This page introduces resources for finding primary, secondary, and historical sources for researching the law of the United Kingdom (UK).
The UK is made up of four countries: England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. These form three distinct legal jurisdictions. Each has its own court structure and body of law, so it is important to identify the correct jurisdiction before beginning research.
The UK is a constitutional monarchy. The King is the head of state and performs formal constitutional functions. The Prime Minister, typically the leader of the majority party in the House of Commons, serves as head of government. The UK Parliament is bicameral and consists of an elected House of Commons and a largely appointed House of Lords. Since the late 1990s, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have had their own legislatures for devolved matters such as education, health, and housing. England does not have its own legislature and is legislated for by the UK Parliament.
Following the 2016 Brexit referendum and a transition period, the UK formally left the European Union in 2020. Researchers working with older materials may still need to consider the influence of EU law. In addition, following the accession of King Charles III in 2022, some legal terminology has changed. For example, Queen's Counsel (QC) is now King's Counsel (KC), and the Queen's Bench Division is now the King's Bench Division.
The UK operates as a common law system, but with some important distinctions among its three distinct jurisdictions:
This section introduces resources for researching the historical development of UK law, including early statutes, case law, treatises, and legal histories. For US-based researchers, these materials are valuable for understanding the origins and evolution of the common law system, which continues to shape American legal doctrine, procedure, and legal reasoning. Because England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland developed distinct legal traditions over time, historical sources are often jurisdiction-specific and scattered across formats. The digital and print resources listed here can help researchers trace foundational legal principles, identify comparative insights, and analyze how historical legal thought influenced the development of modern US law.
Commentaries on the Laws of England
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The History and Analysis of the Common Law of England
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The Oxford History of the Laws of England
Introduction to English Legal History
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The UK does not have a single written or codified constitution. Instead, constitutional rules derive from several sources including statutes, judicial decisions, conventions, prerogative powers, and long-standing customs. These dispersed elements form what is commonly referred to as the UK constitution.
The resources listed below can help you locate foundational documents, case law, and scholarly analysis related to UK constitutional law.
The Constitution of the United Kingdom (2d ed.)
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The British Constitution
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The New British Constitution
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This section introduces resources for researching treaties involving the UK and other aspects of its participation in international law. The UK follows a dualist approach; treaties have no domestic legal effect unless implemented through legislation. The UK also contributes to the development of international law through its courts, legal scholars, and government practice.
Resources in this section include treaty databases, historical treaty collections, and publications that analyze the UK’s role in public and private international law.
In the UK, lawmaking authority rests with Parliament, which includes the House of Commons and the House of Lords. Members of the Commons are elected by the public. Most members of the House of Lords are appointed by the King on the advice of the Prime Minister. A small number of hereditary peers continue to hold seats under transitional rules. The monarch grants royal assent as a formal step in the legislative process, but does not exercise independent lawmaking power.
Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have legislatures that enact laws on devolved issues such as education, health, and housing: the Scottish Parliament, Senedd, and Northern Ireland Assembly. Reserved matters, including immigration, defense, and foreign policy, remain under the authority of the UK Parliament. England does not have its own legislature.
Acts of Parliament are cited by year and chapter number. Since 1963, citations have used the calendar year. For example, “2020, c 15” refers to the fifteenth act passed in 2020. Earlier citations use regnal years, which refer to the number of years since the beginning of a monarch’s reign. For example, “9 and 10 Vict, c 93” refers to the ninety-third act passed during the ninth and tenth years of Queen Victoria’s reign.cts of Parliament are cited by year and chapter number. Since 1963, citations have used the calendar year. For example, “2020, c 15” refers to the fifteenth act passed in 2020. Earlier citations use regnal years, which refer to the number of years since the beginning of a monarch’s reign. For example, “9 and 10 Vict, c 93” refers to the ninety-third act passed during the ninth and tenth years of Queen Victoria’s reign.
For more information on researching statutes enacted by the English and British Parliaments before 1715, see the Historical Research section of this guide.
The following resources support research into current and historical legislation in the UK, with a focus on tools available through Mabie Law Library for accessing statutes, amendments, and annotated commentary across jurisdictions:
Halsbury's Laws of England, 5th ed.
Halsbury's Statutes of England and Wales
Current Law Statutes Annotated
The UK court system is divided into three separate jurisdictions: England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Each has its own hierarchy of courts and procedure. The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, established in 2009, serves as the final court of appeal in most civil cases across all three jurisdictions. It also hears criminal appeals from England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
For more information on researching English courts and case law prior from 1535 to 1865, see the Historical Research section of this page.
The courts and tribunals system in England and Wales has evolved over centuries rather than being designed as a unified structure, resulting in a complex hierarchy. Civil cases usually begin in the County Court and may be appealed to the High Court and then to the Civil Division of the Court of Appeal. Criminal cases start in the Magistrates’ Courts. Less serious offenses are handled there, while more serious matters are sent to the Crown Court. Appeals from the Crown Court go to the Court of Appeal’s Criminal Division and may proceed to the UK Supreme Court.
The tribunals system operates alongside the court system with its own structure for handling appeals, although decisions from the Upper Tribunal and the Employment Appeal Tribunal may also reach the Court of Appeal. While the courts system is specific to England and Wales, some tribunals also cover matters in Northern Ireland and Scotland.
You can view an interactive diagram of the court and tribunal structure on the Judiciary website.
The two highest courts in Scotland are the Court of Session for civil matters and the High Court of Justiciary for criminal matters. Some civil appeals may reach the UK Supreme Court.
Northern Ireland
The senior courts in Northern Ireland include the High Court, Crown Court, and Court of Appeal. Civil cases typically begin in the County Court or High Court, while criminal matters start in Magistrates’ Courts and may proceed to the Crown Court for more serious offenses. The Court of Appeal hears both civil and criminal appeals and may grant leave for cases to be taken to the UK Supreme Court.
