This chapter considers the impact that COVID-19 has had on the English Legal System. The chapter is broken down into sections that mirror the parts of this book. The chapter begins by noting that the manner in which laws are passed differed because of coronavirus. The government were given wide-ranging powers to introduce new laws that restricted liberty. In many instances, these were not subject to Parliamentary debate or judicial analysis. The chapter also considers how the courts had to adjust to new ways of working. While traditionally, the courts rely on live proceedings, with everyone gathered in court, this was not possible throughout the pandemic. Remote hearings became the new normal until so-called ‘Nightingale Courts’ were introduced to allow for socially-distant trials to resume. However, this has led to significant delays in both the civil and criminal justice systems that will have a lasting impact. The chapter considers not only what has happened during the coronavirus pandemic, but also what lessons have been learnt that can carry through to the future.
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This chapter considers the impact that Covid-19 has had on the English Legal System. The chapter is broken down into sections that mirror the parts of this book. The chapter begins by noting that the manner in which laws are passed differed because of coronavirus. The government was given wide-ranging powers to introduce new laws that restricted liberty. In many instances, these were not subject to parliamentary debate or judicial analysis. The chapter also considers how the courts had to adjust to new ways of working. While traditionally the courts rely on live proceedings, with everyone gathered in court, this was not possible throughout the pandemic. Remote hearings became the new normal until so-called ‘Nightingale courts’ were introduced to allow for socially distant trials to resume. However, this has led to significant delays in both the civil and criminal justice systems that will have a lasting impact. The chapter considers not only what happened during the coronavirus pandemic, but also what lessons have been learnt that can carry through to the future.
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The Q&A series offers the best preparation for tackling exam questions. Each chapter includes typical questions, diagram problem and essay answer plans, suggested answers, notes of caution, tips on obtaining extra marks, the key debates on each topic, and suggestions on further reading. This chapter is about administrative law. The citizen may use judicial review in the courts to ensure that public bodies obey the law, but there are alternatives to the courts, such as the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman and the tribunal system. The questions here deal with issues such as the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman; the tribunal system; and delegated legislation such as statutory instruments.
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This chapter explains how to find domestic legislation, that is, statutes, statutory instruments, and EU legislation both online and in a law library. The chapter also explains how to determine whether there is any statute law on a particular topic and how to work out whether a piece of legislation is in force. The chapter closes by explaining how to find the official current text of the European Convention on Human Rights.
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This chapter explains how to find domestic legislation, that is, statutes, statutory instruments, and European legislation both online and in a law library. The chapter also explains how to determine whether there is any statute law on a particular topic and how to work out whether a piece of legislation is in force. The chapter closes by explaining how to find the official current text of the European Convention on Human Rights.
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Scott Slorach, Judith Embley, Peter Goodchild, and Catherine Shephard
This chapter describes techniques for reading and understanding law, discussing the practicalities of reading in academia and in practice; sources of law; statutes; statutory instruments; case law; and EU law.
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Scott Slorach, Judith Embley, Peter Goodchild, and Catherine Shephard
This chapter describes how to read and understand primary sources of law in academia and in practice. It provides examples of legislation (statute and statutory instrument) and case law (including both new and older styles of reporting). Techniques are suggested to read and understand these primary sources of law effectively and efficiently. Annotations are provided to explain the features on which to focus and how to understand what information the sources is supplying, and where. Encouraging familiarity with the layout of a source in turn develops understanding of how to best navigate, read and understand the source. Practical strategies for reading are also included.
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Paul S Davies and Graham Virgo
All books in this flagship series contain carefully selected substantial extracts from key cases, legislation, and academic debate, providing able students with a stand-alone resource. This chapter discusses the formality requirements that must be met in the creation of express trusts. As an example, a declaration of an express trust over land is presented here, which formally requires signed writing. Trusts created by a will also need to satisfy formality requirements and must be constituted by title to the trust property being vested in the trustee. A trust can be constituted using two mutually exclusive methods: by declaration of oneself as a trustee or by transfer of property to trustees. Neither half-secret nor fully secret trusts will comply with statutory formality requirements but, subject to the fulfilment of certain conditions, they will be regarded as valid to ensure that the statutory formalities are not used as an instrument of fraud.
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This chapter provides an overview of the characteristics of the contemporary administrative state. It sketches out the essential features of state institutions mainly created under the prerogative power or statute. This includes central government, the National Health Service, local government, the police, and non-departmental public bodies. The chapter is also concerned with explaining the character of the modern administrative state as a ‘contracting state’ which relies increasingly on contractual relationships between government and independent and private service providers. In the light of widespread privatisation, the modern administrative state is discussed finally as a regulatory state.
