The influence of individuals

Before the 1970s, academic writing was not typically cited in court. But academics took part with members of the professions in the Law Revision Committee (and its successor the Law Commission).

When the Law Revision Committee was established, the Permanent Secretary of the Lord Chancellor suggested the academics he favoured, Gutteridge and McNair, as members. Subsequently the chairman, Lord Wright, added two others, Winfield and Stallybrass.

These individuals were able to shape the reform of tort law, for example the Law Reform (Contributory Negligence) Act 1945, which made it possible to reduce the amount of compensation awarded to the victim of an accident who has contributed to his own injury, e.g. a careless pedestrian walking into the path of a speeding car.