CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION TO COMMON LAW SYSTEM

1 COMMON LAW

1.1 Law

1.2 Common Law

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PREFACE

1.3 Law versus Equity

1.4 Statutory Law versus Case Law

1.5 Summary

2 COMMON LAW COURT SYSTEM

2.1 The English Court System

2.2 The American Court System

3 SOURCES OF LAW

3.1 Sources of Law in England

3.2 Sources of Law in the United States

4 LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

4.1 Commencement of Proceedings—Pretrial

4.2 Trial Date and Jury Selection

4.3 Trial

4.4 Appeal

4.5 Summary

CHAPTER TWO CASE LAW

5 DOCTRINE OF STARE DECISIS

5.1 Rule of Precedent

5.2 Doctrine of Stare Decisis

5.3 The Function of Stare Decisis

5.4 Courts Affected by Stare Decisis

5.5 Components of A Judicial Decision

5.6 Types of Judicial Decisions

5.7 Different Ways to Use Precedents

6 COMMON LAW REASONING

6.1 Common Law Reasoning Principles

6.2 Typical Types of Common Law Reasoning

6.3 Techniques and Arguments Used with Case Authorities

6.4 Illustration of the Common Law Reasoning

7 CASE REPORTS

7.1 Law Reports in England

7.2 Case Reports in the United States

7.3 Case Names and Citations

CHAPTER THREE CASE ANALYSIS

8 CASE ANALYSIS

8.1 The Basic Structure of a Judicial Opinion

8.2 Procedural History

8.3 Statement of Facts

8.4 Issue（s）

8.5 Holding（s）

8.6 Reasons and Policies

8.7 Judgment

8.8 Complete the Brief

8.9 Case Brief Exercises

8.10 Sample Case Briefs

8.11 Further Examining Case Law Approach

8.12 Summary

9 COMMON LAW ANALYSES

CHAPTER FOUR LEGAL DOCUMENT DRAFTING

10 LEGAL MEMORANDA

10.1 Principles of Drafting

10.2 Writing Techniques

10.3 Elements of a Memorandum

10.4 Heading

10.5 Questions Presented

10.6 Brief Answers

10.7 Statement of Facts

10.8 Discussion

10.9 Conclusion

10.10 Summary

10.11 Drafting Exercise

11 APPELLATE BRIEFS

11.1 Petitioner's Brief

11.2 Respondent's Brief

REFERENCES