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English Legal System

English Legal System

Catherine Elliott | Frances Quinn

(2017)

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Book Details

Abstract

This best-selling title is your definitive guide to all aspects of the English Legal System. Its unrivalled coverage of the subject combined with the authors’ engaging written style and a range of student-friendly features make this text a must-buy for anyone studying law.

Table of Contents

Section Title Page Action Price
Cover\r Cover
Title Page\r iii
Copyright Page\r iv
Brief Contents\r v
Contents\r vii
Preface xiii
Acknowledgements xiv
Table of cases xvi
Table of statutes xxiv
Table of statutory materials xxix
Cases, law reports and case references: a guide xxxi
Introduction 1
The legal system in context 2
The unwritten constitution 2
A written constitution? 6
Reading list 6
On the internet 6
Part 1 SOURCES OF LAW 7
1 Case law 9
Historical background 10
Judicial precedent 14
The hierarchy of the courts 15
How do judges really decide cases? 24
Do judges make law? 27
When should judges make law? 30
Advantages of case law 33
Disadvantages of case law 34
Answering questions 37
Summary of Chapter 1: Case law 39
Reading list 40
On the internet 41
2 Statute law 42
Introduction 43
House of Commons 43
House of Lords 43
Making an Act of Parliament 46
Reforms to legislative Procedures 51
Answering questions 52
Summary of Chapter 2: Statute law 52
Reading list 53
On the internet 53
3 Statutory interpretation 54
Introduction 55
How are statutes interpreted? 56
Rules of interpretation 56
Interpreting European legislation 65
Aids to interpretation 65
How do judges really interpret statutes? 73
Reform of statutory interpretation 76
Answering questions 77
Summary of Chapter 3: Statutory interpretation 78
Reading list 79
On the internet 79
4 Delegated legislation 80
Introduction 81
The power to make delegated legislation 81
Why is delegated legislation necessary? 83
Control of delegated legislation 83
Criticism of delegated legislation 88
Answering questions 89
Summary of Chapter 4: Delegated legislation 92
Reading list 92
On the internet 92
5 European law 93
Introduction 94
The aims of the European Union 95
Modernising the European Union 97
The institutions of the European Union 98
Making European legislation 105
Types of European legislation 105
How does EU law affect the UK? 112
Answering questions 116
Summary of Chapter 5: European law 118
Reading list 119
On the internet 119
6 Custom 120
Introduction 121
When can custom be a source of law? 121
Answering questions 123
Summary of Chapter 6: Custom 124
Reading list 124
7 Equity 125
Introduction 126
How equity began 126
Common law and equity 127
The Judicature Acts 128
Equity today 128
Answering questions 130
Summary of Chapter 7: Equity 131
Reading list 132
8 Treaties 133
Introduction 134
Implementation of treaties 134
Answering questions 135
On the internet 135
9 Law reform 136
Introduction 137
Judicial change 137
Reform by Parliament 138
Pressures for reform 139
Agencies of law reform 141
Performance of the law reform bodies 145
Problems with law reform agencies 150
Answering questions 152
Summary of Chapter 9: Law reform 153
Reading list 154
On the internet 154
Part 2 PEOPLE WORKING IN THE LEGAL SYSTEM 155
10 The judges 157
The role of the judges 158
Judicial hierarchy 158
Appointments to the judiciary 160
Wigs and gowns 166
Training 166
Pay 167
Promotion 167
Termination of appointment 168
Independence of the judiciary 170
Criticisms of the judiciary 171
Answering questions 183
Summary of Chapter 10: The judges 185
Reading list 186
On the internet 187
11 The legal professions 188
Introduction 189
Solicitors 189
Barristers 197
Complaints 203
Background of barristers and solicitors 205
Performance of the legal professions 212
The future of the professions 214
Fusion of the professions 225
Other legal personnel 229
Do we need legal professionals? 231
Answering questions 233
Summary of Chapter 11: The legal professions 235
Reading list 236
On the internet 238
12 The jury 239
History 240
The function of the jury 241
When are juries used? 243
Qualifications for jury service 247
Summoning the jury 250
Jury vetting 251
Challenges 252
Discharging the jury 253
The secrecy of the jury 255
The verdict 256
Strengths of the jury system 257
Criticisms of the jury system 260
Reform of the jury 268
Answering questions 272
Summary of Chapter 12: The jury 274
Reading list 275
On the internet 277
13 Magistrates 278
The magistrates’ courts 279
Magistrates 280
Answering questions 294
Summary of Chapter 13: Magistrates 296
Reading list 296
On the internet 297
14 Administration of justice 298
The Ministry of Justice and the Home Office 299
The Lord Chancellor 300
The Law Officers’ Department 302
Answering questions 304
Summary of Chapter 14: Administration of justice 305
Reading list 305
On the internet 305
15 Paying for legal services 306
Introduction 307
Unmet need for legal services 307
The historical development of legal aid 310
Legal aid today 311
Problems with the legal aid system 315
Not-for-profit agencies 321
Conditional fee agreements 323
Contingency fees 325
Third party funding 328
Reform 329
Answering questions 334
Summary of Chapter 15: Paying for legal services 335
Reading list 335
On the internet 337
Part 3 HUMAN RIGHTS 339
16 Introduction to human rights 341
Introduction 342
The European Convention on Human Rights 343
The scope of the Convention 343
The administration 344
The Human Rights Act 1998 346
Advantages of the Human Rights Act 1998 351
Disadvantages of the Human Rights Act 1998 353
A Bill of Rights for the UK? 355
The European Court of Human Rights and the CJEU 360
The European charter of Fundamental Rights 360
Today’s debates 362
Answering questions 367
Summary of Chapter 16: Introduction to human rights 368
Reading list 369
On the internet 369
17 Remedies for infringement of human rights 370
Introduction 371
Judicial review 371
Habeas corpus 371
Civil action for negligence 371
Compensation 373
Criminal proceedings 374
Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme 375
The Independent Police Complaints Commission 375
The admissibility of evidence 376
The right to exercise self-defence 377
Parliamentary controls 377
The Ombudsman 377
Answering questions 378
Summary of Chapter 17: Remedies for infringement of human rights 379
Reading list 380
On the internet 381
Part 4 CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM 383
18 The police 385
Introduction 386
Miscarriages of justice 386
The response to the miscarriages of justice 390
Human Rights Act 1998 390
The organisation of the police 390
Police powers 393
Criticism and reform 422
Answering questions 428
Summary of Chapter 18: The police 430
Reading list 431
On the internet 434
19 The criminal trial process 435
The adversarial process 436
Criminal Procedure Rules 436
The Crown Prosecution Service 438
Appearance in court 445
Classification of offences 446
Allocation procedure 447
Sending for trial 449
Plea and trial preparation hearing 449
Disclosure 450
Plea bargaining 450
The trial 452
Models of criminal justice systems 455
Criticism and Reform 456
Answering questions 468
Summary of Chapter 19: The criminal trial process 471
Reading list 472
On the internet 474
20 Sentencing 475
The Criminal Justice Act 2003 476
Purposes of sentencing 476
Sentencing practice 480
Types of sentence 487
Reform 509
Answering questions 509
Summary of Chapter 20: Sentencing 511
Reading list 513
On the internet 515
21 Young offenders 517
Introduction 518
Criminal liability 519
Young people and the police 519
Remand and bail 520
Youth cautions 520
Trial 521
Sentencing 523
Answering questions 534
Summary of Chapter 21: Young offenders 536
Reading list 538
On the internet 538
22 Criminal appeals 539
Appeals 540
Appeals in criminal law cases 540
Criticism and reform of the appeal system 549
Answering questions 557
Summary of Chapter 22: Criminal appeals 558
Reading list 559
On the internet 560
Part 5 CIVIL JUSTICE SYSTEM 561
23 The civil trial process 563
Introduction 564
History 564
The civil courts 565
The civil justice system before April 1999 566
The civil justice system after April 1999 569
Criticism of the civil justice system 587
Reform 601
Answering questions 604
Summary of Chapter 23: The civil trial process 605
Reading list 607
On the internet 608
24 Tribunals 610
Introduction 611
History 611
Reforming the tribunals 612
Tribunals today 614
Advantages of tribunals 618
Disadvantages of tribunals 619
Answering questions 620
Summary of Chapter 24: Tribunals 621
Reading list 623
On the internet 623
25 Alternative methods of dispute resolution 624
Introduction 625
Problems with court hearings 626
Alternative dispute resolution mechanisms 627
Examples of ADR 629
Advantages of ADR 636
Problems with ADR 637
The future for ADR 638
Answering questions 640
Summary of Chapter 25: Alternative methods of dispute resolution 641
Reading list 642
On the internet 643
26 Civil appeals and judicial review 644
Appeals in Civil Law Cases 645
Judicial Review 647
Answering questions 656
Summary of Chapter 26: Civil appeals and judicial review 657
Reading list 658
On the internet 658
Part 6 CONCEPTS OF LAW 659
27 Law and rules 661
Introduction 662
Austin: the command theory 662
Hart: primary and secondary rules 662
Dworkin: legal principles 664
The natural law theory 664
The function of law 664
Why are laws obeyed? 668
Answering questions 669
Summary of Chapter 27: Law and rules 670
Reading list 671
28 Law and morals 672
Introduction 673
Law and Morality 674
Changes in Law and Morality 675
Differences Between Law and Morality 675
Should Law and Morality be Separate? 676
Answering questions 685
Summary of Chapter 28: Law and morals 686
Reading list 687
On the internet 688
29 Law and justice 689
Introduction 690
Aristotle 690
Natural law theories 690
Utilitarianism 690
The economic analysis of law 691
Rawls: A Theory of Justice 691
Nozick and the minimal state 692
Karl Marx 693
Kelsen and positivism 693
Justice in practice 693
Answering questions 695
Summary of Chapter 29: Law and justice 695
Reading list 696
Appendix: Answering examination questions 697
General points 697
Essay questions 699
Problem questions 700
Glossary 703
Select bibliography 706
Index 723