Law in Context critically examines the foundations of the Australian legal system and the various contexts within which the law operates and develops. It introduces students to a wide variety of perspectives, drawing on theory, politics, sociology, and economics. Topics traverse structural issues relating to access to justice, adversarialism, and discrimination. The book also explores emerging themes related to regulation, the globalisation of law, and terrorism.

The third edition includes revised discussion questions designed to stimulate class discussion and further independent study.

Table of Contents

PART A: LAW IN A POLITICAL CONTEXT
CHAPTER 1: Introduction
CHAPTER 2: Law's Blueprints: The Political and Philosophical Foundations of Law
CHAPTER 3: Formalism and the Rule of Law

PART B: THE PROCESSES OF LAW
CHAPTER 4: Access to Justice
CHAPTER 5: Litigation
CHAPTER 6: Lawyers, Clients and Ethics
CHAPTER 7: The Politics of Law-Making
CHAPTER 8: Gender
CHAPTER 9: Race and Multiculturalism

PART C: LAW AND REGULATION
CHAPTER 10: Law and Regulation
CHAPTER 11: Foundations of Economic Analysis
CHAPTER 12: Economics and the Common Law
CHAPTER 13: Economics and Government Regulation
CHAPTER 14: Law, Globalism and Terrorism

"This excellent book will... give you many ways to think about law - many ways to conceptualise it, contextualise it, and criticise it. The authors are... not afraid to express a point of view. Yet, if you take the real message of this book, you will not necessarily agree with them. You will apply your own mind to the issues. You will expose their predilections and challenge their points of view. You will begin to supply your own answer to the question, 'what is law?'"

-- Professor Michael Coper, Dean & Robert Garran Professor of Law, The Australian National University