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Simple English definitions for legal terms
casebook method
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A quick definition of casebook method:
The casebook method is a way of teaching law where students learn general legal principles by studying specific cases. It was introduced by Professor Christopher C. Langdell at Harvard Law School in 1869 and is now the most commonly used form of instruction in American law schools. This method is also known as the case method, case system, or Langdell method. It is different from the Socratic method and hornbook method.
A more thorough explanation:
The casebook method is a way of teaching law where students learn general legal principles by studying specific cases. It was introduced by Professor Christopher C. Langdell at Harvard Law School in 1869 and is now the most widely used form of instruction in American law schools.
For example, a law student studying contract law might read a case about a dispute between a buyer and a seller over the sale of a car. By analyzing the details of the case, the student can learn about the legal principles that apply to contracts, such as offer and acceptance, consideration, and breach of contract.
The casebook method is different from the Socratic method, where the teacher asks questions to guide the student's thinking, and the hornbook method, where students learn from textbooks that summarize legal principles.