Our taught postgraduate programme, designed to serve outstanding law students from common-law backgrounds

The aim of the course is to acquaint students with the fundamental principles of Civil Procedure. These principles are not specific to England but are common to all advanced systems of law. The operation and implications of these principles is discussed against the background of English law and the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights. A short introduction to English civil procedure is provided so that students not familiar with the English system could soon acquire a working knowledge. However, students coming from other jurisdiction are encouraged to consider how the principles and the ideas discussed in the lectures can play a part in their own home litigation systems.

Both lectures and seminars involve active student participation. The course consists of 16 to 22 lectures (some of 2 hours each), 8 seminars and 4 to 5 tutorials. The lectures are normally held in Michaelmas and Hilary Terms and the seminars in Trinity Term.

The seminars address central issues in contemporary procedure in England and elsewhere. The sessions are conducted by Professor Zuckerman with guest speakers, such as scholars, practitioners and judges from England and abroad. Tutorials may be concentrated in one term or spread over two or three terms and will be taken with Professor Zuckerman and Mr Higgins.

The course contains the following topics:

1. General theory of civil adjudication
2. An introduction to English civil procedure
3. The procedural implications of the European Convention on Human Rights
4. Adversarial Freedom, Court Control and Timely Justice; Sanctions for non-compliance with rules or orders; Summary Adjudication
5. Interim injunctions
6. Disclosure, including legal professional privilege and search orders
7. Class Actions
8. Appeal and Finality of Litigation
9. Justice and Costs: The “winner recovers costs from loser” rule v. The no-costs rule; Economics and justice: hourly fees, conditional fees, contingency fees; Protection from costs: payment into court; security for costs; wasted costs orders
10. Public Law Litigation: Intervention in proceedings; funding of public law litigation; peculiar features of litigation in specialist tribunals such as the Immigration Appeal Tribunal

Our taught postgraduate programme, designed to serve outstanding law students from civil law backgrounds.

The aim of the course is to acquaint students with the fundamental principles of Civil Procedure. These principles are not specific to England but are common to all advanced systems of law. The operation and implications of these principles is discussed against the background of English law and the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights. A short introduction to English civil procedure is provided so that students not familiar with the English system could soon acquire a working knowledge. However, students coming from other jurisdiction are encouraged to consider how the principles and the ideas discussed in the lectures can play a part in their own home litigation systems.

Both lectures and seminars involve active student participation. The course consists of 16 to 22 lectures (some of 2 hours each), 8 seminars and 4 to 5 tutorials. The lectures are normally held in Michaelmas and Hilary Terms and the seminars in Trinity Term.

The seminars address central issues in contemporary procedure in England and elsewhere. The sessions are conducted by Professor Zuckerman with guest speakers, such as scholars, practitioners and judges from England and abroad. Tutorials may be concentrated in one term or spread over two or three terms and will be taken with Professor Zuckerman and Mr Higgins.

The course contains the following topics:

1. General theory of civil adjudication
2. An introduction to English civil procedure
3. The procedural implications of the European Convention on Human Rights
4. Adversarial Freedom, Court Control and Timely Justice; Sanctions for non-compliance with rules or orders; Summary Adjudication
5. Interim injunctions
6. Disclosure, including legal professional privilege and search orders
7. Class Actions
8. Appeal and Finality of Litigation
9. Justice and Costs: The “winner recovers costs from loser” rule v. The no-costs rule; Economics and justice: hourly fees, conditional fees, contingency fees; Protection from costs: payment into court; security for costs; wasted costs orders
10. Public Law Litigation: Intervention in proceedings; funding of public law litigation; peculiar features of litigation in specialist tribunals such as the Immigration Appeal Tribunal