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Disclaimer
A note on what this site is — and what it is not — before you rely on anything you find here.
What ObiterRatio is
ObiterRatio is a free educational resource. The case summaries and topic pages here are exactly that — notes, written to help laymen and legal students quickly understand a case or an area of law. They are a starting point for understanding, intended to give you the gist quickly, and they are not a definitive or authoritative statement of the law.
It is not a substitute for professional advice
If you have a real legal problem, or need guidance on a specific situation, please consult a qualified solicitor or barrister. Reading these notes does not create any professional or client relationship, and we accept no responsibility for any decision taken, or not taken, on the basis of anything published here.
It may contain errors and personal interpretation
These notes are written and maintained by volunteers. They may contain mistakes or omissions, and the law may have moved on since a page was written. They also contain purely personal interpretations of judgements — readings of what cases mean and why they matter — with which other lawyers and academics may reasonably disagree.
Wherever it matters, always check the primary sources: the full judgments, the law reports, and the current legislation. If you think we have got something wrong, we would be glad to hear from you — corrections and suggestions are always welcome via the contact page.
In short
Use ObiterRatio to learn and to orient yourself quickly — but verify anything important, and take proper advice before acting on it. We share these notes in good faith and free of charge, for the love of the subject.