Understanding case law
If you're new to legal information, we’ll help you understand how case law works and how to read court judgments.
What is case law?
Case law is the body of law created by judges' decisions in court cases. When judges interpret the law and make rulings, these decisions can set precedents that guide future cases. Understanding case law helps you see how the law has been applied in real situations.
How courts and tribunals work
Learn about the structure of the court system in England and Wales, from magistrates' courts to the Supreme Court, and understand how different tribunals operate.
Reading judgments
Discover how to read and understand court judgments, including:
- the structure and sections of a typical judgment
- how judges explain their reasoning
- understanding legal citations and references
- what different types of orders and decisions mean
Legal terms explained
Access our glossary of common legal terms to help you understand the language used in judgments. From "appellant" to "precedent", we explain key concepts in plain English.
Getting started with finding and reading judgments
We’ve provided this information for anyone who needs to understand case law but may not have legal training, including:
- students and researchers
- journalists and writers
- people representing themselves in legal matters
- members of the public interested in how courts work
If you’re new to judgments
If you're looking at a judgment for the first time, start with Reading judgments to understand what you're reading.
If you’re a legal professional
Legal professionals may want to go straight to Search and Browse to find specific cases.