Product Description

A good comprehension of the English legal system requires knowledge and skill in a number of disciplines. The system itself is the result of developments in law, economy, politics, sociological change and the theories which feed all these bodies of knowledge. This book assists students of the English legal system in the achievement of a good understanding of the law, its institutions and processes and sets the law and system in a social context, presenting a range of critical views. Being proficient in this subject also means being familiar with contemporary changes and proposed changes, and this new edition has been comprehensively revised and updated to take these into account. Since the last edition of this book in 2003, the changes to The English Legal system have been major and manifold. This new 7th edition includes all the significant changes introduced to the civil and criminal courts by the Courts Act 2003. The book also incorporates the Criminal Justice Act 2003 and its scores of key changes including those to trials, the appeal system, the double jeopardy rule, PACE powers, cautions, juries, bail, and the magistrates' court system. Additionally, the new edition includes the constitutional changes consequent upon the creation of the Department for Constitutional Affairs, and the plans for a Supreme Court. In other areas, new rules relating to solicitors, costs and publicly-funded law are included as are the case of Dr David Kelly and the law and politics of judicial inquiries. The plans for a European constitution are also digested. Many new cases are incorporated including the House of Lords' decision in Wilson v Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and its implications for statutory interpretation and the Human Rights Act.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #372946 in Books
• Published on: 2004-07-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 776 pages

Review
'It is with great satisfaction that the new edition of Slapper and Kelly has been published. In the author's desire to produce an accessible text, they have rightly restricted the text of their book. They have been careful to minimise details and select relevant topics. In the case of the latter, they have chosen a good balance between legal method - statutory interpretation, precedent, sources of law and judicial reasoning - and legal system/process - the civil and criminal court structures, the civil and criminal processes, legal services and how they are funded.The topics have been discussed in lucid and authoritative style, and to aid further understanding they have been supplemented well by the liberal use of headings and sub-headings and summaies at the end of the chapters.' The Law Teacher, Vol 36 no 1. 'The book is extremely thorough. I looked for a dozen issues in this book - ranging from deaf people on juries to the Criminal Cases Review Commission - and found them all there. There are 13 chapters in all, telling you almost everything you will ever need to know about UK and European legislation, civil and criminal court structures, judges, juries etc.; the authors even grapple successfully with the new arrangements for the funding of legal services. Each chapter ends with a useful and clear summary of the main points raised. A very detailed index ensures it is easy for the reader to find his/her way around the book.' The Law Teacher, Vol 38 no 1. 'Want to learn more about the law? Then turn to The English Legal System by Gary Slapper and David Kelly. It's a standard text in about 35 British Universities, but general readers should have little trouble getting to grips with it.' Ozone, Magazine of the Open University, Summer 2005.

About the Author
Gary Slapper is Professor of Law, and Director of the Centre for Law, at The Open University, and writes a legal column for The Times. David Kelly is Principal Lecturer in Law, and Director of the Centre for Critical Legal Studies, at Staffordshire University.

Customer Reviews

A highly enjoyable yet practical guide to English Law.
This book is ideal for students of law. With its in depth analysis of the English legal structure together with high readability it is an easy to understand and helpful book for lawyers and non lawyers alike. A worthwhile buy for those who wish to understand the English legal system that little bit better.

fantastic book
This book is so easy to understand and sets out such vital information that is easy to comprehend. Fully recommended to anyone studying law. The companion website that comes with the book is also fantastic with useful flashcards and exam questions with model answers

IT'S BECAUSE LAW GOVERNS LIFE!
HERE'S ESSENTIAL READING FOR STUDENTS OF LAW AND PRACTITIONERS TOO

An appreciation by Phillip Taylor MBE and Elizabeth Taylor of Richmond Green Chambers

If you are a student of law at whatever level, Slapper & Kelly's new edition of `The English Legal System' is an essential work of reference, which can only make your studies easier.

The Tenth Edition in 15 chapters and about 650 pages, the authors create a clear and accessible work aimed at imparting a good understanding of the law, its institutions and processes. They point out what many of us only dimly realize, that our law permeates into every cell of social life, governing everything from food and drink and the air we breathe, to travel, family relationships, sexuality and virtually everything else: science, employment, business, education, health and of course, conflicts, from neighbour disputes to wars. The list is by no means exhaustive as students will well know.

Since the first edition we reviewed in 1994, `The English Legal System' has successfully cut through the complexities of the subject, setting the law and system in a social context. Each new edition published since then has been thoroughly updated to take into account new developments within the English legal system of common law reasoning.

The 2009-2010 title incorporates material on important changes to: the criminal justice system; statutory interpretation; judges; changes in the legal professions, and in the funding of legal services. The new courts are described very well here, and the rules of civil procedure with revised chapters on criminal procedure underpin recent reforms to our system.

Also incorporated are proposals for changes to human rights law, and major common law decisions from 2008 in the Court of Appeal, the House of Lords and from the European Court of Human Rights. Of particular relevance at present is the chapter on arbitration, tribunal adjudication and alternative dispute resolution so popular with the current senior judiciary.

Much thought has gone into creating a structure for the book that makes it convenient to refer to and easy to use - one of the most easily accessible legal texts we have yet encountered. As if all this weren't enough, there is a companion website where you can access skill-led student resources online- a great support unit for the 21st century learner!

So, if you're a student, there are online skills resources and guidance on best practice, interactive exercises and activities, plus a glossary and flashcards for those interminably puzzling terms. And to help you determine how you'd fare on multiple choice exams there is a bank of Multiple Choice Questions to test your knowledge - BVC students please note!

If you need more revision help, you can access Professor Slapper's `Top 10 Revision Tips' podcast and practice with sample exam questions complete with model answer structures. To achieve even more outstanding results via further research, (which means hard work) there are weblinks and recommendations for further reading.

And if you're a tutor -- there's a free suite of exclusive teaching resources (for your own lecture presentations) which, we hasten to add, is password protected for your eyes only.

All in all, what you have here is a resource-base in a book. Small wonder, the `The English Legal System' has always been -- and continues to be in its 10th edition -- a favourite with learners and lecturers alike and an extremely useful reference for practitioners where law governs life for all of us.

ISBN: 978-0-415-48096-3

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