New Directions in Private Law Theory published

New Directions in Private Law Theory has been published open access by UCL Press. The volume is co-edited by UCL academics Dr Fabiana Bettini, Martin Fischer, Professor Charles Mitchell KC (Hon) FBA and Professor Prince Saprai.

New Directions in Private Law Theory brings together some of the best new work on private law theory, reflecting the breadth of this increasingly important field. The volume showcases the work of a diverse and inclusive group of early career scholars working in the field of private law theory with the contributions interrogating a wide range of topics including aspects of private law doctrine, its development, ordering and application. 

The variety of different approaches adopted by the authors contribute to ongoing and important debates about the moral foundations of private law, the individuation of areas of private law and the connections between private law and everyday moral experience. Questions addressed include: Does the diversity identified amongst claims in unjust enrichment mean that the category is incoherent? Are claims in tort law always about compensating for wrongs? How should we understand parties’ agreement in contract? The essays shed new light on these and other topics and the ways in which they intersect and open up new lines of scholarly enquiry.

The contributors to the volume presented drafts of the chapters at an online conference hosted by UCL Laws on Thursday 11 and Friday 12 November 2021, and which received generous financial support from the Society of Legal Scholars forming part of its Annual Seminar series.