The Gazette 1983

GAZETTE

N O V E M B E R

1983

BOOK REVIEW

Osborn's Concise Law Dictionary, 7th edition, by Roger Bird, Sweet and Maxwell. 389 pages. £4.50 (Stg.)

When I was first asked to review a dictionary I felt that it would be as useful an exercise as writing an index for one. Thankfully this book is a lot more than a dictionary. It is a mini-encyclopaedia of legal words and phrases. The major portion of the bo ok is taken up with an A-Z of legal words and phrases which are not merely defined, but explained in a very concise and comprehensive fashion. Where appropriate, case references and statutory references are given. While these references are to the relevant British Law, they are, nonetheless an excellent source for Irish practitioners. With our system o f legal education geared towards the examination system, the study of law does not always allow the luxury of a wider study of legal terminology and maxima. This book contains a great number of Latin phrases and for those wishing to impress their colleagues or friends this book is a must. For the practitioner the book is a very useful reference work and for the student of law an excellent source of concise and simple definitions. For the practitioner who is consulted for the first time in a dispute over foldage, a quick search in Osborn will reveal that foldage is the right of the Lord of the Manor of having his tenants' sheep to feed on his fields so as to manure the land in return for which the Lord provides a fold for the sheep. The law has changed considerably since Percy George Osborn brought out the first edition of this bo ok in 1927 and Mr. Bird has made an excellent j ob of up-dating the definitions. The definition of injunction contains a reference to a Mareva injunction. The An t on Piller Order is also defined although curiously classified under Piller Anton. The An t on Piller Order is also cross-referenced in the definition of discovery of documents. I was somewhat disappointed in the definition of Eire which states "Southern Ireland". The definition goes on to state that the Ireland Act, 1949, recognised and declared the independence of the Republic of Ireland and that Eire ceased to be part of H.M. dominions "but it is not a foreign country". I tried to follow up the benefits or drawbacks o f not being a foreign country, but I am afraid the definition of foreign merely says "outside the jurisdiction". The book finishes with a detailed list of Law Reports and their abbreviations and a list of English Sovereigns and their Regnal years. The list of Reports is certainly very useful. The list contains the abbreviations of most Irish Law Reports, but omits the Irish Law Reports Monthly. This list is comprehensive enough to contain Watermeyers Supreme Court Reports Cape of G o od Ho p e, but unfortunately does not contain any references to American Law Reports, which 1 feel is a surprising omission due to the increase in recent times of the use of American Case law, particularly in the U.K. I would strongly r e c ommend this bo ok, either as a source of information or as a source of g o od spelling and at £4.50 Stg. it is excellent value. •

PHOTO-COPIERS INTERNATIONAL LIMITED Phone: 304211 Telex: 33164

MEMBER OF THE EUROPEAN COPIER COUNCIL We offer you a complete range of machines to suit your needs, low volume or high volume, and most important fast efficient service at very reasonable prices. Should you have an existing copier and you are not happy with the service you get, or the price you pay for supplies and meter charge, then give us a call you could be surprised with the savings, nationwide service. Why not give us a call, we rant and laaaa and also otter good trade outs. Walter Conan Ltd., Academic-Legal-Civil-Clerical Robemakers. Telephone - 97/730 - 971887

PHKI.AN - CONAN GROUP

WOODI I Kill MOl'SI . HOI I YHANK AVI M'l . RANI I AC.11 D.h

Official Robemakers To:- The Incorporated I.aw Socictv of Ireland also N.U.I. N . C . F . A. N.I.H.F. Q.U.B. We eater for all English universities anil the Intcr-Collcgatc code of North America and Canada.

Gary Byrne

283