ENThe paper includes overview of relevant legal literature and foreign practice. Analysis mainly focuses on criteria, according to which, a decision to depart from precedent may be based. It raises questions when it is acceptable to distinguish cases, when the precedent seems applicable at first sight; when to overrule a precedent on the basis of a mistake in the judgment, which is being overruled; etc. Findings are compared with the status quo of Lithuanian doctrine of precedent and some suggestions are made for optimal harmonisation of flexibility and stability of case law. [From the publication]