Year Books

The Year Books were a collection of British law records that emerged around 1280. These reports, primarily in abbreviated law French, documented legal arguments presented in court, with a focus on the barristers' discussions rather than the final judgments. They were crucial for legal education and the development of case law, as lawyers and judges referred to them to understand current legal practices and precedents. The Year Books were eventually printed and arranged by regnal year, becoming a vital resource for the English common law system until the Wars of the Roses disrupted legal order in the late 15th century.1