As a law student and young lawyer in the 1760s, Thomas Jefferson began writing abstracts of English common law reports. Even after abandoning his law practice, he continued to rely on his legal commonplace book to document the legal, historical, and philosophical reading that helped shape his new role as a statesman. Indeed, he made entries in the
Author Biography
David Thomas Konig is professor of law and professor emeritus of history at Washington University in St. Louis. Michael P. Zuckert is the Nancy R. Dreux Professor of Political Science at Notre Dame University.
