A Level Law Practice Exam

What is the primary purpose of law reports?

1. To influence legislative changes

2. To publicize judgments and maintain records

3. To act as precedents for future cases

4. To provide legal advice to the public

The correct answer is: To publicize judgments and maintain records

The primary purpose of law reports is to publicize judgments and maintain records. Law reports serve as an official and accessible collection of legal decisions that have been delivered by courts. They document the findings of cases and the reasoning behind judicial decisions, which contributes to the transparency and consistency of the legal system. By making judgments available to legal professionals and the public, law reports enable a better understanding of how laws are interpreted and applied in various contexts. While influencing legislative changes and providing precedents are important aspects of the legal framework, they arise as secondary effects of having detailed and accessible law reports. Law reports allow judges and legal practitioners to reference past decisions when making arguments or judgments, but their primary function is to ensure that the judgments themselves are recorded and disseminated. Providing legal advice to the public is not the objective of law reports; instead, they serve as a resource for legal professionals rather than a direct source of legal counsel for individuals.