You betcha get 'em

1) Introduction To The Law And Legal System of The United States
Written by William Burnham.
ISBN# 0-314-25393-9
Published by: WEST Group- THOMSON

This Book was assigned to LL.M. Students 2006-2007 at Pittsburgh University, School of Law. Ive shown it to you previously if you remember & it is great one as it uses the civil law methodology in teaching that is the instructing way not the case law study method. So you can understand each field of American Legal System (Civil, Criminal, Administration, Constitutional, Family, Property, Torts, International law, Law Career in USA etc.
All the above is written in a very simple way without the need to read pages of cases at all. You must buy this book as it is directed to international lawyers or students.

2) Legal Reasoning, Research, and Writing for International Graduate Students LL.M.
Written by Nadia E. Nedzel
ISBN# 0-7355-3519-1
Published by ASPEN Publishers

A Must Get Book. It was also assigned to LL.M. students in Pitt. It is written for us the LL.M. students , so it is easily written & explains the Common law as well as the US legal system & federal system more briefly than Brunham book and it includes the following; The Case Method in U.S. law Schools, Briefing Cases legal researching & objective legal writing , The research process, updating Case Law, Researching & interpreting Constitutions, statutes, and International Law, Rewriting & style, None-fee Internet legal research, Persuasive writing, drafting Contracts, and how to prepare & take exams in law school.
The book is useful and essential in the legal writing class as well as for taking an internship as it helps you in writing an interoffice legal memo.
It also includes exercises after each chapter. Moreover, it helps you in writing your answers in the exam using the IRAC analysis; Issue Rule Analysis Conclusion.

3) Introduction To Legal Method And Process Cases & Materials
Written by Michael A. Bereh. Rebecca White Bereh, Ralph S. Spritzer
ISBN# 0-314-16198-8
Published by: American Casebook Series THOMSON-WEST

This book briefly explains the U.S. legal system, specially the judicial branch. It is designated to new American students who want to attend law school, so it explains the study of law, how to read & brief a case, the Common law system, over view of the judicial system. Moreover it provides you with in depth knowledge of filing a case at court, every type of motions a lawyer may submit, shortly the whole process step by step. It also has a chapter about the criminal Justice System, The Role of Courts & How to interpret a statute.
This book is directed to Common law students so it used the case law methodology of teaching. Put it another way, it is more professional than the first book because it teaches you how to read law text book in the school as it contains lots of excerpts of case law decisions as well as notes & questions.

4) The Nature And The Function Of The Law
Written by Harold J. Berman, William R. Greiner, Samir N. Saliba
ISBN # 1-56662-238-7
Published by: The Foundation Press, Inc.

This book relatively is alike the previous one. However, the book at hand is used in Business schools in America & in what called liberal art schools.
It is unique in the variety of fields it covers such like Civil Procedures, Criminal Procedures, Contracts, Labor Law & some aspects of Constitutional Law, namely; Gender & Race.
In addition, the book describe the legal writing style, the trial process in each criminal and civil cases, and includes a chapter for Alternative Dispute Resolution; ADR Arbitration & Mediation; domestically & internationally
The book based on Case law analysis, so it includes lots of excerpts of case decisions and it also contains notes & questions.

5) Opportunities in Law Careers
Written by Gary Munneke
ISBN# 0-658-01047-6
Published by: VGM Career Books

This small book directed not only for new graduates of law school, but also for students who consider going to law school. It helps you to understand the law career in USA; law firms private practice, or working with the government, it also sheds the light on the Law School Admission Test LSAT.
In addition, the book deals with students activities like clerkships or internships for students, all substantive area of practice; Business & Corporate law, Immigration law, Energy Law, Environmental law, Intellectual property etc & other emerging areas of law.
Moreover, the book provides you with insight of what to do after graduation, I mean the Bar exam, it even gives you sample exam question. The book also contains of glossary of words & terms that are used in the legal career.

6) One L
Written by Scott Turow
ISBN # 0-446-67378-1
Published by: Warner Books, Inc.

This is just a novel but it was described in New York Times as It should be read by anyone who has ever contemplated going to law school or anyone who has ever worried about being human. Almost 280 pages, it talks about a student in Harvard Law School in the late seventies who suffered in the first year. It is important in giving you real idea about how teachers & students in law schools interact in what so called Socratic Methodology A way of teaching used in every single American law school.
The novel is also useful in giving a reader an idea about law school activities, such like the law review, the moot court, writing an inter office memo, preparing for interviews in law firms, the students study groups, etc
It also slightly portrays some aspects of 8 classes, like contract, criminal law, civil law, property, torts, etc.just to the extent that serves the novel context. It is fun to read.

7) The Paper Chase, 1973 production Movie
Directed by: James Bridges
Description; A first-year law student struggles with balancing his coursework and his relationship with the daughter of a stern professor.
A Guide For a First Year Law Student.
Awards; Won Oscar. Another 2 wins & 3 nominations
This is the movie Ive told you about, I found nothing to say better than the following comment Ive found online. I have just copied & pasted here; {Potential law school candidates; don't freak out when you see this movie. This movie wasn't quite like my first year of law school, but that's because I didn't go out of my way to spend all of my time trying to impress one (let alone any more) professors.

It is likely that your professors are not going to behave like total bastards as Sir John Houseman did in this movie as Timothy Bottom's contracts professor, since your teachers are obviously pretty willing to help you out and guide you through three very rigorous years of study. But, then again, law school is much different from other levels of education, and the first year is the hardest because you're being trained to think like a lawyer and get in touch with that part in your brain where you can critically analyze things. And, as this movie suggests, when you do feel yourself slipping and/or falling behind, do not suck up to your teacher or kid yourself that everything is alright. The point is to go into things with your head on straight. Think realistically and don't panic! And yes, contract law is going to be one of the roughest first year courses.
The story here concerns a first-year student's trials and tribulations at Harvard law school. He seems to be running around in circles sometimes, trying too hard to stay on top of things. John Houseman plays his stubborn and defiant contracts law professor who he consistently butts heads with, especially when it comes to dating the guys daughter and trying so hard to impress him. The story is actually pretty ridiculous. But then again, it would probably be pretty boring to watch an hour and half movie about a kid with his nose buried in the books as most first-year law students are.
It is definitely worth a shot if you are considering law school, but don't freak out.}

Notes

A) First & second books were assigned for LL.M. students at Pitt law school, 2006-2007 academic year, for both classes, Introduction to US legal system & English legal writing.

B) Books number 3 & 4 are pretty much alike. They are different in the fact that the later is not directed to law students as the former. Both explain the civil & criminal litigation, but they are different in the subject matters of which each of them focuses on. You should buy one of them, at least, in order to be familiar with reading case decisions as they look the same as text books in law school. Each of them contains lots of excerpts of case decisions as well as notes and questions in the end of each chapter or section exactly as it is a law text book for law students.

C) The last two items the novel & the movie were also assigned for the new LL.M. students this year at Pitt. The students who attended the English For Lawyers course EFL had to watch the movie in the class & read the novel at home.

Wish You The Best

@those currently enrolled in an LLM program:

Which books did you buy / would you recommend?
What do you think about Wajdi's list?