Best Courts & Law Books of 2025

Making Your Case: The Art of Persuading Judges is a comprehensive guide for law students and practicing lawyers alike. The book covers the fundamentals of constructing legal briefs, delivering persuasive oral arguments, and building a strong case through legal reasoning. It is an essential resource for anyone looking to improve their skills in courtroom advocacy. Thomson West has created a valuable contribution to the field of courts and law books with this publication.

The Scheme by Senator Sheldon Whitehouse is an eye-opening account of how anonymous donors and right-wing billionaires seized control of the US judiciary, including the Supreme Court. Whitehouse traces the motive to control the court system back to Lewis Powell's notorious memo and chronicles a hidden-money campaign using an armada of front groups. The book is a must-read for those interested in understanding how corporate influence has targeted the judiciary and degraded democracy. It is a unique and insightful account of a powerful and hidden apparatus that has spent years trying to corrupt politics and control courts.

If you are dealing with a narcissistic ex and going through family court, "How to Annihilate a Narcissist" is a must-read. This book provides practical guidance on how to communicate effectively with the judge, avoid legal pitfalls, and deal with counterclaims of Parental Alienation. By following the author's advice, you can regain control of the situation and protect your child from the abusive behavior they have to endure. The book is well-written and offers valuable insights into the narcissist's mindset. Overall, it is an excellent resource for anyone dealing with narcissistic abuse in family court.

An Advocate Persuades is a comprehensive guide for law students and practicing attorneys to develop persuasive arguments and construct persuasive court documents. The book is divided into four parts, covering the introduction to advocacy, developing persuasive arguments, constructing persuasive court documents, and oral argument. It includes annotated examples, checklists, and graphics to aid the reader's understanding of the concepts and theories described. The expanded appendix provides an overview of trial and appellate litigation in both civil and criminal cases. This book is an excellent resource for anyone looking to improve their advocacy skills and is highly recommended.

How To Win In Court: What Your Lawyer Doesn't Have Time To Tell You is a comprehensive guide for anyone who needs to give evidence or defend legal proceedings in court. It covers everything from how to find a successful lawyer to representing yourself without alienating the judge. The book is not only helpful for laymen but also for lawyers, trainee lawyers, and law students. The author, a former Solicitor of the Supreme Court, provides tips on how to handle various legal situations, including arrest, ID parade, police search and seizure, and cross-examination. Overall, this book is a valuable resource for anyone who wants to win in court.

Winning at Deposition is a must-read for both beginning and experienced attorneys. This book, written by the best-selling author of Turning Points at Trial, provides innovative strategies to improve deposition skills. The book is unique in that it teaches through transcripts and videos of actual depositions, including those of President Bill Clinton, Bill Gates, and O.J. Simpson. The book won the highest award for legal publications, ACLEA's Award for Professional Excellence, and for good reason. It is an engaging read that conveys both technical and practical information about the science and art of depositions in an entertaining and easy-to-navigate format.

Justice on the Brink is a captivating book that tells the story of the Supreme Court's transformation from a measured institution of law and justice to a highly politicized body dominated by a right-wing supermajority. Linda Greenhouse, a Pulitzer Prize-winning law columnist for The New York Times, provides a unique insight into a court under stress, offering context and brilliant analysis. The book depicts the struggle for the soul of the Supreme Court and points to the future that awaits all of us. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the judicial system and the future of American democracy.

American Crusade: How the Supreme Court Is Weaponizing Religious Freedom is a meticulously researched and deeply insightful account of the modern attempt to weaponize religious freedom and the Supreme Court's role in that “crusade.” Seidel examines key Supreme Court cases of the last thirty years and how freedom of religion has been turned into a tool to advance privilege and impose religion on others. This book is a standout on the shelf for fans of critiques of the rise of Christian nationalism and examinations like How Democracies Die. Overall, this timely and poignant book provides an insightful, deeply researched, and well-written account of the issue of church versus state and the current Supreme Court's conservative majority status.

"Strange Justice: The Selling of Clarence Thomas" by Jane Mayer and Jill Abramson is a detailed account of the political tricks and tactics used by the Bush Administration to orchestrate the nomination of Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court. The book sheds light on the falsehoods and distortions involved in the confirmation process and raises important questions about the consequences of politics becoming total war. The authors present Thomas and Anita Hill as complex individuals whose earlier experiences and attitudes help explain their actions during the confirmation hearings. Although the book is largely reportorial, it provides valuable insights into the confirmation process and the consequences of political maneuvering on the truth and those who tell it."

The Aspen Treatise for Federal Jurisdiction, Eighth Edition, authored by Erwin Chemerinsky, is a comprehensive guide to the laws, issues, and policies governing federal courts' jurisdiction. The book offers an accessible and thorough exposition of the subject, providing students with the clarity and penetrating insight for which the author is renowned. The Eighth Edition includes updates on political question doctrine, sovereign immunity, and developments in suing government officers, among other topics. Overall, this book is an excellent resource for law students and professors seeking a comprehensive understanding of federal jurisdiction law.