CIVIL COURTS

Question 1

COURTS OF FIRST INSTANCE

Answer 1

The county court and High court

Question 2

Woolf Reforms

Answer 2

Simplified procedure
Better case management
ADR is encouraged, can postpone for 1 month to attempt to settle with ADR. Halsey v Milton Keynes, can’t be forced to do ADR.

Question 3

TRACK SYSTEM

Answer 3

Small claims = up to £10,000, tried in small claims court
Fast track = between £10,000 and £25,000, tried in county court
Multi-track = cases above £25,000, tried in county court or high court

Question 4

APPEALS - HIGH COURT

Answer 4

Each division (King’s bench, family, chancery) has an appellate division (I.e. Family Divisional Court).
Hears appeals from the county court.

Question 5

APPEALS - COURT OF APPEAL

Answer 5

The head is called the ‘Master of the Rolls’. Hears appeals from all lower courts inc. the Tribunal Service. A minimum of three judges sit. Requires leave to appeal.

Question 6

APPEALS - SUPREME COURT

Answer 6

Hears cases that are certified as either involving a point of law or being of general public importance. Only ~50 cases heard per year. Requires leave to appeal.

Question 7

LEAPFROG

Answer 7

Cases can ‘leapfrog’ from the High Court to the Supreme Court. Supreme Court must give permission.

Question 8

PRE - WOOLF REFORMS

Answer 8

Expensive, long delays, unjust, complex, adversarial