Common Law
Law developed by judges through decisions of courts, as distinct from statute law enacted by Parliament. England & Wales has a common law legal system.
Independent editorial summary — not the official statute text. Read the official version on legislation.gov.uk.
The judiciary's own account of the constitution describes the common law as the body of law that 'developed over the centuries in the decisions of the courts', standing alongside the statutes passed by Parliament as one of the two sources of UK law.
The UK Supreme Court explicitly places itself within this tradition, describing part of its role as helping to maintain and develop 'the role of the highest court in the United Kingdom as a leader in the common law world.'
Related terms
Official sources
This explanation is drawn from the official sources below; every substantive statement is verified against them. For advice on a specific matter, see our find help page.