The first comprehensive examination of the shifting role of the Courts of Appeals

This selection of essays, speeches and personal reflections, draws on the analysis of one of the leading lawyers of a generation. Lord Dyson as Master of the Rolls and Head of the Civil Justice System oversaw a period of reform of both law and legal process. This collection discusses some key themes of, and challenges faced during, his tenure as one of the most senior lawyers in England and Wales. Through these insightful, engaging and compelling pieces, a picture emerges of a robust system of law whose core values can be plotted back to the Magna Carta, but which is flexible enough to respond to current changes without fracturing. A truly compelling exploration of continuity and change in the law by one of its key jurists.

Kate Parlett's study of the individual in the international legal system examines the way in which individuals have come to have a certain status in international law, from the first treaties conferring rights and capacities on individuals through to the present day. The analysis cuts across fields including human rights law, international investment law, international claims processes, humanitarian law and international criminal law in order to draw conclusions about structural change in the international legal system. By engaging with much new literature on non-state actors in international law, she seeks to dispel myths about state-centrism and the direction in which the international legal system continues to evolve.

The Supreme Court's involvement in many hot political and personal conflicts makes crucial an understanding of its internal workings and evolution. This book gives students a firm historical and institutional base upon which to evaluate contemporary Supreme Court decisions and the impact of those decisions on the lives of ordinary citizens.