Book excerpt: Civil procedure lies at the heart of the judicial process as it establishes the mechanisms by which rights and obligations are enforced. An understanding of these mechanisms is therefore essential to anyone contemplating legal proceedings. The second edition of this important text provides a rigorous, principles-based analysis of civil procedure in Australia. Relevant principles are explored against a backdrop of State, Territory and Federal rules of procedure, and solutions are offered to difficult issues encountered in practice, and to unsettled questions of law. It is now accepted in Australia that rules of procedure, case management, and the conduct of litigants should facilitate the 'just, quick and cheap' resolution of the real issues in dispute. The present edition examines this overriding objective and its consequences in practice by reference to recent case law. Attention is drawn to matters still unresolved or ripe for reform. While this work is concerned with Australian civil procedure, attention is drawn to the English experience. The book benefits from the lead author's expertise in English civil procedure and his influential role in legal reform in England, as well as from the diverse experience and expertise of the Australian authors. The book is an essential text for both legal practitioners and academics and is highly valuable for law students seeking a deeper understanding of the principles informing the rules of procedure. Features * Authoritative discussion of principles, policy and reform opportunities * Comprehensive in-depth coverage of all major topics provides detailed guidance in an evolving practice area * Rigorous principles-based analysis * Offers solutions to complex problems of civil procedure providing a framework for legal argument in uncertain areas of procedure * Covers all Australian state, territory and federal procedural rules Related Titles * Colbran & Spender, Civil Procedure: Commentary and Materials, 8th ed, 2022 * Lethbridge et al, Civil Litigation: Strategy and Practice, 2023 * Heydon, Cross on Evidence, 14th Australian ed, 2023 * Legg (ed), Resolving Civil Disputes, 2nd ed, 2024