Byrne & McCutcheon on the Irish Legal System

Provides an excellent introduction to the legal system in Ireland and is essential for any student starting legal studies in Ireland. Beginning with an overview of the Irish Legal system and its history, it proceeds to discuss the profession and the law officers of the state including changes in the organisation of the profession in other common law states.

Included in this edition:
– fundamental reform of the legal profession under the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015, including the establishment of the Legal Services Regulatory Authority and the Office of the Legal Costs Adjudicator;
– establishment of the Judicial Council under the Judicial Council Act 2019, which includes a Judicial Conduct Committee, a Judicial Studies Committee, a Sentencing Guidelines and Information Committee and a Personal Injuries Guidelines Committee;
– discussion of the system for appointing judges, including the ultimate fate of the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017;
– the effect of the establishment of the Court of Appeal in 2014, and the resulting impact that the Supreme Court can now choose what cases it hears;
– the momentum towards alternative means of dispute resolution, notably with the enactment of the Mediation Act 2017;
– recent developments in the doctrine of precedent;
– significant developments in making our legislative stock ( the Irish Statute Book ) more accessible online, including through the enactment of Statute Law Revision Acts;
– the impact of recent constitutional decisions, including the case law on suspended declarations of unconstitutionality; and the recent constitutional amendments on marriage equality and abortion;
– developments in EU law, including the potential impact of Brexit.

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