Subjects:

English Legal System, External LLB Titles

Contents:

1. Introduction

2. The organisation of the courts

3. Sources of law

4. The Human Rights Act 1998

5. The legislative process

6. Statutory interpretation

7. Case law, precedent and judicial law-making

8. The civil justice process

9. The Woolf reforms to civil justice

10. Recent trends in the criminal justice system

11. Police powers

12. The prosecution process

13. The trial process

14. Criminal appeals and the post-appeal process

15. The provision of legal services

16. The structure and functions of the judiciary

17. Judicial appointments

18. Lay adjudication

19. Funding of legal services

The Legal System provides an overview of the institutions, personnel, and procedures that make up the legal system in England and Wales. Current changes are explained and critically evaluated, and the text explores a number of key competing themes and underlying tensions which run through the legal system. These are identified in the first chapter and then illustrated through concise exposition and practical examples in the following substantive chapters.

Brief summaries at the beginning of each chapter enable students to assess the key points of study quickly and easily. Meanwhile further reading lists, useful web site links, and self-test questions at the end of chapters allow students to research the subject in more depth, and to test their understanding of this important area of study.

This is an ideal introduction to the subject; the concise volume successfully combines key principles with thought-provoking questions, and points the way for further study and more in-depth analysis.

• Concise critical analysis of the English legal system makes this text suitable for use on a wide range of undergraduate law courses
• Explores the competing themes and underlying tensions facing the legal system in today's society, encouraging students to develop an understanding and awareness of this fundamental subject
• Summary boxes at the beginning of each chapter help students to assess the key learning outcomes quickly and easily, which will aid initial learning as well as revision
• Self-test questions, further reading lists, and useful web site links encourage students to test their progress, and to take their studies to a deeper level
• The new page layout, fresh new cover design, and larger format make the book easier to use and navigate through