A Beginner's Guide On How To Read Case Laws

LawSpot
By Himadri Jaiswal- 17/02/2025
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Introduction
Every law student has heard about the importance of studying cases from their teachers or
seniors. Naturally, they start reading case laws, but most either quit midway or become too
overwhelmed to continue.

There are several reasons for this, such as difficult terminology, complex sentence structures,
excessive citations, legal sections, and the length of cases. If you can relate to this, then this
article is for you. Here, we will explore various levels of studying case law in depth for
beginners.

Length Of The Case

One of the biggest reasons students feel overwhelmed while reading case laws is the length of
the cases they choose as beginners. Many students start with lengthy cases such as The
Kesavananda Bharati Judgment. Reading such cases as a beginner is like competing in a
world championship without attending smaller tournaments first.

Such lengthy case laws often seem impossible to finish, given the amount of time and depth
required to understand them. Therefore, a student must start their journey of reading case
laws with shorter cases.

How To Find Smaller Case Laws:- This question is natural after the above suggestion. We
must focus on finding cases that are not very long but still challenge our abilities. Based on
personal experience, one can find such cases in Contract Law, Tort Law, etc. Landmark cases
in these subjects are often of a readable length. These cases are the best starting point for
studying case laws; with time, one can gradually progress to longer cases.

Give a Quick Reading First

You might think that this is ridiculous since our goal is an in-depth understanding of a case
law. You are completely right—an in-depth understanding is our goal, but giving a quick
reading to the case is the first step toward achieving that goal. Let’s understand why this step
is necessary.

Essentially, case laws are narratives of offenses committed against a victim, followed by the
judicial process leading to justice. Sounds like a movie plot, right? This is what we need to
understand first—the story.

With a thorough initial reading, you might not remember the sections, the ratio of the
judgment, or the contentions of the parties. However, you will understand the basic storyline
of the case. In today’s time, AI can also assist with this step, but it is beneficial to do it on
your own. As a beginner, the main goal is to enhance reading skills. When you start reading
the case in depth, prior knowledge of the story will keep you engaged until the end.

First, grasp the story. Then, understand the reasoning behind it, which involves detailed facts,
issues, contentions, analysis, and judgment of the court.

Noting Down The Chronology Of Events

For this step, prepare your pen and paper, as we are starting the journey of in-depth case
study. After understanding the storyline, we need to understand the facts of the case—i.e., the
events that led the parties to court. While analysing the facts, you might encounter various
dates, or if the case is an appeal, multiple references to applications. Remembering the
chronology of these events is crucial for understanding the judgment’s reasoning.

While studying the facts, write down the important dates and events. Keep it concise—the
goal is to remember all key events.

At present, this step might seem unnecessary if the case itself is short. However, remember
that our ultimate goal is to read lengthy cases, and in those cases, this step is essential.

Recognize The Applicable Laws and Sections

After understanding the facts, identify the applicable laws and sections. This step clarifies the
subject or legal domain to which the case belongs.

If you have selected a case from a specific subject, such as Contract Law or Tort Law, you
might already know the applicable law. However, when you start reading individual cases
directly from sources, this step will be crucial to identifying the relevant laws and sections.

If you already know the applicable law, try to recognize where in the case it is explicitly
mentioned.

Understanding The Issue

In case laws, it is necessary to understand the issue. Simply put, the issue is the core reason
for the dispute on which the court needs to deliver its judgment. Identifying the issue is a
crucial step in understanding the analysis of the judgment.

Contentions Of The Parties

Now we need to understand the contentions of both the parties. In this section parties give
their reasoning on why the judgement should be in their favour. For example, if the issue is
whether a contract exists between the parties, one party will argue that the contract exists,
while the other will argue that it does not.

While analysing contentions, you will encounter various cases cited by the parties to support
their arguments. Note down these cases concisely, along with the specific points for which
they were cited. This step will greatly help when understanding the court’s reasoning.

Judgement Of The Court

Analysis Of The Judgement

Now comes the most important part—the court’s analysis. This is the portion of a case law
that serves as precedent for future cases. The analysis of a judgment is divided into two parts:

1. Ratio Decidendi
2. Obiter Dicta

Ratio Decidendi:- Ratio decidendi is the binding part of the judgement. This part includes
detailed answers of contentions of the parties, references to similar case laws, related
paragraphs of books if necessary and applicable legal provisions. Whatever observed by the
court in this part of the judgement, both the parties are bound by it. This part of the
judgement establishes the precedent for future cases.

Obiter Dicta:- These are the non-binding observations and comments of the court, which
court felt necessary to include. These statements do not hold significant weight in the
judgment.

In simpler terms, Ratio Decidendi is the crucial and determining part of the judgement while
Obiter Dicta is non crucial part of the judgement.

Some Bonus Points

 Original case laws are not divided into sections like facts, issues, contentions, etc. We
must identify these on our own. One method to distinguish the facts from the rest of
the case is to look for a phrase like, “Consequently, the plaintiff filed the case against
the defendant.” This indicates that the facts have ended and the contentions are about
to be introduced.
 Often you will find the issue in last few lines of the fact itself.
 After the end of the fact, most probably there will be contentions. Here we need to
pay keen attention to separate the contentions of both the parties.
 After that there will be analysis by the court and at last there will be judgment.
 However, not every case follows this template, so it is important to stay attentive
while reading each case.
  Additionally, always remember the names of the judges, the year of the case, and the
court where it was decided. This information is important, even from an exam
perspective.

Conclusion

Case laws are an essential part of the life of a legal professional. Therefore, having a strong
command of case law analysis is crucial. We have now reached the end of this article, and we
hope it plays a vital role in your journey of studying case laws.

》LinkedIn Summary

Tagline:- Master Case Law Reading: A Step-by-Step Guide for Legal Clarity

Understanding case laws is a crucial skill for every law student and legal professional, yet
many find it overwhelming due to complex language, lengthy judgments, and intricate legal
principles. This article by Himadri Jaiswal, A Beginner’s Guide on How to Read Case
Laws, simplifies this process, offering a structured approach to analysing legal cases with
clarity and confidence. Whether you’re just starting your journey in law or looking to refine
your case law reading skills, this guide provides practical steps to help you navigate
judgments effectively.

Read the full article to enhance your legal acumen and make case law analysis an effortless
part of your studies or practice.