Legal Skills & Practice

Course-focused and comprehensive, the Textbook on series provide an accessible overview of the key areas on the law curriculum. Borkowski's Textbook on Roman Law provides an account of Roman private law and civil procedure, with coverage of all key topics, including the Roman legal system, and the law of persons, property, and obligations. The text sets the law in its social and historical context, and demonstrates the impact of Roman law on our modern legal systems. For the fifth edition, references to a wide range of scholarly texts have been included, to ground the account of Roman law firmly in contemporary scholarship. Examples from legal practice have been added. The text has been updated to reflect current scholarly opinions. References to the latest legal scholarship on Roman law, such as Hausmaninger, Gamauf and Sheets' A Casebook on Roman Property, have been included to reflect the most recent developments in the field.Less

Employability Skills for Law Students is designed to help you: identify the academic, practical and transferable skills that can be developed whilst studying for a law degree; recognise the value of those skills to employers (within both law and non-law professions); identify any gaps in your skills portfolio; maximise opportunities to develop new skills through participation in a range of activities; effectively demonstrate your skills to potential employers; and improve your employability prospects on graduation from university. It is the only book specifically designed to support law students in developing the employability skills required to pursue their chosen career on graduation. A strong emphasis is placed upon ‘learning by doing’, with each chapter including practical activities designed to give students the opportunity to practise skills and encourage thought and reflection on personal development. Whether you are in your first year or your last, this book will ensure you make the most of your time at university, developing skills inside and outside the lecture theatre so that you are in the best possible position to pursue your chosen career on graduation—as a solicitor, barrister, or a completely different profession. An interactive Online Resource Centre provides a range of practical activities designed to give you opportunities to practise and receive feedback upon the skills you are developing.Less

First Steps in the Law travels through the quirks of English law, offering a wealth of interesting detail. The work includes lively descriptions of the workings of the legal system and vivid tales of the law from the past. Real life cases enable the reader to see the law in action, while descriptions of the participants in the legal system (including judges, lawyers, and police officers) root the book in the everyday reality of the legal profession. This edition has been revised and restructured to provide an approachable introduction for those new to law. Expanded coverage of Europe reflects the growing importance of EU and international law. Also, new coverage of the human rights of young offenders in the chapter on young persons helps readers to understand this fascinating area of the law.Less

How to Moot provides guidance and pointers towards all aspects of successful mooting. Topics covered include the nature and attraction of mooting, producing a persuasive presentation, performance, style, and judgements. The text is suitable for use by mooters at all levels: those just starting out will find all the basics set out, and there are advanced tips for the more experienced mooter. The text is divided into short chapters which include chapter summaries and diagrams. The text also includes example moot problems and a transcript of a moot. The approach adopted here is a Q&A one, which provides detailed answers to commonly asked questions.Less

How to Write Law Essays and Exams provides a practical and proven method of analysing and answering essay and exam questions. The book focuses on those questions that give students the most trouble, namely problem questions, but its techniques are equally applicable to other types of essays. In addition to providing a framework for analysing and writing law essays, the book teaches how to identify relevant legal authorities, distinguish and harmonise conflicting legal precedents and evaluate the applicability of the law to the facts of the question at hand. The book also contains specific law-related revision techniques and general writing tips.Less

How to Write Law Essays and Exams provides a practical and proven method of analysing and answering essay and exam questions. Using the techniques in this book will not only help students write more powerful and responsive essays and exams but will also improve their appreciation of how to undertake critical legal thinking. Furthermore, the suggestions in this text will help students manage their time better, allowing them to write top essays despite time pressures. The book focuses on those questions that give students the most trouble, namely problem questions, but its techniques are equally applicable to other types of essays. In addition to providing a framework for analysing and writing law essays, the book teaches how to identify relevant legal authorities, distinguish and harmonise conflicting legal precedents and evaluate the applicability of the law to the facts of the question at hand. The book also contains specific law-related revision techniques and general writing tips.Less

Learning Legal Rules brings together the theory, structure, and practice of legal reasoning in order to help the reader to develop both their knowledge and reasoning skills. It provides techniques of legal research, analysis, and argument, and explains the operation of precedent as well as effective statutory interpretation. When studying law, it is easy to become focused on the substantive aspects of the subject. In order to study and practise law effectively, it is essential not only to understand what the legal rules are, but also why they are as they are, and what consequences they might have.Less

Learning Legal Rules brings together the theory, structure, and practice of legal reasoning in order to help the reader to develop both their knowledge and reasoning skills. It provides techniques of legal research, analysis, and argument, and explains the operation of precedent as well as effective statutory interpretation. When studying law, it is easy to become focused on the substantive aspects of the subject—the concepts, rules, and principles that go to make up contract, tort, crime, etc. In order to study and practise law effectively, it is essential not only to understand what the legal rules are, but also why they are as they are, and what consequences they might have. This requires that you develop the abilities that are the core focus of this book: to find and make sense of the primary and secondary sources of law; to interpret and apply authorities; to construct arguments both about the facts of a case, and as to how and why a particular authority should or should not be applied in a given situation, and to write clearly, and in an appropriate legal style, making reference to authority as necessary, in the proper academic form.Less

Legal Ethics provides an overview of this topic, highlighting that the issues surrounding professional conduct are not always black and white and raising interesting questions about how lawyers act and what their role entails. Key topics, such as confidentiality, negligence, and fees are covered, with references throughout to the professional codes of conduct. The work asks: who would or should defend a potential murderer in court? Can a lawyer represent two parties on the same case? Is ‘no win-no fee’ an ethical system? What are Chinese walls and do they work? Features throughout the title to aid learning include the highlighting of key cases, principles, and definitions; the inclusion of a variety of viewpoints through cases, popular media, and scholarly articles; and the inclusion of ‘digging deeper’ and ‘alternative viewpoint’ boxes which encourage critical reflection and better understanding of key topics.Less

Legal Skills is structured in three parts, covering a full range of legal skills. The first part deals with sources of law and includes information on finding and using legislation, case law, books, journals, and official publications, making sure you understand where the law comes from, and how to use it. The second part covers academic legal skills and provides advice on study and writing skills, legal reasoning, referencing and avoiding plagiarism, essay writing, dissertations, problem solving, and revision and examinations. The final part of the book covers the practical legal skills of oral presentation, mooting, and negotiation. This sixth edition includes a new section on legal ethics and codes of professional conduct, and completely rewritten chapters on presentation skills, and negotiation skills, including a brand new scenario, together with a large number of other enhancements throughout.Less

Legal Skills is structured in three parts, covering a full range of legal skills. The first part deals with sources of law and includes information on finding and using legislation, case law, books, journals, and official publications, making sure you understand where the law comes from, and how to use it. The second part covers academic legal skills and provides advice on study and writing skills, legal reasoning, referencing and avoiding plagiarism, essay writing, dissertations, problem solving, and revision and examinations. The final part of the book covers the practical legal skills of oral presentation, mooting, and negotiation. This sixth edition includes a new section on legal ethics and codes of professional conduct, and completely rewritten chapters on presentation skills, and negotiation skills, including a brand new scenario, together with a large number of other enhancements throughout.Less

Legal Systems & Skills provides essential knowledge and skills for underpinning legal studies, providing a foundation for graduate employability both within and outside the legal service profession. It develops students’ understanding in three core areas: legal systems, legal skills, and professional development and commercial awareness. The first part of the book looks at legal systems, sources of law, legislation, case law, and legal services. The next part considers how to read and understand law, legal research, problem solving, communication, and writing and drafting. The final part examines employability skills, business, economics and finance, law firms, and clients.Less

The Successful Law Student provides insights, advice, and perspectives on the student experience in the field of law. The focus is on the things that will make a big difference to the student experience, including making a smooth transition to university level study, getting the most out of lectures and feedback from tutors, advice on how to approach law exams, and finding a rewarding career. Complemented by a variety of insider voices, which add valuable context and real-life insight, the text includes extensive experience from the perspective of law teachers to explore the learning process and look beyond it to consider the wider definition of success and to provide help against the pressures of legal study.Less