Legal Method

PART 1: IDEAS AND INSTITUTIONS - An Introduction to Law and Legal Reasoning - The Classifications of English Law - The Jurisdictions of the Principal English Courts - The Constitutional Context of Legal Method - The Legal Structure of the European Community - The Enforceability of European Community Law in the United Kingdom - European Community Law and National Sovereignty - Finding, Citing and Using the Sources of Law - PART 2: CASE LAW AND PRECEDENT - An Introduction to the Doctrine of Binding Precedent - Ratio Decidendi and Obiter Dictum - Vertical and Horizontal Dimensions of Precedent - Does the House of Lords Bind Itself? - Does the Court of Appeal Bind Itself? - Does the High Court Bind Itself? - Precedent as a Vehicle for Law Reform - Precedent in the European Court of Justice - PART 3: STATUTE LAW AND STATUTORY INTERPRETATION - An Introduction to Statute Law and Statutory Interpretation - Legislative Drafting - Plain Meanings, Mischiefs and Purpose - The Idea of Legislative Intention - Modern Interpretation in Practice - Some Studies of Stationery Drafting and Interpretations - The Principles of Interpretation used by the European Court of Justice - Appendix 1: Law Reports and Journals - Appendix 2: The Interpretation Act 1978 - Appendix 3: The European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms - Further Reading - Index