The legal system. Part 2: it's not just for lawyers

This is the second part of the two-part article intended to provide an introduction to the foundation elements of the English legal system. The 'English legal system' is a rather generic term that is often used to refer to the different sources of law and the court system in which the law is practised. Students of law will study the English legal system as a specific topic, but it is as equally important for those who work within a profession that is regulated by the law (as nursing is) to also develop an understanding of the legal boundaries within which such a profession works. This particular article follows on from our earlier consideration of the cornerstones of the legal system and looks at the different sources of law that can be found within the English legal system; focusing particularly on the concepts of common law, equity, and the impact of European sources on domestic law.