Is this course for me?

  • If you are an Undergraduate , Pre-Masters, GDL, A-level, Access, Btec or Cilex law student who needs help understanding judicial precedent in English law, this course will help you.

How long will I have access to the course?

  • You will have access to the course for 2 years.

How will this course help me?

This course will help you to:

  • Understand what a precedent is
  • Understand the meaning of the doctrine of judicial precedent
  • Identify parts of a judgement including the ratio decidendi and obiter dicta
  • Understand how judges create judicial precedent.
  • Understand how judges avoid following precedent through distinguishing and overruling.

How is the course taught?

  • The course is taught through two recorded videos.
  • Video 1 is 36:35 minutes long.
  • Video 2 is 48:45 minutes long.
  • Two quizzes which allow you to check your knowledge are included in the course.


What methodology does the tutor use to teach the course?

  • Clear language is used to help you understand concepts such as ratio decidendi, obiter dicta and per incuriam.
  • A court hierarchy structure is explored to help you understand the doctrine of judicial precedent.
  • The judgement of R v Howe [1986] is examined to help you understand how the parts of a judgement such as ratio decidendi and obiter dicta are identified.
  • Legal case examples are used to help you understand legal concepts such as distinguishing and overruling.


The cases discussed in this course include:

  • R v Howe [1986]
  • MPC v Caldwell [1982]
  • R v G and R [2003]
  • Balfour v Balfour [1919]
  • Merritt v Merritt [1970]




I am Denise, the course creator.


I am a qualified teacher with a BA (Hons) History, LLB (Hons), and LLM in Human Rights. In addition to these qualifications I completed the CELTA (Certificate to Teach English to Speakers of Other Languages) in 2013. Then in 2016 I completed a PGCE (Post Graduate Certificate in Education for the Post-Compulsory Sector) at UCL's Institution of Education, for which I was graded an 'outstanding' educator.

Since 2015 I have taught law at UK colleges and university, including Birkbeck College, University of London and International Foundation Group, London.

I am skilled at creating and delivering courses for learners who are completing law courses at levels 2, 3, 4 and 5. Through clear language and examples I am able to help learners better understand the law and the skills needed to succeed on law courses.

If you are an A level law student, Cilex student, Btec student or an Access student, you will find my courses useful. Undergraduate law students and international students who are completing pre-masters and foundation law courses in the UK will also find the work useful.

I create courses on Contract, Tort, Criminal law, Human Rights law and the English legal system. I also create courses on introductory Business and Company law.

Get 2 years' access to Law with Denise's 'Introduction to Judicial Precedent'