This text for law students and practitioners examines the way in which judges reason about rules and principles of law both when following existing precedents and creating new ones. Looks at the doctrine of precedent and how it has developed in the Australian judicial system. Discusses the kinds of reasoning judges can use when they are not bound to, or wish to avoid a precedent. Includes a table of cases, a table of legislation and an index. MacAdam is a senior lecturer and Pyke is a lecturer in the faculty of law, Queensland University of Technology.