (being the eighth) of the first of these important works, is announced to be in the press; and a second edition of Starkie, and a third of Roscoe, were published in 1833. Perhaps the first of these works is best calculated for the young attorney.

SUGDEN'S VENDORS AND PURCHASERS. 8vo, 9th edition. 1834.

2 vols. royal

SUGDEN ON POWERS. 1 vol. royal 8vo, 5th edition. 1831. WOODFALL'S LANDLORD AND TENANT. BY HARRISON. 1 vol. royal 8vo, 2nd edition. 1834.

This will be found a most useful book, containing a copious and well-arranged statement of this very extensive branch of law. It will be invaluable to the country practitioner.

EDEN, DEACON, ARCHBOLD (by Flather), ON THE BANKRUPT LAW.

The first of these is in 1 vol. royal 8vo, 3rd edition, 1832; the second, a most able work, in 2 vols. 8vo, 1827; the third is in 1 thick vol. 12mo, 1834, and comprising the latest changes in the bankruptcy practice. All of them are excellent works; but the latter is, upon the whole, preferable for the practitioner, on account of its late date. Mr. Sturgeon, also, has published a very useful, brief, and accurate work, on the Law and Practice of Bankruptcy.

J. CHITTY, SEN., J. CHITTY, JUN., BAYLEY, AND ROSCOE, ON BILLS OF EXCHANGE.

The first of these, in 1 vol. royal 8vo, 8th edition, 1833, will be found incomparably the most useful for the practitioner.

WILLIAMS ON THE LAW OF EXECUTORS AND ADMINISTRATORS. 2 vols. 8vo. 1833. See ante, p. 364. COLLYERON PARTNERSHIP.

ante, pp. 355-6.

1 vol. 8vo. 1832. See

RAM ON ASSETS, &c. 1 vol. 8vo. 1832.

A most carefully written and practically useful

book.

BYTHEWOOD'S PRECEDENTS IN CONVEYANCING.

By

JARMAN. "Selected from the best modern MS. collections and draughts of actual practice, with general common forms and variations, adapted to all the circumstances usually occurring, forming a system of conveyancing, with dissertations and practical notes." In 10 vols. 8vo.

This is a very formidable and expensive, but invaluable work, either for the town or country practitioner. If ever book was calculated to make every attorney "his own conveyancer," and he chooses to undertake the responsibility, it is this.

BURN'S JUSTICE OF THE PEACE.

A new edition of this valuable work is now in preparation, and may be very shortly expected to make its appearance.

DWARRIS'S TREATISE ON STATUTES, CONTAINING A

SUMMARY OF THE PRACTICE OF PARLIAMENT, and the ancient and modern mode of passing Bills of every kind; with an Appendix of Precedents, Forms, Rules, and Orders. 1 vol. 8vo. 1830.

A very useful book to those who are employed in parliamentary business. WORDSWORTH'S LAW AND PRACTICE OF ELECTIONS, as altered by the Reform Act, including the Law and Practice relating to Election Petitions. 1 vol. 8vo. 1834. This is a very complete, accurate, and well-arranged book. A third edition of Mr. ROGERS' able Treatise on the same subject has also been just published in 1 vol. 12mo. 1834.