It is a given that a legal education comes with an extravagant price. As GW students well know, attending law school at a premier institution carries tuition costs in excess of $150,000. But the expense doesn't end there or even with the price of living in a major metropolitan area like the District of Columbia. Law school students pay high prices for the textbooks and materials that are essential to their studies, and there are few opportunities for relief.

For entering students, the problem is exacerbated both by a lack of familiarity with the available book-purchasing options and also by a lack of time. This year, 1L's first received a complete and official booklist on Wednesday, August 19, the first day of orientation. With classes beginning Monday, the 24th, there was little time to make decisions.

"Given more time I likely would have conducted further research, especially into whether or not it was necessary to purchase the most recent editions of the books on our list," said Judd Lauter. "I will probably conduct more research in the future.  I feel like I can get a better deal now that I'm here and I can discuss these issues with other students."

Daniel Bumpus agreed. "I do like the ease of going to the bookstore," he said, citing the ease of finding books crated by section, "but I'll at least look online or at Washington Law Books to see if I can get a better price."

The short time and high cost, exceeding $1,000 for some 1L sections, forced students to make difficult decisions. "I had to have my parents front me money to buy my books because student loans do not get disbursed and refunded until after the start of the semester. It was very difficult," said Chanell Autrey, "but it was necessary to get them as soon as possible to complete the first day assignments."

It seems, however, that the actual prices students face are a result more of the cost of the books themselves, rather than any bookstore policy. Lois Austin, of Washington Law Books, says the store sets its prices independently of the University Bookstore, but in most cases, the two stores charge the similar amounts. And both stores' prices are commensurate with list prices on Amazon.com. Amazon, of course, discounts from those prices.

For example, on Thursday, August 27, Amazon offered the 8th edition of Tort Law and Alternatives, by Marc Franklin, Robert Rabin, and Michael Green, for a retail price of $125.19. However, the list price was $162, which was exactly what both the University Bookstore and Washington Law charged for the book. While, for this book, there are substantial savings, reductions vary from book to book, and students who turn to the internet for lower prices have to wait for their books to arrive and may encounter other problems, as well.

The 5th edition of Joshua Dressler's Understanding Criminal Law retails in both local bookstores for $39 but is unavailable directly from Amazon, and the independent sellers who offer it on the site charge slightly more, even before factoring in shipping charges.

With potential delays and unavailable books and its prices commensurate with other brick-and-mortar stores, many students opt for the convenience of the University Bookstore, which offers, said Store Director Bob Blake, "The right book, at the right price, guaranteed."

However, Austin, who coordinates with the law school on booklists for Wash Law, feels that her store remains the popular choice. "The students come back," she said.

One reason for this may be the store's customer-friendly policies. For books purchased at the beginning of the semester, payment may be deferred for up to a month, after the school releases loan refunds.

In addition, she pointed out the store's buy-back and return policies. Washington Law pays cash for used books, with the amount varying based on condition. Highlighting and writing in the book will reduce its value. If a new edition has come out, the store offers credit for future purchases. In years past, it would offer cash even in this circumstance, but the present economy makes this impossible, according to Austin. The University Bookstore also buys used textbooks; though, Blake indicated, they have less latitude in which books they re-purchase. All books are scanned to check for wholesaler demand, and generally, the Bookstore will not buy back books for which there are new editions. However, there will occasionally be a need, either on campus or elsewhere. The Bookstore offers up to 50% of the purchase price, depending on condition.

The store accepts returns until the end of the drop-add period, which is similar to the University Bookstore's policy of accepting returns until seven days after the start of the term. According to Blake, they have extended this period for 1L's until seven days after the start of upper-year classes. The deadline for this year is September 8, the last day of drop-add. After that deadline, the Bookstore accepts returns for two days after purchase. But Wash Law also offers store credit on returns for seven days after drop-add ends. "And sometimes," said Austin with a laugh, "we break the rules. We scratch each other's backs."