Key Facts: The English Legal System, 2nd Edition: (Key Facts)

Key Facts has been specifically written for students studying Law. It is the essential revision tool for a broad range of law courses from A Level to degree level. The series is written and edited by an expert team of authors whose experience means they know exactly what is required in a revision aid. They include examiners, barristers and lecturers who have brought their expertise and knowledge to the series to make it user-friendly and accessible. Chapters include: What is Law?, Judicial precedent, Legislation, European Union law, Law reform, The civil justice system, Tribunals and enquiries, Police powers, The criminal process and courts, Sentencing, The legal profession, The judiciary, Lay people in the legal system, Legal services and funding.

Table of Contents:
1. What is Law? 1.1 The nature of law 1.2 Classification of law 1.3 Distinctions between civil and criminal law 2. Judicial precedent 2.1 The doctrine of precedent 2.2 Hierarchy of the courts 2.3 The House of Lords and the Practice Statement 2.4 The position of the Court of Appeal 2.5 Ratio and obiter 2.6 Distinguishing 2.7 Advantages and disadvantages of precedent 2.8 The judicial role in precedent 3. Legislation 3.1 Acts of Parliament 3.2 The process in Parliament 3.3 Advantages of statute law over case law 3.4 Parliamentary sovereignty 3.5 Delegated legislation 3.6 Statutory interpretation 4. European Union law 4.1 The institutions 4.2 Sources of law 4.3 Effect on sovereignty of Parliament 5. Law reform 5.1 The need for law reform 5.2 Law Commission 5.3 Other law reform bodies 6. The civil justice system 6.1 The court structure 6.2 Procedure in outline 6.3 Appeals 6.4 Comment on the post-Woolf civil system 6.5 Alternative dispute resolution 7. Tribunals and enquiries 7.1 Administrative tribunals 7.2 Control of tribunals 7.3 Inquiries 8. Police powers 8.1 Stop and search 8.2 Searching premises 8.3 Powers of arrest 8.4 Detention at the police station 8.5 Complaints against the police 9.The criminal process and courts 9.1 The Crown Prosecution Service 9.2 Bail 9.3 Classification of offences 9.4 Magistrates' Court 9.5 Appeals from the Magistrates' Court 9.6 The Crown Court 9.7 Appeals from the Crown Court 9.8 Miscarriages of justice 10. Sentencing 10.1 Aims of sentencing 10.2 Types of sentences 10.3 Other powers of the court 10.4 Additional powers in respect of young offenders (10-17) 10.5 Mentally ill offenders 10.6 Other factors in sentencing 10.7 Anti-social behaviour orders 11. The legal profession 11.1 Solicitors 11.2 Barristers 11.3 Para-legals 11.4 Regulation of the legal professions 11.5 The future of the legal professions 12. The judiciary 12.1 Appointment 12.2 Training 12.3 Removal 12.4 Independence of the judiciary 12.5 The Lord Chancellor's role 13. Lay people in the legal system 13.1 Lay magistrates 13.2 Juries 13.3 Other lay people in the system 14. Legal services and funding 14.1 Public funding for civil cases 14.2 Private funding for civil cases 14.3 Advice agencies 14.4 The Criminal Defence Service Index

About the Author :
Author and series editor Jacqueline Martin LLM is a former Chief Examiner for A Level Law with a major examining board. She has ten years' experience as a practising barrister and has taught students of all ages. Her other titles include The English Legal System, published by Hodder Arnold. Series editor Chris Turner LLM is Chief Examiner for A Level Law with a major examining board. He is a qualified barrister and has taught law at all levels. His other titles include Contract Law and Tort Law, both published by Hodder Arnold.