casebook adj : according to or characteristic of a casebook or textbook; typical; "a casebook schizophrenic"; "a textbook example" [syn: textbook] n : a book in which detailed written records of a case are kept and which are a source of information for subsequent work

English

Alternative spellings

Sometimes hyphenated (case-book) or presented as a phrase (case book)

Noun

1. : an educational tool used predominately in United States law schools consisting of a book containing the text of court opinions in legal cases accompanied by analysis and other materials relating to those cases.

A casebook is a type of textbook used primarily by students in law schools. Rather than simply laying out the legal doctrine in a particular area of study, a casebook contains excerpts from legal cases in which the law of that area was applied. These study aids are generally summaries ("briefs") of the cases from the casebook to which it is "keyed," presenting them in the same order as the casebook. Often written by the same author who wrote the associated casebook, and published by the same company, "keyed" study aids are useful in distilling cases down to black-letter law. Popular study aid product lines include Legalines, High Court Case Summaries, and Gilbert Law Summaries published by West Group, and Casenotes Legal Briefs by Aspen.

Other meanings

A casebook can also be the comprehensive research notebook compiled by a dramaturge. This theatrical casebook gathers information about the setting, period, and social implications of a particular play, and is used by actors and directors as an aid in their interpretation of the script.

References

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