I'm currently doing a university course that covers some legal aspects of a particular industry. In the process, we've been given a basic overview of how British law works and some snippets of its history. This has got me curious in the topic, and I'd love to know more about the big picture.
Are there any good books that either tell a history of British law or which give a survey course-type overview of British law for someone with no legal training?
by McAeschylus
1 Comment
If you want readable, non-technical overviews, a few good starting points:
• The Rule of Law – Probably the best high-level introduction. Clear, calm, written for lay readers.
• The English Legal System – More textbook-ish, but very accessible if you want structure and history.
• Law and Modern Society – A good bridge between legal history and how the system actually functions.
If you’re also open to something lighter alongside the serious reads:
• Eccentric Britain – Not strictly legal, but full of strange rules, traditions, and institutions.
• True & Absurd Lawsuits That Really Happened – Short, real cases that highlight how strange the law can get in practice. More humor than history, but a fun contrast.
• Law and Modern Society – Good bridge between legal history and how the system actually functions.