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For Him / Her / Kids
Black's Law Dictionary, 12th Edition — the book every lawyer's shelf should have
Black's Law Dictionary, 12th Edition (Hardcover)
Reviewed by the WhyToBuyThis team · Updated September 2026 · How we choose
Perfect for
- New attorneys
- Law graduates
- Law office shelf
- Big-ticket gift
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Price: $89.95
Price may change on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. This won't cost you anything extra.
- Great gift ideaChosen for real-world gifting
- Hand-pickedCurated, not scraped
- Honest reviewThe catch, not just the hype
Why this gift works
Black's Law Dictionary is the standard reference for legal terms in the US, cited by courts and used in law schools. The 12th edition, edited by Bryan A. Garner and published by Thomson Reuters in 2024, runs to 2,098 pages with more than 70,000 terms, including 2,500 new ones, and over 4,800 quotations. This listing is the standard hardbound edition.
Lawyers look terms up online every day, but a current Black's on the shelf is a statement - of the profession, and of passing the bar. It is the classic gift for a law graduate or a newly sworn-in attorney.
Who is this gift for?
Great for
- Someone who just passed the bar
- A law student starting 1L year
Think twice if
- They already own the 12th edition
The catch
It is a huge, heavy book, and the thumb index, padded cover and ribbon marker are only on the more expensive Deluxe edition. Many lawyers use the online version daily.
Skip for a lawyer who already has the 12th edition, or someone who works entirely from online research tools.
Key specs
| Editor | Bryan A. Garner |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Thomson Reuters |
| Edition | 12th, 2024 |
| Format | Standard hardbound |
| Pages | 2,098 |
| Entries | 70,000+ terms, 2,500+ new, 4,800+ quotations |
Worth knowing before you buy
- It runs to 2,098 pages.
- The Deluxe edition has a thumb index; this one does not.
Why we like it
- The current edition of the standard legal dictionary
- More than 70,000 terms
- A classic milestone gift
What to look for in a legal dictionary
- Current edition. Law changes; the latest edition includes new terms.
- Standard or deluxe. Deluxe editions add a thumb index and nicer binding.
- Print or online. Print makes a better gift; many lawyers also use online access.
Questions people ask
The 12th edition, published in 2024 - the current one.
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