CLASSIFICATION OF LAW

There are many specialist areas of law:

Ø  Tax law

Ø  Housing

Ø  Employment

Ø  Family

Ø  Shipping

Ø  Medical

Most of these can be placed in a few basic categories which all students studying law should be aware of. They are:

1)  CIVIL LAW

(See previous sheet on classification of law)

There are 2 main types of civil law:

i)  CONTRACT

This is the law that enforces agreements that parties make with each other. It will not enforce all agreements, only those that satisfy the following tests:

Ø  One party (offeror) makes an offer and the other party (offeree) must know about it]

Ø  The offeree must accept and let the offeror know this

Ø  There must be consideration (the 2 parties must exchange something)

Ø  There must be an intention that the agreement is legally binding

Ø  Both parties must be over 18

Ø  The agreement must not do anything illegal.

ii)  TORT

This is the law that provides a remedy to someone who does not have a contract with the party that has wronged them. The main types are:

a) Negligence – You can be liable in this tort if you cause harm to someone by your carelessness. The harm can be physical. Psychological or financial

DONOGHUE V STEVENSON 1932

b) Nuisance – This is the law that protects a person’s enjoyment of their property

e.g.

c) Defamation – This is the law that protect people from untrue statements which if believed, may cause people to think less of them.

There are 2 types of defamation slander and libel. Slander is spoken defamation and libel is when the defamation is published or distributed in some way.

d) Trespass - There are 2 types of civil trespass:

Trespass to land:

Trespass to the person:

2)  CRIMINAL LAW

In a civilised society some acts are considered so serious that they are said not just to be committed against the victim but against ______.

For instance if you hit someone they may sue you for______. You have also committed a criminal offence against the person for which you may be sent to prison. If they die you have committed the offence of______or______

(See sheet on Classification of Law)