Law in Context: How to Do Things with Rules

New to English law? Need to know how rules are made, interpreted and applied? This popular and well-established textbook will show you how. It simplifies legal method by combining examples with an account of rules in general: the who, what, why and how of interpretation. Starting with standpoint and context, it identifies factors that give rise to doubts about the interpretation of a rule and recommends a systematic approach to analysing those factors. Questions and exercises integrated in the text and on the accompanying website will help you to develop skills in reading, interpreting and arguing about legal and other rules. The text is fully updated on developments in the legislative process and the judicial interpretation of statutes and precedent. It includes a new chapter on 'The European Dimension' reflecting the changes brought about by the Human Rights Act 1998.

Part I: 1. Some food for thought; Part II. Reading, Using and Interpreting Rules in General: 2. Problems and mischiefs; 3. Of rules in general; 4. Interpretation and application; 5. Imperfect rules; Part III. Reading Law: Reading, Using and Interpreting Legislation and Cases: 6. Routine and problematic readings; 7. Legislation; 8. Interpreting legislation; 9. Reading cases; 10. The European dimension; 11. Rules, reasoning and interpretation; Part IV: Questions and exercises.