Cover -- Half Title -- Title -- Copyright -- Dedication -- CONTENTS -- Preface -- The English legal system - an overview -- Acknowledgements -- Guide to using the book -- Guide to the companion website -- List of figures -- Table of cases -- Table of statutes -- Table of statutory instruments -- Table of European legislation -- List of abbreviations -- 1 LAW AND LEGAL STUDY -- 1.1 Introduction -- 1.2 The nature of law -- 1.3 Categories of law -- 1.4 Approaches to law and legal study -- 1.5 Skills -- 2 THE RULE OF LAW AND HUMAN RIGHTS -- 2.1 Introduction -- 2.2 The rule of law -- 2.3 The rule of law and the judiciary -- 2.4 Human Rights discourse and the rule of law -- 2.5 The Human Rights Act 1998 -- 3 SOURCES OF LAW: LEGISLATION -- 3.1 Introduction -- 3.2 European Union -- 3.3 Primary legislation -- 3.4 Statutory interpretation -- 3.5 Delegated or subordinate legislation -- 3.6 Law reform: the role of the Law Commission -- 4 SOURCES OF LAW: CASE LAW -- 4.1 Introduction -- 4.2 Precedent -- 4.3 Law reporting -- 4.4 Precedent within the hierarchy of the courts -- 4.5 Binding precedent -- 4.6 Advantages of case law -- 4.7 Disadvantages of case law -- 4.8 The practical importance of precedent -- 4.9 Books of authority -- 4.10 Custom -- 5 SOURCES OF LAW: THE EUROPEAN CONTEXT -- 5.1 Introduction -- 5.2 Sources of European Union law -- 5.3 The institutions of the European Union -- 5.4 The European Court of Human Rights -- 5.5 The European Convention and the European Union -- 5.6 A case study: the genesis of the Investigatory Powers Act (IPA) 2016 -- 6 THE CIVIL COURTS -- 6.1 Introduction -- 6.2 Her Majesty's courts and tribunals service -- 6.3 Magistrates' courts -- 6.4 The County Court -- 6.5 The High Court of Justice -- 6.6 Appeals from the High Court -- 6.7 The Court of Appeal (Civil Division) -- 6.8 The appeal process -- 6.9 The Supreme Court