Learning the Law

by A T H Smith

For more than half a century, "Williams: Learning the Law" has been essential reading for every undergraduate law student in the common law world, providing a clear introduction to the methods and skills of the law. It explains the many skills students need to study effectively for a law degree, including case law techniques, interpreting statutes, undertaking legal research, taking part in mooting and mock trials, and preparing for exams. It gives students the skills they need to undertake legal research for their course and carry forward in their future career. It introduces legal problems and describes how best to tackle them. It helps students understand the meaning of statutes and case law, and offers advice on study methods and exam preparation.

Genres: Law, Nonfiction, Legal, British Literature

293 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1945

Reviews

[Noelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

i have no doubt that this is useful just...not so much as this stage i guess

[Phillip Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

OR HOW I LEARNT THE LAW...SUCCESSFULLY!

Do you remember what was described as that old chestnut, the ‘guide, philosopher and friend’ called ‘Learning the Law’ from the 1960s?

I do… and I am happy to say that the Cambridge Professor, ATH Smith, has produced the very best effort for a new edition after an absence of 20 years.

It is rightly described as essential reading for all potential lawyers, whether sixth-form students or graduates contemplating the study of law, or those considering career options. Whenever you are asked – what is the best book to start on if you want to know a bit about the English legal system? The answer will be “Glanville Williams: Learning the Law”.

Much of the original text survives but Professor Smith has given much needed emphasis to the new legal agenda of the early twenty-first century – gone are the old, archaic references – and in come new, thrusting European Union law provisions which will warm the heart of the most die-hard Eurosceptic.

I like chapter 14 the best – it is entitled ‘General Reading’. It gives the best bibliography available for the range of works on the market for those who love the subject of law as much as some of the writers quoted clearly did. To read ‘Learning the Law’ is an unforgettable experience. Thank you, Professor Smith, for bridging the gap after some twenty years.

PHILLIP TAYLOR MBE LL.B (Hons) PGCE Barrister-at-Law
Richmond Green Chambers

[Kieran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Insanely useful book which sets out the best writing and learning styles for any law student.

[Anon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clear writing style. A useful textbook on various aspects of studying law.

-> Why do law at undergrad? 'the opportunity to assess yourself at an early stage whether the law is a discipline to which you wish to subject yourself'
-> Tort: a civil wrong [see below...] rather than a criminal offence
-> County courts just civil cases. High Court just civil except for criminal appeals
-> Criminal law: indictable offences = crown courts; summary offences = magistrates courts; also 'triable either way'
-> "recorder": a part-time judge given the same jurisdiction as a circuit judge (ie crown courts)
-> Criminal law: only the defendant can appeal to the Court of Appeal, not the Crown; however, the Attorney-General [currently Lord Hermer] can appeal a sentence that they think is unduly lenient
-> Civil remedies: damages; an injunction; specific performance (ie fulfil obligations under a contract)
-> Civil defendants are sued; criminal defendants are prosecuted
-> Civil wrongs: (I) breach of contract; (II) tort ['a civil wrong that gives rise to an action for damages irrespective of any agreement or contract not to do the act complained of (ie a civil wrong independent of contract)]; (III) breach of trust
-> "Trust": created when a settlor transfers property to a trustee on trust for a beneficiary; the beneficiaries of charitable trusts are the public (eg the National Trust)
-> Law of restitution (a civil obligation, not a civil wrong): recover back [not just 'recover'] what you mistakenly gave out
-> Equity: law developed by the old Court of Chancery (abolished in 1875)
-> Pre-1865, mainly private reporters made the English Reports (ER); post-1865, semi-official Law Reports created
-> 'human sloth, indifference, and peversity have combined to keep the statue book in a state far short of perfection'
-> LECTURES: Chinese proverb: "the palest ink is worth more than the most retentive memory"; 'It may set an edge upon your attention if you imagine that you are due to be tested in the subject immediately after the lecture'
-> The ratio decidendi: the material facts and the legal grounds on which the case was decided
-> The 'golden rule' in the interpretation of statutes: a statute may be construed to avoid absurdity
-> Problem questions: 'locate what point is raised that isn't precisely covered by authority' (ARG either 1 is wrong, or there is a real distinction between them)
-> 'the citation of cases is not an end in itself, it is a means to the establishing of legal principle'
-> Memorisation: 'The name is the least important part of the case. Most important is the rule of law contained in the case; next most important are the facts; even the name of the court that decided the case is of more value than the proper names of the parties'
-> Public speaking: 'your audience are on your side. They want to be roused by your speech'
-> 'fluency of mouth and pen'

[Daksh Saroha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great primer for prospective law students. However many of the chapters are only relevant for UK students.

[Kanyesigye David]

nyc

[Pulkit]

yres

[Agnes K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good and honest take on pursuing the legal profession.

[Sandhya Varadharajan · Rating 4 out of 5]

http://sandhya.varadh.com/2020/11/lea...

[Antonia · Rating 4 out of 5]

starts to get good about 1/3 of the way in :) is v useful

[Mustafa · Rating 4 out of 5]

very informative for law students

[Benjamin Makwibili · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this book

[Amelie Procter · Rating 1 out of 5]

Was forced to read this bc law 🫣 it was a tiny bit useful but so boring and probs more appropriate if I had actually started studying law bc I didn’t know what the hell was going on half the time

[oana 🪷 · Rating 2 out of 5]

i don’t recommend this

[Chaundra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like almost every LLB student in England or Wales, I originally started this as preliminary reading for accelerated LLB at Birkback that I'll be starting in the Fall. Wow, there is good reason this book is on the prelim reading lists for nearly every LLB programme in the country. It covers just about every aspect of preparing for the law from an overview of the English Legal system, to the foundations of legal research, to best exam practices, to landing the ideal job. Extremely detailed with extensive further reading lists, I have a feeling this book is going to be getting quite the workout over the next couple of years!

[Fifi · Rating 1 out of 5]

The first few chapters were about Law itself and they were really badly structured and unhelpful for a fresher as legal vocab was thrown around with no definitions to follow up, and sometimes two related terms were mentioned and only one was explained..... Later chapters about the learning of the law were better, I guess because they relied on the reader's common sense rather than erudition.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

A true handbook and guide that you can re-read again and again. As a teenager who wanted to be come a lawyer, as a law student making sense of everything and even now as I’m about to qualify as a solicitor. This book is a trusted friend giving you an overview of learning the law and fills in the gaps that universities often leave you to fill in yourself

[AmeliaaXavier]

read this whole book for my first term in college.. yes, I'm taking law here okay go ballistic hahaha this book provides all information for starters like me and it made me fall in love with law even more

[Devan Wanniarachchi · Rating 3 out of 5]

a good source of knowledge

[Akshay Khubchandani]

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[BHARADWAJ]

GOOD

[Dawson · Rating 3 out of 5]

its a good book

[Clement Ying · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rule of law.