Rules and Approaches to Statutory Interpretation

Start with the rules

This page is a section of Statutory Interpretation in Law (general and introduction). It brings together resources on the literal, golden and mischief rules, as well as the purposive approach. The mind maps on the literal and golden rules and on the mischief rule and purposive approach offer places to start. Use them to organize the approaches before moving on to their advantages and disadvantages.

For another view, the mind map called Statutory Interpretation introduces the literal rule and its use of the ordinary, natural meaning of words. The flashcards with the same title ask why statutory interpretation is necessary and include questions about the literal rule and its outcomes.

Compare and practice

Once you have looked at the approaches, use Rules with evaluation to practice describing the literal and golden rules and considering their advantages and disadvantages. The deck also includes a prompt about the mischief rule. Answer each prompt before checking the card, then return to a mind map when you want to organize the points again.

The slide set Advantages and Disadvantages of the Rules of Interpretation offers another way to review evaluation. You can also use the statutory interpretation case flashcards to practice recalling the cases listed there alongside your work on the rules.

Use the quizzes alongside maps

Try Statutory Interpretation Literal and Golden Rule after studying those approaches, then use Statutory Interpretation Mischief and Purposive alongside the map covering those approaches. The quiz Statutory Interpretation - The Rules of Language gives you another part of this section to practice.

Together, these resources help you move between individual rules and the wider Statutory Interpretation unit. Compare what you recall from a quiz with what you have organized in a mind map, and return to the flashcards for another review. Choose a resource and begin where you need the most practice.