BASIC APPROACH The market leading all-purpose introductory legal text used on a wide variety of courses. It is a comprehensive book that combines text and cases, allowing students to read the facts and decisions of over 500 cases. The book has a considerable reputation for reliability and accuracy, which has been established for over 40 years. It covers the English legal system, contract law, tort law, employment and criminal law. NEW TO THIS EDITION: Major change to the chapters on the Courts, as a consequence of the Courts Bill now before Parliament (and expected to receive Royal Assent this year), which implements in the main the Auld recommendations on the magistrates courts Key case law developments in human rights e.g. privacy Major changes to the chapter on Criminal Procedure as a direct result of the Criminal Justice bill now before Parliament (and again expected to receive Royal Assent this year). untouched, affecting areas such as detention following arrest, bail, the method of charging offenders, the jury, introduction of judge-only trials, appeals, retrials and sentencing. Major revision of the competition section of the chapter on illegality and public policy in light of the Enterprise Act 2002, which impacts significantly on both competition law and insolvency law New cases and legislative developments such as the Employment Act 2002 and in particular its 'family friendly sections' with provisions relating to maternity leave, paternity leave, adoption leave and flexible working Update of case law in the areas of tort, mainly relating to professional negligence and website defamation In the area of property, major revisions as a direct result of the Land Registration Act 2002 (due to come into force this year) FEATURES: Well-established with a reputation for reliability and accuracy. Well laid out for student learning with many pedagogical features, not typical of many law books and invaluable in a challenging subject like law Novel cases section at the back of the book which is cross-referenced to the text, provides an invaluable reference source for students Companion Website gives students and lecturers further access to a lecturer's guide and students to quarterly updates - these show how specific passages in the book are affected by legal changes and is invaluable for those lecturers and students without access to law libraries