Contemporary Property

This title is a part of our CasebookPlus™ offering as ISBN 9798317703066. Learn more at Faculty-CasebookPlus.com.

The Sixth Edition of Contemporary Property unifies and organizes the study of property law, bringing cohesion to topics traditionally viewed as fragmented. Framing property law through the lens of resource struggles and conquest, this edition offers a holistic, practice-oriented exploration of US property law as a reflection of ongoing societal contests over resource allocation, ownership rights, and modern entitlements.

Originally authored by seminal property scholars Grant Nelson and Dale Whitman, this comprehensive update leverages the scholarship and teaching expertise of authors Shelley Saxer, Andrea Boyack, Jamila Jefferson, and Kali Murray. Building on the expertise of each author, Contemporary Property has three key benefits for adoption.

First, the new edition builds on key thematic insights from its previous editions, by exploring how property contests have shaped possession and dispossession across American history, demonstrating how property law both catalyzes and reflects societal evolution—from the abolition of slavery to emerging assets like cryptocurrency.

Second, Contemporary Property connects doctrine directly to transactional practice, illustrating how lawyers facilitate client goals and manage risk. Contemporary Property offers materials that connect transactional practice to diverse areas of law such as real estate, trusts and estates practice, intellectual property, and local government.

Finally, designed for high student engagement and structured for modern legal education, Contemporary Property fully aligns with the NextGen Bar Exam and the demands of modern practice. View the basic organizational structure here.

Key Pedagogical Features

• Updated, Tightly Edited Cases: Each case includes a brief introductory context and focused, post-reading questions to prompt critical thinking.
• Bridges to Practice: Practical applications provide opportunities to build core lawyering skills that intersect with property doctrine and support skills-based assessments.
• Policy Applications: Targeted discussion prompts are designed to spur engaging classroom debate on cutting-edge property issues.
• Chapter Takeaways & Key Terms: Bolded legal terminology highlights core elements throughout, while chapter takeaways establish clear learning objectives and support student self-assessment.
• Visual Study Aids: Student-friendly charts, tables, practice questions, and an "Estates Path" guide through present and future estates are included.

• Flexible Sample Syllabi: Customizable outlines for 4-, 5-, or 6-credit courses, allowing easy adaptation to specific topical focus areas and teaching styles.
• Chapter Overviews & Roadmaps: Complete coverage summaries for every section of every chapter.
• NextGen Bar Exam Mapping: A detailed correlation chart aligning casebook content directly with topics in the NextGen Bar Exam's Real Property Sourcebook.
• Comprehensive Teaching Tips: User-friendly case briefs, instructional tips, and guidance for all practice/policy applications and casebook problems.
• Customizable Simulation Documents: Downloadable MS Word files ready to adapt for classroom hypotheticals and simulations.
• Teaching & Assessment Assets: Supplemental handouts, PowerPoint decks, and Engagement & Study Questions (ESQs) for both formative and summative assessments.

Imprint: West Academic Publishing
Series: American Casebook Series
Publication Date: 10/16/2026