A brand new edition of the very accessible and practical (and elaborate) book ‘Taking a Case to the European Court of Human Rights’ by Philip Leach has just been published at Oxford University Press. Leach is both an academic – professor at London Metropolitan University – and a practitioner – director of the European Human Rights Advocacy Centre (EHRAC) through which he and his team have assisted many applicants at the European Court of Human Rights with legal advice. This is the abstract:
Now in its third edition, Taking a Case to the European Court of Human Rights is written by an experienced human rights practitioner. It provides practical and accessible guidance on taking cases to the European Court of Human Rights. It incorporates a step-by-step approach to the litigation process, covering areas such as lodging the initial application, legal aid, costs, interim measures, friendly settlement, third party intervention, just satisfaction, enforcement of judgments, and Grand Chamber referrals.
An explanation of the key principles underlying the European Convention on Human Rights precedes an expanded and up-to-date article-by-article commentary on the substantive law of the European Convention, including derogation, reservation, and damages. The new edition has been fully revised to take account of the changes introduced by Protocol 14 in 2010.
The book includes key substantive case law developments, commentary and guidance on the amended Court rules and new practice directions, and recent changes in the Court’s processing of cases, together with advice and information on drafting pleadings, fact-finding and merits hearings before the Court.
The Court’s admissibility criteria, a critical aspect of the Convention system, are dealt with in detail, and a comprehensive set of Court forms and other precedents are included in the appendices.
A valuable tool for practioners and recommended by the current president of the Court, who referred to it as “a practical guide to the Convention system, Philip Leach’s book has proved itself to be indispensable. The new edition of the book should find an immediate place on the shelves of any practitioner contemplating bringing an application to the Court.”
