All lawyers have an in-built need to revisit the great cases of the past. After all, that is the basis upon which common law is founded. A retrospective look at the people and circumstances behind the results of these great cases gives tremendous insight and understanding, as well as revealing a human side to the events which is not always apparent from the law reports. This collection of essays examines key cases (both UK and international) that have changed or created the rules and procedures which govern our lives and which we abide by - cases which have changed our lives. The book sets out the facts of each case and examines its impact, with emphasis on the human angle of the story, including:

* Who were the people involved? * What was actually decided in the case? * What happened later and how what was decided on the facts changed our lives? * What were the later implications for that area of law and/or other areas of law? * What legacy has the case left?

The themes addressed by the book support the rule of law, demonstrating that using something as abstract as judicial reasoning, we create a set of rules and procedures which govern our lives. The rule of law involves the acceptance of this intellectual and abstract concept.

With contributions from leading practitioners in their fields, this book gives an insight into the importance of case law and the impact it has on our lives.