Tradition and Change in Australian Law, Fifth Edition, imparts a thorough understanding of the institutions and systems of Australian law by revisiting their origins. It features a detailed explanation of the Australian legal system, past and present, covering the origins of the Western legal tradition, the importance of English history in shaping Australian law and the path from colonisation to independence. It also explains the contemporary court system, judicial reasoning and statutory interpretation. The final chapter explores the challenges for the future, given that traditions offer the framework for evolutionary change.

The fifth edition of Tradition and Change in Australian Law, which has been thoroughly revised and updated, provides an excellent foundation for students beginning the study of law. The approachable style of this popular text also makes it useful for the general reader who wants to gain an understanding of Australian law, past, present and future.