This chapter provides an introduction to legal reasoning. It first outlines the skills to analyse how judges decide cases. There are various points of view that judges can (and do) take in deciding the outcomes of cases, so the chapter introduces some of the theory behind judicial reasoning before moving on to show how judges reason in practice, how one case can give rise to multiple judgments, and the importance of legal ethics.
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This chapter provides an introduction to legal reasoning. It first outlines the skills to analyse how judges decide cases. There are various points of view that judges can (and do) take in deciding the outcomes of cases, so the chapter introduces some of the theory behind judicial reasoning before moving on to show how judges reason in practice, how one case can give rise to multiple judgments, and the importance of legal ethics.
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Ross Cranston, Emilios Avgouleas, Kristin van Zweiten, Theodor van Sante, and Christoper Hare
The chapter first discusses the general principles governing a bank's liability. One way to approach the topic involves a consideration of the relevant doctrines whereby banks can incur liability. Section I selects just a few such doctrines. Another approach considers the various factual matters which feed into legal decisions about bank liability. The same factors recur across different legal doctrines: indeed, they arise for consideration in other systems of law. This is the focus of Section II. Section III considers advisory liability, which can arise in two ways: a failure to advise where the law imposes a duty to do so, and a failure to advise adequately when a bank assumes the task of advising a customer or third party. Section IV turns to the English law doctrines which have a particular application to transactions involving those the law regards as vulnerable. The final section deals with ‘lender liability’.
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This chapter focuses on legal reasoning more conceptually. It aims to develop a deeper understanding of what is involved in legal reasoning within the process of adjudication, focusing on how legal arguments seek to provide justification for specific decisions, and to help to predict the form of argument that judges may prefer. Legal reasoning is presented first as a theoretical construction, on which there is much debate, then as a specific process. The chapter explores the philosophical territory of legal theory or jurisprudence, examining the theories that underpin legal reasoning and the way that reasoning techniques are employed in legal contexts.
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This chapter focuses on legal defences to criminal offences in Great Britain that will result in acquittal, which include duress and duress of circumstances, necessity, compulsion, public and private defence, and mistaken belief. These defences can be divided into justifications and excuses, and most of them consist of subjective and objective elements. The chapter explains the general principles of these excusatory and justificatory defences, and evaluates proposed reforms of criminal law covering these types of defence. It also provides examples of relevant cases and analyses the bases of court decisions in each of them.
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Robert Merkin and Séverine Saintier
The Casebook series provides a comprehensive selection of case law that addresses all aspects of the subject encountered on undergraduate courses. This chapter offers tips for students on how to read cases relating to contract law. In reading a case, it is important to understand how it relates to the legal principles taught in lectures. The chapter also discusses the basics of reading a case and how to read a case in practice, using the case Carlill v Carbolic Smoke Ball Co. so that the student will learn to appreciate contract case law.
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Essential Cases: Public Law provides a bridge between course textbooks and key case judgments. This case document summarizes the facts and decision in R v Secretary for the Home Department, ex parte Pierson [1998] AC 539, House of Lords. This case explored whether a decision-maker acting in a quasi-judicial capacity was bound by the same decision-making standards as the courts including, for example, whether retrospective decision-making was permitted. As well as these rule of law considerations, it also raises questions as regards the division or separation of functions within the constitution. The document also includes supporting commentary from author Thomas Webb.
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Essential Cases: Public Law provides a bridge between course textbooks and key case judgments. This case document summarizes the facts and decision in R v Secretary for the Home Department, ex parte Pierson [1998] AC 539, House of Lords. This case explored whether a decision-maker acting in a quasi-judicial capacity was bound by the same decision-making standards as the courts including, for example, whether retrospective decision-making was permitted. As well as these rule of law considerations, it also raises questions as regards the division or separation of functions within the constitution. The document also includes supporting commentary and questions from author Thomas Webb.
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This chapter focuses on legal defences to criminal offences in England and Wales that will result in acquittal, which include duress and duress of circumstances, necessity, compulsion, public and private defence, and mistaken belief. These defences can be divided into justifications and excuses, and most of them consist of subjective and objective elements. The chapter explains the general principles of these excusatory and justificatory defences and evaluates proposed reforms of criminal law covering these types of defence. It also provides examples of relevant cases and analyses the bases of court decisions in each of them.
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Essential Cases: Public Law provides a bridge between course textbooks and key case judgments. This case document summarizes the facts and decision in R v Secretary for the Home Department, ex parte Pierson [1998] AC 539, House of Lords. This case explored whether a decision-maker acting in a quasi-judicial capacity was bound by the same decision-making standards as the courts including, for example, whether retrospective decision-making was permitted. As well as these rule of law considerations, it also raises questions as regards the division or separation of functions within the constitution. The document also includes supporting commentary from author Thomas Webb.
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This chapter takes an overall view of the EU legal order and examines its legal system, including the elements which are either different from or similar to member states’ legal systems. It begins by taking an overall view of the EU legal order, the different forms of EU law, and the various sources of law contributing to this legal order, in particular now the rich source of human and fundamental rights in the EU legal order. It considers the non-strictly legally binding rules known as ‘soft law’. It also looks at the ways or processes by which the binding laws are made and reviews alternative decision-making and law-making developments.
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This chapter begins with a discussion of the importance of the sources of international law. It then discusses the Statute of the International Court of Justice 1945; treaties; customary international law; general principles of law; judicial decisions and the writings of publicists; resolutions of international organisations; soft law.Finally, it looks at whether there exists a hierarchy of international law sources.
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Robert Merkin and Séverine Saintier
Poole’s Casebook on Contract Law provides a comprehensive selection of case law that addresses all aspects of the subject encountered on undergraduate courses. This chapter offers tips for students on how to read cases relating to contract law. In reading a case, it is important to understand how it relates to the legal principles taught in lectures. The chapter also discusses the basics of reading a case and how to read a case in practice, using the case Carlill v Carbolic Smoke Ball Co. so that the student will learn to appreciate contract case law.
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This chapter discusses the sources of international law. International law’s authority is generally regarded as deriving from the consent of States. As such, it is only pursuant to State consent that international legal rules can be developed. This is not to say that all international law is made by States; States frequently delegate lawmaking authority to specific bodies or organs, and they may acquiesce or consent to a legal rule which originated in a non-State institution. The chapter then considers Article 38 of the Statute of the International Court of Justice. Technically, Article 38 of the ICJ Statute only lays out the categories of sources to be applied by the ICJ: its lex arbitri or applicable law. Yet, in practice, Article 38 has long been regarded as an authoritative, complete statement as to the sources of international law.
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This chapter assesses the contribution of tribunals and Inquiries to the domestic system of administrative law. First there is consideration of the advantages tribunals enjoy over courts as more flexible, specialist, and informal bodies capable of handling a much greater throughput of cases. The chapter proceeds to explain the impact of the Leggatt reforms which have led to the separation of tribunals from parent departments and the introduction of a national two tier system of tribunals under the Ministry of Justice presided over by tribunal judges. The revised framework has certain parallels with the continental style of administrative courts. The chapter also considers the varied role of Inquiries. As well as emphasising the procedural features of Inquires and the effect of the Inquiries Act 2005, the discussion is informed by reference to prominent Inquiries including: the Scott Inquiry, the Shipman Inquiry, and the Leveson Inquiry
