Introduction to the Judicial System
The Judicial System of England and Wales
o This helpful guide provides an introduction to the legal system by Lady Justice Arden and in-depth commentary on its different components
o This is especially helpful reading if you are at the start of your legal studies and/or want to gain a better understanding of how the justice system operates
Judgments and Legislation
Supreme Court Decided Cases
o The Supreme Court website is an exceptionally useful tool for reading key decisions. In addition to the full judgments, it also includes links to recorded and live videos of hearings
o Another useful resource is the ‘Press Summaries’. These summaries are often drafted by Research Assistants or Clerks that will have had their work reviewed by the Supreme Court Justices themselves. Their summary of the Court’s arguments is therefore essential reading!
o All of the resources above can be found by following the above link and then clicking on the decided case of interest
Supreme Court Current Cases
o The Supreme Court Current Cases helpfully provide you with details on upcoming cases to be heard by the Supreme Court and their anticipated hearing dates
o This is a helpful page to monitor if you’re aware of any upcoming legal developments during your course
o The Supreme Court also has its own YouTube channel showing judgments being handed down and other introductory videos to the Supreme Court
BAILII
o As a Law Student, you will likely already know of Westlaw (linked below) for reading judgments. However, it is worth also reviewing judgments on BAILII
o BAILII is often the database of choice for publishing recent judgments from the various English courts, including the Supreme Court
LexisNexis
o You will require your University login details to access this service
o As with BAILII and Westlaw, it provides an excellent format to read judgments and legislation
o Look out also for links to analysis of cases or developments, often included in the sidebar of each judgment
Westlaw
o Another good resource to read judgments, legislation and journal articles, which will likely require your University login
o Don’t forget to pay Westlaw’s ‘Practical Law’ a visit also. This is an excellent resource for breaking down complex areas of the law and providing practical guidance on how to navigate it. This can be a very helpful resource therefore for getting to grips with the law and problem questions
Case Summaries
A number of journals provide useful short summaries of cases. These are an excellent resource and starting point for your studies as, not only do they provide the facts and judgments for each case, but often they also contain an academic’s analysis of whether the case was decided correctly, or its potential impact on the law’s development.
Examples of journals with case summaries, which can be accessed through your university, include:
o Cambridge Law Journal
o Law Quarterly Review
o The Modern Law Review
Blogs
Blogs can also provide helpful commentary on tort law, along with other areas of private law. Some useful blogs include:
o Private Law Theory
o UK Supreme Court Blog, which provides helpful commentary by practitioners on recent developments from the Supreme Court
o Keep Calm and Talk Law. This is an excellent blog written by students spanning a number of subject areas
o Inner Temple Library provides a useful summary of recent developments within the law – including commentary provided by practitioners and the media
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