Assisting students of the English legal system to achieve an excellent understanding of the law, it's institutions and processes, this thoroughly updated eighth edition sets the law and legal system in its social context and outlines a range of critical views. With comprehensive coverage of all parts of the English legal system, including the European dimension and the constitution, this book is written in an accessible and readable style, clearly explaining major case decisions and legislation with critical analysis in every chapter.

New and updated information includes:

• changes made to the law and legal system by the Constitutional Reform Act 2005
• a new chapter on The Jury, analysis of the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005, the House of Lords decision in A (and others) v The Secretary of State for the Home Department, the continued development of human rights law and the Court of Appeal case of R v (on the application of Gillan) v Metropolitan Police Commissioner
• an updated version of the court system, the rules of civil procedure, developments in the legal profession, publicly funded law and European law.

It is an invaluable resource for undergraduate students of the English legal system and English law.