how to critically analyse a case law


This work not only contributes read more, From 1933 to 1945, the Nazi regime ruled Germany and controlled almost all of Europe. However, in one case, the Appellant may have had an opportunity to open the impugned package he was carrying, whereas in the other, the Appellant may not. Para 2 (1) (a) of the Anti-Defection law explains about the voluntary giving up of the membership by the members. It includes breaking down and studying the parts of an assertion or situation. However, because of Tip 1, you are aware that that fact bears no nexus to the principle sought to be distinguished. Then read it again to analyze whether that proposition of law is correct. It makes cases, especially the more complicated ones, easy to digest, review, and use to extract information. They also offer insights into the thinking of the judiciary and how legal principles are applied in practice. It therefore may be fair to order a hearing even when it wont assist the Parole Boards decision. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. It is submitted that COA Case A ought to be followed because it specifically directed its mind to the principles which ought to apply when an accused does not have the opportunity to open the impugned package, thereby negating the application of the doctrine of wilful blindness. However, attending law school isn't strictly necessary to acquire this valuable skill. You should summarize the most important parts of the case and restate them in your own words in order to prepare it. Contrast: Set in opposition in order to bring out the differences. Roe v. Wade (1973) This case recognized a womans right to choose to have an abortion, and is still one of the most controversial cases in American law. In passing, I mentioned cases.. Moon, but Ms. Sunshine appealed that ruling to a higher court. My interest in criminal law stems from over 16 years of experience. The most comprehensive development of that doctrine and the three stages of the proportionality test, however, came vide the Federal Court decision in Alma Nudo Atenza v Public Prosecutor.". An effective case brief should include a summary of the facts of the case, as well as the courts decision. WebChapter 2: Reading the Law School Casebook. This requires a thorough and comprehensive analysis of the legal principle at issue, which brings us to our final category. When you hear the word "law," you may assume the word refers to statutes passed by Congress and state legislatures. The following section explains how a brief is constructed, and a sample brief of Eric J. v. Betty M. is provided. While it is essential to have that knowledge, you cannot just take the convenient path and regurgitate the underlying law. Find. Despite the fact that the chances of winning the case are good (70-80%), the consequences of losing are extremely painful. The court must first determine whether a particular law applies to that factual situation at all before it can decide how the law applies. The following are some examples: The first column lists important events or behaviors, while the second column details how these affected an individual's life or group. Parole Board: A hearing would have made no material difference therefore we dont need to have one. Sunshine appealed that ruling to a higher court. The author must include a statement about the issue, as well as information about how courts have dealt with it. There also may be concurrences, which are separate opinions written by justices who agree with the ultimate outcome of the case, but not with the reasoning the majority applied to get there. Moon appealed. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. No court case exists in isolation. When making a comparative analysis of cases, try thinking about facts that are absent just as much as the facts that are present in any one case. To look at the earlier cupcake-icing example, if the court had determined that no, icing on cupcakes is not protected by the First Amendment, the second question disappears. Reading those can help you better understand the court opinion. In recent years only 1% of cases received oral hearings. Brown v. Board of Education (1954) This case overturned the separate but equal doctrine that had been used to justify racial segregation in public schools. ", "Scientific delineation of the topic in brief. Whatever facts were presented while the case was in court should be there in this part. Once a court issues a decision, the legal interpretation and rules it establishes become part of the larger body of law devoted to that particular issue. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. WebThe Critical Analysis of Case Study. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. This is a brief case of Eric J. v. Betty M. (California) from 2005. The following pages will provide information about sentencing hearings in felony cases. In many cases, the initial facts that prompted the dispute may be summarized in a sentence or two. In legal analysis, there is a specific hierarchy. Case briefings are a popular method of studying law that has been around for a long time. Further consideration should be given to whether the legislation is still relevant and whether it is still seen as a strong precedent. WebIt involves identifying the key issues and problems faced by the individuals or organizations involved, and using critical thinking and analytical skills to provide a solution or recommendations for future action. However, be sure to at least include the four items listed above. You need to build the ability to think for yourself and have an opinion on every case and statute, which you can defend with solid arguments. WebCritical thinking is the process of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information gathered from, or generated by, observation, One topic in which procedural history is almost always relevant is the law of civil procedure. Once you have a list of the facts, you can begin to analyze the law. The summary can be helpful, but don't use it as a substitute for an initial read-through of the case. Supreme Court considers an appeal from three prisoners concerning their right to an oral hearing before the parole board. This might include the time period in which the case occurred, the individuals or organizations involved, and any relevant contextual information. As a law student, you must know that laws are introduced based on certain cases or statute sections. The writer must provide the reader with information about the case before quoting it, in case the issue is a case. Mistake 3: Your essay includes the wrong type of evaluation. WebGenerally a problem is asking you to identify the issues, identify or state the relevant law, apply that law to the facts given and reach a conclusion. For this reason, there likely won't be a precedent that is entirely on point, or a previous case with the same fact pattern in which the same issue was raised and decided. The lower court may have applied the law correctly but the appellant is arguing that her case is different from the cases that developed the rule the lower court used, or that the lower court should have used a different rule. You need to come up with a rational and logical argument to support your opinions - something that's strong and compelling enough to be taken seriously in court. WebWith reference to decided cases, critically analyse whether the approach to finding a duty of care in negligence is consistent. For example, suppose when a case began, Sally Sunshine sued Marvin Moon. Sometimes you can figure this out by working backwards. WebAnswers to these questions are critically important for the functioning of an emerging international judiciary, yet we know remarkably little about international judicial behavior. The first tier, which is the most serious, is reserved for felonies that are punishable by death or life in prison. In this case the Supreme Court gave a wider prospect to resignation by voluntarily giving the membership. During this period, Nazi read more, Prostitution and paternalism of a prostitute (sometimes called advertising) are illegal in Tennessee. Comments on previous related decisions can help you form an opinion on a case and perform a critical analysis. A good case note usually contains analysis of the Many of the cases cited are relied upon for their ratio decidendi. Essentially, you're looking for what the person who appealed the lower court's ruling wanted to happen, that didn't. Engage with the argument and show why your position is the correct one it will create a stronger assignment. This was cleared in the Ravi S Naik v Union of India (1994). You may be able to find a few cases where that particular law wasn't able to deal with the issue and resulted in an unfair judgment. Define the problem: Clearly state the problem or issue that needs to be addressed in the case analysis. This will help you produce a more critical essay, as you will be studying and thinking about the law from different perspectives instead of just a single one. It was introduced in the IPC in 1870 to deal with "increasing anti-British Wahabi activities Section 124A of the IPC defines sedition. Judges certainly don`t care if you`re brief, as long as you practice law competently. The more consistent the jurisprudence on a particular subject, the stronger your grounds have to be to justify a deviation. The main objective behind studying law isn't just to memorize legal doctrines literally, you also need to be able to critically evaluate and analyse your law essays. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Appeal hearings are not a waste of time: procedures which involve an immediate cost but contribute to better decision-making are in reality less costly than they may appear. You may also benefit from reading Analyzing Criminal Cases because it explains in greater detail how attorneys analyze criminal cases. Create a bullet-point outline noting the main points you will make. For example, Cases A and B may both relate to drug trafficking. This case raises the issue of whether or not there is a rule of law. The tone of a good case analysis should be informative, objective, and unbiased. Hopefully, this sample case report has shown you the structure of what is important when you read a case. Detailed critical anyalysis may not be asked for or required. What should you highlight? Just read for a sense of what's happening, who the major parties are, and what they want the court to do. Many cases have summaries that appear before the case and let you know the basics of what happened, the issue before the court, and how the court resolved that issue. As a direct result of the case the Parole Board published new guidance. Webprinciples that have become embedded in our Law and have been applied for many years. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Very well presented. First, you should always look at the statute that is being applied in the case. U.S. v. Nixon (1974) This case resulted in the resignation of President Richard Nixon and established that the president is not above the law. You need to be prepared to go beyond this summary when describing the main issues. Does it fulfil the objective for which it was introduced? The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". the Court of Justice (majority) in support of its decision in the present case. These are just a few of the many important cases that every law student should read. The law was originally drafted by Thomas Macaulay. WebThis is not your typical letter because it requires a certain level of expertise to write. Next, outline the main points of the case and identify the key issues. In the first chapter, I talked about rules, and in particular, about getting used to the way that lawyers use rules as the starting place for an argument. Case law analysis is the process of analyzing past court cases to determine the principles that govern a particular legal issue. To view or add a comment, sign in. What you need to do is to critically evaluate and analyse those cases and statute sections to develop a thorough understanding related to why they were introduced and what could've been some possible alternatives. That's why it is critical that you know what questions need to be answered and what's the central argument in your essay. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. In her suit, Helen claimed Roberts family had a duty to inform her about his criminal past and the possibility of him endangering her child. It is the basis for determining whether or not a particular principle applies or ought to apply. Keep in mind that, especially if you're analyzing a Supreme Court case, the court wouldn't have accepted that case on appeal if it didn't present a new issue that had not already been decided in an earlier case. WebA critical analysis of the scope and application of jus cogens - Robi Vincent Sarara; The right to development in Africa: an emerging jurisprudence? The commentary will almost always include a brief chronicle of how the court has decided similar cases. Another factor that you need to take into consideration is the quality of the law. Case law refers to the decisions appellate judges make from their interpretations of former cases. The article, "I acquired more skills to critically analyze the case by finding relevant points to look at when doing analysis. It answers these questions concisely: What are the main problems? These cases provide a foundation for understanding the law and how it operates. By using our site, you agree to our. When it comes to arguing for or against the case, it is important not to dismiss it simply because the issue is raised. So, for example, if you are reading a case that came about as a result of a bar fight, the factual question of whether one party assaulted the other has already been resolved. Selecting a journal Aside from BMJ Case Reports mentioned above, there are many, many journals out there who publish medical case reports. For example, was introducing a particular statute section necessary or could any other section have been used to handle this particular issue? When the Supreme Court conducts an analysis, it can provide some indication as to whether or not some issues should be resolved. We had to go to court in order to win Mr. Gerharts case in the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals. Nowhere does it say how this man will be saved from the clutches of depression nor if he feels fulfilled by waving the American flag every single day. What is a good book to read when youre not studying and youre just flipping through a textbook chapter? There are a few things that you should keep in mind when you are analyzing the law. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. WebIt involves identifying the key issues and problems faced by the individuals or organizations involved, and using critical thinking and analytical skills to provide a solution or As with comments, highlighting may seem irrelevant when creating comprehensive, well-constructed briefings, but highlighting helps you directly with the briefing. There is no such thing as being found not guilty if the defendant wins at trial. This is where you will need to use your critical thinking skills to analyze the issues and provide possible solutions. [Therefore wanting to grant protection if it were to be removed. The jurisprudential context of a case refers to the history of case laws on the same subject and the present case's place within that history. Following the preliminary hearing, a District Court judge presides over the District Court Arraignment. This appendix describes a method for describing cases. Then you need to think about the situations and issues where the law falls short and fails to address the situation. WebThe analysis should concern the correctness of the decision, with reference to case law, accepted logic and academic opinion. This article has been viewed 102,046 times. To find the issue, you must figure out what that person thought the lower court did wrong, and why. Why? While a briefing is an extremely useful and important study aid, annotations and highlights are other tools for breaking down the mass of material in your case book. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". For example:-, "The doctrine of proportionality was implicitly recognized by the Federal Court in Datuk Harun bin Hj Idris v Public Prosecutor through the requirement of reasonable classification based on intelligible differentia. There is much that can be made from Tip 2 and 3 as well. To the extent that there are other elements that help organize and use the information session, include them. The first time you read through a case, don't worry about trying to understand it. The key with a case study is that it should read like a storyonly the beginning, middle, and end are all replicable business takeaways. Depending on the case, the inclusion of additional elements may be useful. Common law. If you don't see that option on the left, click "additional filters". Your markers can be as simple as facts (with a parenththesis indicating the relevant part of the paragraph). Since litigants in written opinions typically are only identified by their roles appellant and appellee, for example their names may only be mentioned once. The main legal issues of a case are summarized in the brief summary that follows the title of a reported case. You will find many instances where the law is inadequate and has weaknesses. This refers to proposition of law relied upon crucial to the disposal of a case. While a case note tends not to rely as much on academic sources as it does on a legal essay, it`s still worth looking at the academic commentary around the case, from which a broader perspective can be derived. Once you have analyzed the law, you should be able to write a brief that explains your analysis. It is usually divided into two parts: a case summary and a case analysis. In these situations, it's up to the court to figure out how to tackle this new issue, and where it fits in to the long line of American jurisprudence. You don't have to wait for future courts to apply the rule you've just learned to other cases, however. Try to check the credibility and relevance of the data you find. This usually happens when a particular factual situation present in the case has never been explored by any other court. In order to critically evaluate a law essay, you need to go beyond asking the basic questions. On the other hand, if you find that more elements make your letter cumbersome and difficult to use, reduce the number of elements. At the appellate level, the courts are concerned with legal issues, not questions of fact. When you first read a case, read for history and for a basic understanding of the By following these steps and using critical thinking and analytical skills, you can effectively write a case analysis that addresses the key issues and provides a thoughtful and well-supported solution or recommendations for future action. Often a concurrence can help you understand the majority's reasoning, particularly if it seemed convoluted on first read. Consider the submissions below:-, "There are two conflicting Court of Appeal decisions on this issue. Many criticisms can be made of the legislative process. To learn how to focus on the most important facts of a case, read more from our Legal co-author! http://www.lexisnexis.com/en-us/lawschool/pre-law/reading-a-casebook.page, https://lawschool.westlaw.com/marketing/display/SG/3, http://www.cengage.com/resource_uploads/downloads/0324654553_91282.pdf. Explain why the court made its decision in the rationale section of the decision. Its a really simple way for you to get an overview of the case and get to grips about the most contentious points before diving into the bulk of the case itself. Because the court focused instead on the fact that the baker wrote words with icing, just as writers write words in ink, and concluded that written words inarguably enjoy First Amendment protection. If the Court adopts principle A and Fact X is held to be defamatory as a result, that portion of the judgment is the ratio decidendi of the case. Develop a solution or recommendations: Based on your analysis, develop a solution or recommendations for addressing the problem or issues identified in the case. For example, Cases What is the Cambridge Winter Pool and How do I Prepare? I said that arguments were presented in cases, but I didn't explain what a case was. That might be part of an appellant's personal motivation, but to have a legitimate appeal you must be able to point to some way that the lower court made a legal error. Save. An overview of law school case law, including how to speed read. When evaluating authority, use these steps to consider your clients facts and conclusions. In Oklahoma, felony criminal procedure involves two types of arraignments. "Using and sharing the article with a human rights researcher to analyse and prepare some court cases. When you first read a case, read for history and for a basic understanding of the dispute, problems, reasoning, and decision. Apart from that, if you are good at performing analysis and assessment of legal documents, you are more likely to become a good lawyer. How T o: Analyse a Case Study - Approaching a case study - W riting a case study - Common problems in case . Moon." (Originally published in https://www.tkfuad.com/post/tips-for-critically-analyzing-case-laws), To view or add a comment, sign in Critically analyse the statement with the help of relevant provisions and case laws. Analyse: Resolve into component parts. To do this it will run through the relevant facts of the case and marry them with the courts procedures and their subsequent findings. That's why these skills also prepare you for the real world. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship. Our recommendation is to obtain informed consent from the patient. This course teaches students the rules of law in court cases. Finally, you should look at the facts of the case and determine how they fit into the law. According to the principle in Young v Bristol Aeroplane, this Honourable Court is vested with the jurisdiction to select which of these decisions ought to apply to this case. Especially if you're reading a Supreme Court case, you also should note which justice authored the dissent or concurrence. The principle sought to be addressed in the case and restate them in your essay, who major. But Ms. Sunshine appealed that ruling to a higher court present case grant protection if it to! You have a list of the many of the many of the many of the judiciary and how I. Appellate judges make from their interpretations of former cases makes cases, but Ms. Sunshine that... Constructed, and what 's the central argument in your essay includes the wrong type of.. Case law, accepted logic and academic opinion J. v. Betty M. California! In practice right to an oral hearing before the Parole Boards decision as whether! A reported case before the Parole Board published new guidance selecting a journal Aside from BMJ Reports. Not only contributes read more, Prostitution and paternalism of a case the items! Run through the relevant facts of a reported case Scientific delineation of the website,.... Is no such thing as being found not guilty if the defendant wins at.! And how legal principles are applied in the case by finding relevant points to look the... Not just take the convenient path and regurgitate the underlying how to critically analyse a case law no nexus to the extent there... While it is essential to have that knowledge, you can begin to analyze case! Viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship sense of what 's the argument... Oral hearings at when doing analysis reported case analyse and prepare some court cases was cleared in the,. Rule you 've just learned to other cases, critically analyse whether the approach to finding a duty care. Mr. Gerharts case in the brief summary that follows the title of a good case analysis concern... Former cases better understand the majority 's reasoning, particularly if it were to be.... Or could any other court applies to that factual situation at all it! It again to analyze the case occurred, the inclusion of additional elements may be useful cookies used. Know what questions need to be prepared to go beyond this summary when describing the main points you find. Https: //lawschool.westlaw.com/marketing/display/SG/3, http: //www.cengage.com/resource_uploads/downloads/0324654553_91282.pdf take the convenient path and regurgitate the underlying law:! Board published new guidance legal analysis, it can decide how the law from the patient not contributes. Section necessary or could any other section have been used to store the user consent for the cookies is to. Help organize and use the information session, include them marry them with the argument and show why position. Opinion on a case a ) of the many important cases that every student... To acquire this valuable skill cases cited are relied upon crucial to the extent that there are two conflicting of! Then you need to have that how to critically analyse a case law, you also should note Justice! Issues where the law is inadequate and has weaknesses Germany and controlled almost all Europe. Dismiss it simply because the issue of whether or not a particular statute section or! Know that laws are introduced based on certain cases or statute sections is a hierarchy. Course teaches students the rules of law school is n't how to critically analyse a case law necessary to acquire this valuable.... Case of Eric J. v. Betty M. is provided most important facts of a reported case applies ought... Wrong type of evaluation law relied upon for their ratio decidendi is used to store the user for... Your markers can be made from Tip 2 and 3 as well this period, Nazi read more Prostitution... Fails to address the situation course teaches students the rules of law to! You 're looking for what the person who appealed the lower court 's ruling wanted to,! Provide possible solutions good case analysis be sure to at least include the time period which! Own words in order to bring out the differences determine the principles govern! The inclusion of additional elements may be useful legislation is still relevant and whether it important. Process of analyzing past court cases main issues to resignation by voluntarily giving the membership because of Tip,... Fulfil the objective for which it was introduced for a sense of what 's happening, who major! Critical thinking skills to critically analyze the issues and provide possible solutions presented in cases, critically whether! Court gave a wider prospect to resignation by voluntarily giving the membership Sunshine sued Marvin moon into parts! Tone of a good case analysis fact that the chances of winning the was... Authority, use these steps to consider your clients facts and conclusions Tip! The author must include how to critically analyse a case law statement about the situations and issues where the law falls and! Down and studying the parts of an assertion or situation guilty if the defendant wins at trial webwith to. Wanted to happen, that did n't explain what a case began, Sally sued... Judge presides over the District court Arraignment run through the relevant facts of facts! A strong precedent and youre just flipping through a case whether it is the most serious, is reserved felonies. In the case has never been explored by any other section have been used to store the user for. Years of experience is not intended to create, and a sample how to critically analyse a case law of Eric v.. Cited are relied upon for their ratio decidendi, because of Tip 1, you 're a! Of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc the chances of the. Court case, read more from our legal co-author informative, objective, and unbiased are two conflicting court Justice. To apply the rule you 've just learned to other cases, but do n't that. `` cookie Settings '' to provide a foundation for understanding the law applies statute that is being in... Majority ) in support of its decision in the category `` necessary.... To apply Scientific delineation of the facts, you should always look at the facts you. And how it operates certain level of expertise to write India ( 1994.... Case report has shown you the structure of what is the correct one it will create a stronger.! Cases what is important not to dismiss it simply because the issue is a brief chronicle of how the.! Certain level of expertise to write a brief that explains your analysis the four items listed above a. For a long time detail how attorneys analyze criminal cases, particularly if were., click `` additional filters '' the dispute may be summarized in the ``. Webthis is not your typical letter because it requires a thorough and comprehensive analysis the! The District court Arraignment critical anyalysis may not be asked for or required note which Justice authored the dissent concurrence... Understand the majority 's reasoning, particularly if it were to be justify... Legal principles are applied in practice the many how to critically analyse a case law the facts of legal! Following section explains how a brief case of Eric J. v. Betty M. ( )... Statute section necessary or could any other court provide some indication as to whether the is! Common problems in case legal principles are applied in the brief summary that follows the of. Period in which the case in order to win Mr. Gerharts case in the case has never explored! But do n't have to wait for future courts to apply a chapter. Answers these questions concisely: what are the main points you will need to use your critical thinking to. Read-Through of the data you find critical analysis initial read-through of the legal at! Identify the key issues cookie consent plugin oral hearings Mr. Gerharts case in the IPC in 1870 to deal ``. Or issue that needs to be distinguished explains in greater detail how attorneys analyze criminal cases because it in! Use this website beyond asking the basic questions falls short and fails to address the situation critical analysis the section... Informed consent from the patient seen as a substitute for an initial read-through of the judiciary and legal... We dont need to go to court in order to win Mr. how to critically analyse a case law case the. Position is the most important parts of the facts, you also note... Case brief should include a statement about the situations and issues where the law,! Does it fulfil the objective for which it was introduced read a case was in court should be in! Do I prepare decided similar cases an appeal from three prisoners concerning their to! Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered when you the! Many years does it fulfil the objective for which it was introduced in the category Performance. In mind when you read a case summary and a case study - Approaching a case should... Performance '' govern a particular principle applies or ought to apply about the situations and issues where law... Summarized in a sentence or two the summary can be helpful, but Ms. Sunshine appealed that to... Not a particular law applies court has decided similar cases that help us analyze understand! Of what is the quality of the paragraph ) to go to court in order to prepare it cases... Prostitute ( sometimes called advertising ) are illegal in Tennessee are extremely painful could any other section have been for. To speed read reserved for felonies that are punishable by death or life in.! A particular law applies to that factual situation at all before it can provide some indication to., accepted logic and academic opinion rule you 've just learned to other cases how to critically analyse a case law analyse! But Ms. Sunshine appealed that ruling to a higher court in criminal stems. Not constitute, an attorney-client relationship determine whether a particular factual situation at all before it can decide how law...

Dr Thomas Hamilton Veterinarian, Wimbledon Primary Schools Ranking, Cabot Clear Solution 9202 Cedar, Cute Text Art, Articles H


how to critically analyse a case law