This document provides an overview of UK common law research resources, including:
- The structure and hierarchy of the UK judicial system and courts.
- The evolution and purpose of law reports and how to cite them.
- How to research legislation, including the types of legislation, how bills become acts, and how to cite acts and statutory instruments.
- Major legal databases for researching case law and legislation.
5. Court Structure Reference can be made to the European Court of Justice from any court in the system. The European Court of Human Rights enforces the European Convention on Human Rights .
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33. lexis@library search page The lexis page allows narrowing by court, and results refer to related cases and commentary, cross refs to legislation etc.
34. westlaw Westlaw offers case analysis, transcript, narrowing to selected law reports, hypertext, etc.
35. justis Justis offers parallel citations, cases considered, subsequent cases, legislation cited, related articles and often a pdf version
36. lawtel Lawtel has an alerting service and case notes link back to Westlaw. Rss feeds available
38. The Law Library’s law Reports & Journals database enables you to locate the database where a law report series or a journal can be found http://www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/law/collections/lawreports_and_journals
UK Legal Resources 3 December 2010 Criminal and civil law In both criminal and civil cases, the courts make decisions on an adversarial rather than an inquisitorial basis. This means that the prosecution and defence test the credibility and reliability of the evidence their opponent presents to the court. The judge makes decisions based on the evidence presented. The judicial system and European Community law The ultimate source of law is statutes passed by the Westminster or Scottish Parliament, but there is also a legal duty to comply with European Community law. UK courts must apply the latter in cases where the two conflict. A statute can give power to a minister, local authority or other executive body to make delegated legislation. EC law, which applies in the UK, comes from EC treaties, Community legislation adopted under them, and decisions of the European Court of Justice. That court has the highest authority to decide points of EC law. Human rights The European Convention on Human Rights was built into UK law under the Human Rights Act 1998. It includes the right to a fair trial, freedom of thought and expression, and respect for family and private life. All public authorities, including the courts, must comply with these rights. However, if they conflict with an Act of Parliament, the courts can make a declaration of incompatibility and Parliament must then decide what to do.
UK Legal Resources 3 December 2010 The judicial system in Northern Ireland Northern Ireland's legal system is broadly similar to that in England and Wales. The Lord Chancellor is responsible for court administration through the Northern Ireland Court Service. The Northern Ireland Office (under the Secretary of State) deals with policy and legislation concerning criminal law, the police and the penal system. The Lord Chancellor also has general responsibility for legal aid, advice and assistance. The judicial system in Scotland The Scottish Executive Justice Department, under the Minister for Justice, is responsible for civil and criminal law and justice, social work services, police, prisons, court administration, legal aid, and liaison with the legal profession in Scotland. The Scottish Parliament makes laws on matters devolved to it. In these areas, it can amend or repeal existing Acts of the UK Parliament and pass new legislation of its own for Scotland. It is responsible for: most health issues; education and training; local government, social services, housing and planning; inward investment and promotion of trade; economic development and tourism; most aspects of law and home affairs, including prisons, the prosecution system and the courts; the police and fire services; the road network, bus policy, ports and harbours; agriculture, the environment, fisheries, forestry and food; the natural and built heritage; sport, culture, the arts and language; and statistics, public registers and records.
UK Legal Resources 3 December 2010
UK Legal Resources 3 December 2010
UK Legal Resources 3 December 2010 In looking at law reports and recoding of decisions, we will cover these sub-topics
UK Legal Resources 3 December 2010
UK Legal Resources 3 December 2010 Emphasise that jury cases were traditionally never reported, and generally a law report is a record of a judge only hearing
UK Legal Resources 3 December 2010 Show the paper layout with paragraph noting
UK Legal Resources 3 December 2010 Note the cases referred and ref to Halsbury’s
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UK Legal Resources 3 December 2010 Show pdf and book
UK Legal Resources 3 December 2010
UK Legal Resources 3 December 2010
UK Legal Resources 3 December 2010
UK Legal Resources 3 December 2010 Show PDF and book
UK Legal Resources 3 December 2010
UK Legal Resources 3 December 2010
UK Legal Resources 3 December 2010 Show PDF
UK Legal Resources 3 December 2010
UK Legal Resources 3 December 2010
UK Legal Resources 3 December 2010
UK Legal Resources 3 December 2010
UK Legal Resources 3 December 2010
UK Legal Resources 3 December 2010
UK Legal Resources 3 December 2010
UK Legal Resources 3 December 2010
UK Legal Resources 3 December 2010
UK Legal Resources 3 December 2010
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UK Legal Resources 3 December 2010
UK Legal Resources 3 December 2010
UK Legal Resources 3 December 2010
UK Legal Resources 3 December 2010
UK Legal Resources 3 December 2010 Show Act PDF here