This study investigates the foundational common law principles governing individual employment contracts within the English legal system. M. R. Freedland, a recognized scholar in labor law, examines the historical and doctrinal development of the personal employment contract. The work provides a rigorous analysis of how traditional contract law intersects with the specific obligations and rights inherent in the employer-employee relationship.

Legal scholars and practitioners frequently cite this text as a foundational resource for understanding the common law basis of employment contracts. Experts note the high level of academic rigor and the precise doctrinal analysis provided throughout the volume.