p. 693. Reading the Law
- James HollandJames HollandEmeritus Professor of Employment Law University of the West of England, Bristol
- and Julian WebbJulian WebbProfessor of Law University of Melbourne, Australia
Abstract
This chapter focuses on an important dimension of legal information literacy: the ability to read critically and with understanding. It provides a set of concepts and tools to help students better understand both primary and secondary legal sources and lays out the three questions that we may ask about a legal text: what kind of law is it; how does it affect existing law; and why was it made? It first explains two kinds of legislation: UK Acts of Parliament; and EU Regulations and Directives. The chapter then looks at the form of English reports and European Union cases. This is followed by a discussion of how to read legal books and articles.
