Introduction to the English Legal System has moved onto an annual new edition cycle to ensure it is fully up-to-date for each academic year The book has been fully updated. It now includes: recent developments on changes to the law-making process; changes in the machinery of government affecting the legal system; new approaches to sentencing policy; changes to the structure of courts and tribunals; the impact on the legal professions of the Legal Services Board; and the continuing debate on legal aid The book seeks to identify and analyse the impact on the legal system of the proposed programme announced by the new coalition government. The new edition also includes further case studies to help students place the English legal system in context. Introduction to the English Legal System is an excellent starting point for all those coming fresh to the study of law. Written in a highly engaging and approachable style, it introduces readers to the purposes and functions of law and the law-making process; it also explains what is happening to the English legal system, why it is happening, and considers what the future may bring. With the legal system facing a period of profound uncertainty, the book covers recent institutional developments and their significance for key matters of public interest, including human rights, control of crime, fears of a compensation culture, and access to justice. Adopting a 'holistic' approach, the book does not just describe, it also challenges readers' assumptions about the law and encourages them to question the extent to which the legal system is able to meet the demands placed upon it....
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