Most young people considering studying law, or pursuing a legal career, have very little idea of what learning law involves and how universities teach law to their students. This new book provides a 'taster' for the study of law; a short, accessible presentation of law as an academic subject, designed to help 17- and 18-year old students and others decide whether law is the right choice for them as a university subject, or, if they have already made the choice, what to expect when they start their law degree. It helps answer the question 'what should I study at university?' and counters the perception that law is a dry, dull subject. What About Law? shows how the study of law can be fun, intellectually stimulating, challenging and of direct relevance to students. Using a case study approach, the book introduces prospective law students to the legal system, as well as to legal reasoning, critical thinking and argument.This is a book that should be in the library of every school with a sixth form, every college and every university, and it is one that any student about to embark on the study of law should read before they commence their legal studies.All of the authors have long experience in teaching law at Cambridge and elsewhere and all have also been involved, at various times, in advising prospective law students at open days and admissions conferences.See the detailed website for this book:www.whataboutlaw.co.uk.

About the Author
Catherine Barnard is Reader in European Union Law, Jean Monnet Chair in European Law, Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge. Author of EC Employment Law (OUP, 2006, 3rd edn) and The Substantive Law of the EU: The Four Freedoms (OUP, 2007, 2nd edn). Janet O'Sullivan is Senior Lecturer in Law, Fellow of Selwyn College, Cambridge, winner of Cambridge University Pilkington teaching prize for excellence in university teaching; associate editor, Tottel's Journal of Professional Negligence; solicitor. Co-author of O'Sullivan and Hilliard, The Law of Contract (OUP, 2006, 2nd edn).Graham Virgo is Professor of English Law, Fellow of Downing College, Cambridge, winner of Cambridge University Pilkington teaching prize for excellence in university teaching; Law faculty access officer; barrister. Author of Principles of the Law of Restitution (OUP, 2006, 2nd edn).

Table of Contents
1 Introduction to LawCatherine Barnard, Graham Virgo and Janet O'SullivanSTARTING TO THINK ABOUT LAWTHE TOOLSLEGAL METHOD ONE FINAL EXAMPLE CONCLUSIONS 2 Criminal LawGraham Virgo THE ELEMENTS OF A CRIME THE REASONS FOR PUNISHMENT REASONS FOR CHARACTERISING CONDUCT AS CRIMINAL FACTS OF BROWN THE KEY OFFENCES THE ISSUE IN BROWN THE TRIAL APPLICATION OF THE DECISION THE DISSENTING JUDGES THEORY: AUTONOMY VERSUS WELFARE SUBSEQUENT EVENTS: MOTIVE AND RISK HUMAN RIGHTS LAW REFORM CONCLUSIONS 3 Law of ContractJanet O'Sullivan INTRODUCTION SOME CRUCIAL ASPECTS OF CONTRACTUAL REMEDIES THE CASE THE HOUSE OF LORDS' DECISION IN MORE DETAIL WHAT HAS HAPPENED SINCE RUXLEY? WHAT IF THE BUILDER HAD SAVED MONEY BY BREACHING THE CONTRACT? CONCLUSION 4 TortTony Weir THE MOST FAMOUS TORT CASE THE 'DUTY' QUESTION THE KIND OF HARM DAMAGE AND LOSS RECOVERY FOR PURE FINANCIAL HARM APPLICATION IN MCFARLANE FAIR, JUST AND REASONABLE THE REASONS GIVEN IN MCFARLANE THE SPEECH OF LORD STEYN DISTRIBUTIVE JUSTICE PSYCHIATRIC HARM EFFECT ON THIRD PARTIES TORT AS DETERRENCE DETERRENCE AND COMPENSATION TWO RECENT CASES STATUTES AND JUDGE-MADE LAW THE EFFECT OF MCFARLANE DAMAGE AND THE INVASION OF RIGHTS THE UNWANTED BABY ABROAD CONCLUSION 5 Land LawKevin Gray INTRODUCTION THE PROBLEM OF PROPERTY THE CASE (CHHOKAR v CHHOKAR) CONCLUSION 6 EquityGraham Virgo WHAT IS EQUITY? THE CONTRIBUTION OF EQUITY TYPES OF TRUST THE FACTS OF FOSKETT V MCKEOWN THE POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS IDENTIFICATION AND APPLICATION OF RULES AND PRINCIPLES CONCLUSIONS 7 Constitutional LawDavid Feldman INTRODUCTION SETTING THE SCENE: SOME IMPORTANT FEATURES OF CONSTITUTIONAL LAW IN THE UK THE HUNTING ACT 2004 THE JACKSON CASE THE AFTERMATH OF THE CHALLENGE TO THE HUNTING ACT 2004 CONCLUSIONS 8 European Union LawCatherine Barnard INTRODUCTION THE DISPUTE INTRODUCTION TO KEY PRINCIPLES OF EUROPEAN COMMUNITY LAW THE EUROPEAN COURT OF JUSTICE'S DECISION THE IMMEDIATE CONSEQUENCES OF THE BOSMAN RULING THE LONGER-TERM CONSEQUENCES OF BOSMAN: THE DEVELOPMENT OF UNION CITIZENSHIP CONCLUSIONS 9 Conclusions: Drawing Some Threads TogetherJanet O'Sullivan, Catherine Barnard and Graham Virgo