The English Legal System

Cover — Half Title — Title — Copyright — Dedication — CONTENTS — Preface — The English legal system – an overview — Acknowledgements — Guide to using the book — Guide to the companion website — List of figures — Table of cases — Table of statutes — Table of statutory instruments — Table of European legislation — List of abbreviations — 1 LAW AND LEGAL STUDY — 1.1 Introduction — 1.2 The nature of law — 1.3 Categories of law — 1.4 Approaches to law and legal study — 1.5 Skills — 2 THE RULE OF LAW AND HUMAN RIGHTS — 2.1 Introduction — 2.2 The rule of law — 2.3 The rule of law and the judiciary — 2.4 Human Rights discourse and the rule of law — 2.5 The Human Rights Act 1998 — 3 SOURCES OF LAW: LEGISLATION — 3.1 Introduction — 3.2 European Union — 3.3 Primary legislation — 3.4 Statutory interpretation — 3.5 Delegated or subordinate legislation — 3.6 Law reform: the role of the Law Commission — 4 SOURCES OF LAW: CASE LAW — 4.1 Introduction — 4.2 Precedent — 4.3 Law reporting — 4.4 Precedent within the hierarchy of the courts — 4.5 Binding precedent — 4.6 Advantages of case law — 4.7 Disadvantages of case law — 4.8 The practical importance of precedent — 4.9 Books of authority — 4.10 Custom — 5 SOURCES OF LAW: THE EUROPEAN CONTEXT — 5.1 Introduction — 5.2 Sources of European Union law — 5.3 The institutions of the European Union — 5.4 The European Court of Human Rights — 5.5 The European Convention and the European Union — 5.6 A case study: the genesis of the Investigatory Powers Act (IPA) 2016 — 6 THE CIVIL COURTS — 6.1 Introduction — 6.2 Her Majesty’s courts and tribunals service — 6.3 Magistrates’ courts — 6.4 The County Court — 6.5 The High Court of Justice — 6.6 Appeals from the High Court — 6.7 The Court of Appeal (Civil Division) — 6.8 The appeal process — 6.9 The Supreme Court