Fully revised and expanded, the 8th edition of Laying Down the Law is the ideal text to introduce students to the study of law. Clear and engaging explanations of essential topics include legal history, Australia's legal system and sources of law, indigenous legal issues, the doctrine of precedent, statutory interpretation and legal research and writing. Practical examples and exercises support learning and development of key skills.
New to the 8th edition -new chapter on indigenous legal issues including native title, the constitution, criminal justice issues, the Northern Territory intervention -expanded discussion of the bill of rights debate -includes discussion of law graduate opportunities and ethical practice -new and revised exercises with sample answers in text and online Features -Clear explanation of Australia's legal system and current issues provides the context in which our legal system operates -Comprehensive coverage of precedent and statutory interpretation provides the foundation for legal study and practice -Combines practical research, examples and exercises to help students master all essential legal skills -Margin glossary identifies, explains and demystifies legal terms www.lexisnexis.com.au/laying-down-the-law/ - Table of Contents: Table of Contents PART I: INTRODUCTION 1. Laying the Foundations 2. An Introduction to Legal History 3. The Common Law System in Australia 4. Indigenous Australians and the System of Law and Justice PART II: SOURCES OF LAW: CASE LAW 5. Case Law and Precedent 6. Precedent in Australian Courts 7. Judicial Decision-making PART III: SOURCES OF LAW: LEGISLATION 8.
Legislation 9. Approaches to Interpretation of Legislation 10. Extrinsic Aids to Interpretation of Legislation 11. Interpretation of Legislation in Context 12. Presumptions Used in Interpretation of Legislation 13. Statutory Obligations and Discretions PART IV: LEGAL RESEARCH 14. Legal research - How to start 15. Searching secondary sources 16. Searching for case law 17. Searching for legislation PART V: LEGAL WRITING, STUDY & EXAM SKILLS 18. Legal Writing 19. Citation 20. Study and exam skills PART VI: THE ESSENTIAL LEGAL TOOLKIT A. Court Hierarchies B. Abbreviations of commonly used law reports C. Guide to law reports of courts D. Common legal abbreviations E. Commonly misspelt words F. Glossary
