[kanzaz]

hey,

i'm in year 12 looking to apply next year to established unis like cambridge, kings etc unis of that ilk.

I was wondering if anyone knows any good, interesting, funny, infomrative law books that would really help in this regard and impress the interviewers. Also books with previous cases in etc

thanks

[jacketpotato]

http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=607571

[Festina lente]

Good suggestions there. I understand that "Discovering the Law", ed Butler, is also good.

Just for fun - they are getting very dated - the books of Lord Denning are highly readable (he had an instantly recognisable style of writing) with brief summaries of famous cases. Dated because they were published in the late 1970s/early 1980s, so have nothing at all recent (he died in 1999 aged 100). Your local library is bound to have at least one.

If you do not already do so, then one thing you should start doing now is reading a good quality newspaper every day, and if possible the comment sections from more than one.

[cliffg]

I agree with the above. I picked up 3 of Denning's books, used, on Amazon for a pittance. He goes through numerous cases that he sat on, gives the facts, quotes from his judgements and then goes on to explain his reasoning. For the latter reason, I still dip into these books every now and again. Dated, yes, but reading a senior judge explaining how he came to a judgement - good. Would also suggest "Bad Laws", Philip Johnston (Constable) and "Defending the Guilty", Alex McBride - haven't read the latter but seen it well reviewed and mentioned well on this forum.

[Nikitha]

(Original post by cliffg)
I agree with the above. I picked up 3 of Denning's books, used, on Amazon for a pittance. He goes through numerous cases that he sat on, gives the facts, quotes from his judgements and then goes on to explain his reasoning. For the latter reason, I still dip into these books every now and again. Dated, yes, but reading a senior judge explaining how he came to a judgement - good. Would also suggest "Bad Laws", Philip Johnston (Constable) and "Defending the Guilty", Alex McBride - haven't read the latter but seen it well reviewed and mentioned well on this forum.

Which Denning law book would you suggest is the best?

[cliffg]

The Denning books I've read are Landmarks in the Law, The Discipline of Law and The Due Process of Law. The first is a trawl through English legal history, everything from the trial of Sir Walter Ralegh for treason, through Francis Bacon, the Tolpuddle Martyrs up to Denning's own inquiry into the Profumo affair. A good bedtime read - but he also tells you how some basic principles of English law have been arrived at through those old cases. The latter two mostly cover his time as a Court of Appeal Judge and Master of the Rolls. If you have a real interest in law I think you'll find them a very good read. Some of it might go over your head if you don't have a basic knowledge of the area of law in question. For example, he goes in depth into Central London PropertyLtd v High Trees Houses Ltd . When you then learn about promissory estoppel you realise you know what it's about - you've read it before - that's when you go back to his book. But bear in mind that Denning was a one off - revered by some, heavily criticised by others. I wouldn't spend much money on these, they are good but dated, try getting used copies on Amazon or a good library. Having said that, the copies I have will remain on my bookshelf. I wouldn't part with them.