Law in Northern Ireland is the essential textbook for all students of Northern Ireland’s legal system. Changes to this new edition – some of them substantial – have been made to every section, taking full account of five years of developments. The book explores the evolution of law-making in Northern Ireland before going on to explain the relevant constitutional arrangements, how to identify and interpret applicable sources of law, and the fundamental rules and principles of public law, criminal law and private law, highlighting where appropriate what may be unusual about them. It contextualises the myriad of legal institutions operating in the jurisdiction, sets out how criminal and civil proceedings work in practice and provides useful information on how people become lawyers, what lawyers actually do once they become qualified and how the legal system is funded. The appendices set out some sample sources of law so that readers can familiarise themselves with what is involved in handling legal documents. The language throughout is accessible and there are Tables of Cases and Legislation, as well as a comprehensive index.

Table of Contents:
Ch 1 The Evolution of Law-Making in Northern Ireland 1.1 Introduction 1.2 Brehon Law 1.5 Common Law 1.7 Parliaments 1.9 The Creation of Northern Ireland 1.12 The Stormont Parliament 1.16 Direct Rule 1.18 The Troubles 1.22 Efforts to Restore Devolution 1.27 The Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement 1998 1.30 Implementing the Good Friday Agreement Ch 2 Constitutional Law in Northern Ireland 2.1 The United Kingdom's Constitution 2.3 The Rule of Law 2.7 Parliamentary Sovereignty 2.12 Separation of Powers 2.14 Constitutional Acts 2.16 The United Kingdom Parliament 2.19 The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee 2.20 The Status of Northern Ireland 2.25 The Northern Ireland Assembly 2.33 The Northern Ireland Executive 2.39 The Pledge of Office and Codes of Conduct 2.44 Assembly Committees 2.46 North-South and East-West Bodies 2.50 The Northern Ireland Office 2.52 The Civil Service 2.54 Local Government Ch 3 Legislation in Northern Ireland 3.1 The Two Sources of Law 3.3 Basic Principles Relating to Legislation 3.5 Acts of the UK Parliament 3.10 How Acts of Parliament are Made 3.15 The Form of Acts of Parliament 3.16 Secondary Legislation 3.18 Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly 3.23 Orders in Council 3.32 Statutory Instruments 3.35 Statutory Rules 3.40 How Secondary Legislation is Made 3.45 Further Controls on Secondary Legislation 3.50 Prerogative Legislation 3.52 Other Legal Documents 3.54 How to Find Legislation 3.57 Legislation on the Internet 3.61 Printed Volumes 3.66 Law Reform Ch 4 Courts and Case Law in Northern Ireland 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Courts in Ireland before 1921 4.6 The Court of Judicature of Northern Ireland 4.9 The Judiciary in Northern Ireland 4.10 Justices of the Supreme Court 4.15 Judges of the Superior Courts 4.20 Judges of the Inferior Courts 4.25 Masters and Clerks 4.28 Members of Tribunals 4.33 T he Judicial Appointments Commission 4.36 Conflicts of Interest and Immunity from Suit 4.39 Court Inspections 4.40 Basic Principles Relating to Case Law 4.42 How Courts Interpret Legislation 4.44 How to Find Case Law 4.45 Case Law on the Internet 4.49 Printed Law Reports Ch 5 International Law in Northern Ireland 5.1 International Law 5.6 Treaties 5.9 Other Sources of International Law 5.10 European Union Law 5.23 The EU Charter of Fundamental Rights 5.24 The Court of Justice of the European Union 5.33 Other EU Courts 5.36 How to Find EU Law 5.38 The European Convention on Human Rights 5.44 The Convention's Impact on Law in Northern Ireland Ch 6 Public Law in Northern Ireland 6.1 Public Law and Private Law 6.3 Public Authorities 6.5 Administrative Law and Judicial Review 6.12 The Ombudsman 6.22 Human Rights Law 6.28 The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission 6.32 Coroners' Courts 6.40 The Parades Commission 6.45 The Information Commissioner's Office 6.47 Equality Law and the Equality Commission 6.62 The Commissioner for Children and Young People 6.64 The Commissioner for Older People 6.66 Welfare Law 6.82 Housing Law 6.86 Planning Law Ch 7 Criminal Law in Northern Ireland 7.1 Introduction 7.2 The Department of Justice 7.5 General Principles of Criminal Law 7.14 Criminal Offences 7.26 Anti-terrorism Law 7.36 Levels of Crime 7.41 Paramilitary Crime 7.43 The Police Service 7.54 Bodies Overseeing the Police 7.69 The Prison Service 7.85 The Probation Service 7.89 Services for Victims 7.95 Other Criminal Justice Bodies Ch 8 Criminal Proceedings in Northern Ireland 8.1 Introduction 8.2 Summary and Indictable Offences 8.5 Starting Criminal Proceedings 8.16 The Rights of Arrested Persons 8.26 Bail and Remand 8.34 The Prosecution System 8.43 Summary Trials 8.62 Committal Proceedings 8.66 Trials on Indictment 8.82 Children and Criminal Justice 8.99 T he Law of Evidence Ch 9 Private Law in Northern Ireland 9.1 Branches of Private Law 9.2 Land Law 9.20 T rust Law 9.24 Succession Law 9.36 Contract Law 9.49 Consumer Law 9.62 Commercial Law 9.67 Company Law 9.74 Tort Law 9.82 Compensation for Criminal Offences 9.93 Employment Law 9.117 Family Law 9.128 Child Law Ch 10 Civil Proceedings in Northern Ireland 10.1 The Nature of Civil Proceedings 10.2 Civil Proceedings in a Magistrates' Court 10.8 Small Claims Courts 10.15 Civil Proceedings in a County Court 10.23 Proceedings in the High Court 10.36 Enforcing Civil Judgments Ch 11 Lawyers in Northern Ireland 11.1 Introduction 11.2 Law Officers 11.8 Solicitors 11.18 Barristers 11.26 Legal Education 11.31 State Help With Legal Costs 11.33 Legal Advice and Assistance 11.39 A ssistance By Way of Representation 11.41 Civil Legal Aid 11.46 Criminal Legal Aid 11.51 T he Northern Ireland Legal Services Commission 11.55 Legal Costs 11.59 Costs in Criminal Proceedings 11.65 Costs in Civil Proceedings APPENDIX 1 Civil Aviation Act 2012 (Table of Contents) APPENDIX 2 Presumption of Death Act (NI 2009) (extracts) APPENDIX 3 Northern Ireland Policing Board (NI) Order 2007 APPENDIX 4 Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2010 APPENDIX 5 Robinson (Iris) v Sunday Newspapers Ltd (2011)