This week’s topics
Structure and Purpose of Statutes
- Short and long titles
- Preamble, sections, and schedules
- Explanatory notes and statutory guidance
- Identifying legislative intent and mischief
- A guide to reading and interpreting statutes
- Statutory interpretation - The Mischief Rule www.e-lawresources.co.uk
- Statutory Interpretation Rules of Interpretation
What you will be able to do
- 2.2 Identify reasons why the statute was created and what function it is meant to perform.
- 2.4 Identify supporting material inside a statute.
Activity
Start with this week’s 3 videos, then: Seminar, guided reading and a short written task: identify reasons why the statute was created and what function it is meant to perform.
Study materials
Videos
- A guide to reading and interpreting statutes · YouTube · Oxford Academic (Oxford University Press) · 9 min · for registered students
- Statutory interpretation - The Mischief Rule www.e-lawresources.co.uk · YouTube · e-lawresources · 6 min · for registered students
- Statutory Interpretation Rules of Interpretation · YouTube · The Law Bank · 32 min · for registered students
Further resources
- Office of the Parliamentary Counsel: drafting guidance (March 2024) · PDF · GOV.UK, guidance; 112 pages · for registered students
- Interpretation Act 1978 · Reading · legislation.gov.uk, legislation · for registered students
- Uber BV v Aslam [2021] UKSC 5 · PDF · Other, case law; 33 pages · for registered students
Materials marked “for registered students” open in the student portal, which is set up as soon as you receive final acceptance.
