COMMON LAW AND
LEGAL ENGLISH
VUB Rechtenstudent – De Mentor
3BA LAW
,Summary
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION TO COMMON LAW AND LEGAL ENGLISH .......... 1
I. COMMON LAW AND ENGLISH LEGAL TERMINOLOGY? ........................................................ 1
A. COMMON LAW .................................................................................................................. 1
B. THE LEGAL SYSTEMS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM ................................................................ 2
C. ENGLISH LEGAL TERMINOLOGY ........................................................................................ 2
II. SOURCES ............................................................................................................................... 3
A. NO FORMAL LIST OF SOURCES............................................................................................ 3
B. THE ORIGINAL SOURCE IS REASON ..................................................................................... 3
C. NON IN LEGENDO SED IN INTELLIGENDO LEGIS CONSISTENT .............................................. 3
D. WHERE DO WE FIND LAW? ................................................................................................. 3
III. LEGISLATION ...................................................................................................................... 4
A. PARLIAMENT AS A RULE-MAKER........................................................................................ 4
B. LEGISLATION ..................................................................................................................... 4
C. STATUTORY INTERPRETATION ........................................................................................... 5
IV. CASE-LAW ......................................................................................................................... 13
V. JUDICIAL LAW-MAKING: DOCTRINE OF PRECEDENT? ...................................................... 14
A. CENTRAL TO CASE LAW ................................................................................................... 14
B. STARE DECISIS ................................................................................................................ 15
VI. EUROPEAN UNION LAW .................................................................................................... 16
VII. OTHER SOURCES .............................................................................................................. 16
A. INTERNATIONAL LAW ...................................................................................................... 16
CHAPTER 2 FORMAL LAW-MAKING: THE COURT STRUCTURE ....................... 17
I. RULE-MAKING IN ENGLAND AND WALES............................................................................ 17
II. JUDICIAL LAW-MAKING: DOCTRINE OF PRECEDENT ......................................................... 17
III. THE COURT STRUCTURE: CRIMINAL AND CIVIL COURTS ................................................. 18
A. CIVIL COURTS ................................................................................................................. 19
CHAPTER 3 PRECEDENT ................................................................................................. 24
I. COMMON LAW ..................................................................................................................... 24
A. DEFINING COMMON LAW ................................................................................................ 24
II. WHAT IS THE DOCTRINE OF PRECEDENT? ........................................................................ 25
A. CENTRAL TO CASE LAW ................................................................................................... 25
B. LAW AND FACT ................................................................................................................ 26
C. THE OPERATION OF PRECEDENT ....................................................................................... 26
D. HIERARCHY OF PRECEDENTS ........................................................................................... 27
E. PRECEDENT IN PRACTICE.................................................................................................. 28
F. DEALING WITH PRECEDENTS ............................................................................................ 29
G. DIFFICULTIES WITH PRECEDENT / WITH THE DOCTRINE .................................................... 29
CHAPTER 4 PRECEDENT IN PRACTICE ...................................................................... 30
,I. DONOGHUE V STEVENSON – 1932 A.C. 562 ........................................................................ 30
A. THE FACTS ....................................................................................................................... 31
B. THE CLAIM ....................................................................................................................... 31
C. THE JUDGEMENT .............................................................................................................. 32
D. EXTRA ............................................................................................................................. 32
II. OTHER CASES...................................................................................................................... 33
A. LONGMEID V HOLIDAY – 1851 ........................................................................................ 33
B. GEORGE AND WIFE V SKIVINGTON – 1869 ...................................................................... 33
C. HEAVEN V PENDER – 1883 .............................................................................................. 33
D. DIXON AND BELL – 1816 ................................................................................................. 34
E. DIFFERENT STATEMENTS OF THE LORDS .......................................................................... 34
CHAPTER 5 HISTORY OF THE COMMON LAW ........................................................ 37
I. ANGLO-SAXON PERIOD / ANGLO-SAXON ERA .................................................................... 37
A. HISTORY .......................................................................................................................... 37
B. SOURCES OF ANGLO-SAXON LAW? .................................................................................. 38
II. NORMAN CONQUEST & BIRTH OF COMMON LAW ............................................................ 39
A. NORMAN PERIOD ............................................................................................................. 39
B. THREE KINDS OF COURTS IN THE NORMAN PERIOD .......................................................... 40
C. FURTHER DEVELOPMENT IN THE NORMAN PERIOD .......................................................... 42
D. HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH COMMON LAW IN THE NORMAN PERIOD ............................... 44
III. RENAISSANCE .................................................................................................................... 45
A. JUDICIAL RIVALRY .......................................................................................................... 45
B. HENRY VIII ..................................................................................................................... 45
C. ROMAN V. COMMON LAW ............................................................................................... 45
D. COURT OF CHANCERY & EQUITY .................................................................................... 46
E. HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH COMMON LAW ....................................................................... 46
IV. STABILITY AND STAGNATION (1660 – 1830) ..................................................................... 47
V. REFORM AND LEGISLATION (1830-) ................................................................................... 47
A. REFORM OF PROCEDURAL LAW ........................................................................................ 47
B. REFORM OF SUBSTANTIVE LAW ....................................................................................... 47
CHAPTER 6 THE CIVIL JUSTICE SYSTEM (1873-NOW) ........................................... 48
I. WHAT IS THE CIVIL JUSTICE SYSTEM? .............................................................................. 48
A. A PERMANENT NEED FOR REFORM? ................................................................................. 48
B. ROLE OF THE CIVIL JUSTICE SYSTEM ................................................................................ 48
C. THE FACTUAL SITUATION................................................................................................. 48
D. DO WE NEED MORE LITIGATION OR LESS? ........................................................................ 49
II. THE WOOLF REVIEW ....................................................................................................... 50
A. THE WOOLF FINDINGS ................................................................................................... 50
B. THE WOOLF CONCLUSIONS ............................................................................................ 50
C. THE WOOLF PROPOSALS FOR REFORM ........................................................................... 51
CHAPTER 7 THE CIVIL JUSTICE SYSTEM – THE TRACK SYSTEM .................... 52
I. TRACK ALLOCATION (BY WOOLF) .................................................................................... 52
, A. TRACK ALLOCATION: SMALL TRACK................................................................................ 52
B. TRACK ALLOCATION: FAST TRACK ................................................................................... 53
C. TRACK ALLOCATION: MULTI TRACK ................................................................................ 53
D. SANCTIONS ...................................................................................................................... 53
E. APPEALS .......................................................................................................................... 54
CHAPTER 8 THE CIVIL JUSTICE SYSTEM – OUT OF COURT SETTLEMENTS 55
I. OUT-OF-COURT SETTLEMENTS ........................................................................................... 55
CHAPTER 9 EVALUATING THE WOOLF REFORMS ................................................ 56
I. AN ASSESSMENT ................................................................................................................... 56
II. CONCLUSION....................................................................................................................... 56
CHAPTER 10 CIVIL JUSTICE SYSTEM – ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE
SETTLEMENT ...................................................................................................................... 57
I. ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF DISPUTE RESOLUTION (ADR) ................................................ 57
II. ADR: A DEFINITION............................................................................................................ 57
III. ADR MECHANISMS ........................................................................................................... 57
A. MEDIATION: DIVORCE CASES ........................................................................................... 57
B. CONCILIATION ................................................................................................................. 57
C. ARBITRATION .................................................................................................................. 57
CHAPTER 11 CRIMINAL LAW IN ENGLAND & WALES .......................................... 58
I. LEGAL PROFESSION.............................................................................................................. 58
A. SOLICITOR ....................................................................................................................... 58
B. BARRISTER ...................................................................................................................... 59
II. TERMINOLOGY ................................................................................................................... 60
III. ELEMENTS OF CRIME IN GENERAL .................................................................................. 61
IV. ADVERSARIAL SYSTEM= TWO OPPONENTS IN COURT ...................................................... 61
A. PROSECUTION HAS TO PROVE THE CASE ‘BEYOND REASONABLE DOUBT’ ......................... 62
B. THE DEFENCE TESTS THE EVIDENCE, NOT JUST WITH CROSS EXAMINATION, AND CAN
ADVANCE A POSITIVE DEFENCE ............................................................................................ 62
C. RULES OF EVIDENCE DICTATE WHAT CAN AND CANNOT BE PUT BEFORE THE JURY. ......... 63
D. JURY ARE FINDERS OF FACT, JUDGE IS FINDER OF LAW..................................................... 63
V. R V COLLINS [1972] 2 ALL ER 1105 .................................................................................. 64
A. R V COLLINS .................................................................................................................... 64
B. STATUTE TO PRECEDENT .................................................................................................. 66
VI. THE LAW OF ASSAULT ...................................................................................................... 67
A. COMMON ASSAULT .......................................................................................................... 67
B. CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACT 1988 – CHAPTER 33 ........................................................ 67
C. OFFENCES AGAINST THE PERSON ACT 1861 CHAPTER 100 .............................. 68
D. DEFENCES TO CHARGES OF ASSAULT ............................................................................... 70
VII. THE CORPORAL PUNISHMENT OF CHILDREN AND THE LAW OF ASSAULT IN ENGLAND
AND WALES .............................................................................................................................. 71
LEGAL ENGLISH
VUB Rechtenstudent – De Mentor
3BA LAW
,Summary
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION TO COMMON LAW AND LEGAL ENGLISH .......... 1
I. COMMON LAW AND ENGLISH LEGAL TERMINOLOGY? ........................................................ 1
A. COMMON LAW .................................................................................................................. 1
B. THE LEGAL SYSTEMS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM ................................................................ 2
C. ENGLISH LEGAL TERMINOLOGY ........................................................................................ 2
II. SOURCES ............................................................................................................................... 3
A. NO FORMAL LIST OF SOURCES............................................................................................ 3
B. THE ORIGINAL SOURCE IS REASON ..................................................................................... 3
C. NON IN LEGENDO SED IN INTELLIGENDO LEGIS CONSISTENT .............................................. 3
D. WHERE DO WE FIND LAW? ................................................................................................. 3
III. LEGISLATION ...................................................................................................................... 4
A. PARLIAMENT AS A RULE-MAKER........................................................................................ 4
B. LEGISLATION ..................................................................................................................... 4
C. STATUTORY INTERPRETATION ........................................................................................... 5
IV. CASE-LAW ......................................................................................................................... 13
V. JUDICIAL LAW-MAKING: DOCTRINE OF PRECEDENT? ...................................................... 14
A. CENTRAL TO CASE LAW ................................................................................................... 14
B. STARE DECISIS ................................................................................................................ 15
VI. EUROPEAN UNION LAW .................................................................................................... 16
VII. OTHER SOURCES .............................................................................................................. 16
A. INTERNATIONAL LAW ...................................................................................................... 16
CHAPTER 2 FORMAL LAW-MAKING: THE COURT STRUCTURE ....................... 17
I. RULE-MAKING IN ENGLAND AND WALES............................................................................ 17
II. JUDICIAL LAW-MAKING: DOCTRINE OF PRECEDENT ......................................................... 17
III. THE COURT STRUCTURE: CRIMINAL AND CIVIL COURTS ................................................. 18
A. CIVIL COURTS ................................................................................................................. 19
CHAPTER 3 PRECEDENT ................................................................................................. 24
I. COMMON LAW ..................................................................................................................... 24
A. DEFINING COMMON LAW ................................................................................................ 24
II. WHAT IS THE DOCTRINE OF PRECEDENT? ........................................................................ 25
A. CENTRAL TO CASE LAW ................................................................................................... 25
B. LAW AND FACT ................................................................................................................ 26
C. THE OPERATION OF PRECEDENT ....................................................................................... 26
D. HIERARCHY OF PRECEDENTS ........................................................................................... 27
E. PRECEDENT IN PRACTICE.................................................................................................. 28
F. DEALING WITH PRECEDENTS ............................................................................................ 29
G. DIFFICULTIES WITH PRECEDENT / WITH THE DOCTRINE .................................................... 29
CHAPTER 4 PRECEDENT IN PRACTICE ...................................................................... 30
,I. DONOGHUE V STEVENSON – 1932 A.C. 562 ........................................................................ 30
A. THE FACTS ....................................................................................................................... 31
B. THE CLAIM ....................................................................................................................... 31
C. THE JUDGEMENT .............................................................................................................. 32
D. EXTRA ............................................................................................................................. 32
II. OTHER CASES...................................................................................................................... 33
A. LONGMEID V HOLIDAY – 1851 ........................................................................................ 33
B. GEORGE AND WIFE V SKIVINGTON – 1869 ...................................................................... 33
C. HEAVEN V PENDER – 1883 .............................................................................................. 33
D. DIXON AND BELL – 1816 ................................................................................................. 34
E. DIFFERENT STATEMENTS OF THE LORDS .......................................................................... 34
CHAPTER 5 HISTORY OF THE COMMON LAW ........................................................ 37
I. ANGLO-SAXON PERIOD / ANGLO-SAXON ERA .................................................................... 37
A. HISTORY .......................................................................................................................... 37
B. SOURCES OF ANGLO-SAXON LAW? .................................................................................. 38
II. NORMAN CONQUEST & BIRTH OF COMMON LAW ............................................................ 39
A. NORMAN PERIOD ............................................................................................................. 39
B. THREE KINDS OF COURTS IN THE NORMAN PERIOD .......................................................... 40
C. FURTHER DEVELOPMENT IN THE NORMAN PERIOD .......................................................... 42
D. HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH COMMON LAW IN THE NORMAN PERIOD ............................... 44
III. RENAISSANCE .................................................................................................................... 45
A. JUDICIAL RIVALRY .......................................................................................................... 45
B. HENRY VIII ..................................................................................................................... 45
C. ROMAN V. COMMON LAW ............................................................................................... 45
D. COURT OF CHANCERY & EQUITY .................................................................................... 46
E. HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH COMMON LAW ....................................................................... 46
IV. STABILITY AND STAGNATION (1660 – 1830) ..................................................................... 47
V. REFORM AND LEGISLATION (1830-) ................................................................................... 47
A. REFORM OF PROCEDURAL LAW ........................................................................................ 47
B. REFORM OF SUBSTANTIVE LAW ....................................................................................... 47
CHAPTER 6 THE CIVIL JUSTICE SYSTEM (1873-NOW) ........................................... 48
I. WHAT IS THE CIVIL JUSTICE SYSTEM? .............................................................................. 48
A. A PERMANENT NEED FOR REFORM? ................................................................................. 48
B. ROLE OF THE CIVIL JUSTICE SYSTEM ................................................................................ 48
C. THE FACTUAL SITUATION................................................................................................. 48
D. DO WE NEED MORE LITIGATION OR LESS? ........................................................................ 49
II. THE WOOLF REVIEW ....................................................................................................... 50
A. THE WOOLF FINDINGS ................................................................................................... 50
B. THE WOOLF CONCLUSIONS ............................................................................................ 50
C. THE WOOLF PROPOSALS FOR REFORM ........................................................................... 51
CHAPTER 7 THE CIVIL JUSTICE SYSTEM – THE TRACK SYSTEM .................... 52
I. TRACK ALLOCATION (BY WOOLF) .................................................................................... 52
, A. TRACK ALLOCATION: SMALL TRACK................................................................................ 52
B. TRACK ALLOCATION: FAST TRACK ................................................................................... 53
C. TRACK ALLOCATION: MULTI TRACK ................................................................................ 53
D. SANCTIONS ...................................................................................................................... 53
E. APPEALS .......................................................................................................................... 54
CHAPTER 8 THE CIVIL JUSTICE SYSTEM – OUT OF COURT SETTLEMENTS 55
I. OUT-OF-COURT SETTLEMENTS ........................................................................................... 55
CHAPTER 9 EVALUATING THE WOOLF REFORMS ................................................ 56
I. AN ASSESSMENT ................................................................................................................... 56
II. CONCLUSION....................................................................................................................... 56
CHAPTER 10 CIVIL JUSTICE SYSTEM – ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE
SETTLEMENT ...................................................................................................................... 57
I. ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF DISPUTE RESOLUTION (ADR) ................................................ 57
II. ADR: A DEFINITION............................................................................................................ 57
III. ADR MECHANISMS ........................................................................................................... 57
A. MEDIATION: DIVORCE CASES ........................................................................................... 57
B. CONCILIATION ................................................................................................................. 57
C. ARBITRATION .................................................................................................................. 57
CHAPTER 11 CRIMINAL LAW IN ENGLAND & WALES .......................................... 58
I. LEGAL PROFESSION.............................................................................................................. 58
A. SOLICITOR ....................................................................................................................... 58
B. BARRISTER ...................................................................................................................... 59
II. TERMINOLOGY ................................................................................................................... 60
III. ELEMENTS OF CRIME IN GENERAL .................................................................................. 61
IV. ADVERSARIAL SYSTEM= TWO OPPONENTS IN COURT ...................................................... 61
A. PROSECUTION HAS TO PROVE THE CASE ‘BEYOND REASONABLE DOUBT’ ......................... 62
B. THE DEFENCE TESTS THE EVIDENCE, NOT JUST WITH CROSS EXAMINATION, AND CAN
ADVANCE A POSITIVE DEFENCE ............................................................................................ 62
C. RULES OF EVIDENCE DICTATE WHAT CAN AND CANNOT BE PUT BEFORE THE JURY. ......... 63
D. JURY ARE FINDERS OF FACT, JUDGE IS FINDER OF LAW..................................................... 63
V. R V COLLINS [1972] 2 ALL ER 1105 .................................................................................. 64
A. R V COLLINS .................................................................................................................... 64
B. STATUTE TO PRECEDENT .................................................................................................. 66
VI. THE LAW OF ASSAULT ...................................................................................................... 67
A. COMMON ASSAULT .......................................................................................................... 67
B. CRIMINAL JUSTICE ACT 1988 – CHAPTER 33 ........................................................ 67
C. OFFENCES AGAINST THE PERSON ACT 1861 CHAPTER 100 .............................. 68
D. DEFENCES TO CHARGES OF ASSAULT ............................................................................... 70
VII. THE CORPORAL PUNISHMENT OF CHILDREN AND THE LAW OF ASSAULT IN ENGLAND
AND WALES .............................................................................................................................. 71
