english legal system

Question 1

can you name the 6 main courts?

Answer 1

supreme court
court of appeal
high court
crown court
county court
magistrates court

Question 2

important facts about the magistrates court

Answer 2

• cases are heard by magistrates
• hear summary and less serious triable either way offences.
• Magistrates can refer offenders to the Crown Court for more severe sentences.
• Magistrates can fine and imprison offenders. They can issue community sentences and ban offenders from driving or keeping animals.

Question 3

important facts about the crown court

Answer 3

• The Crown Court hears indictable and more serious triable either way offences.
• If a defendant pleads not guilty it is the jury that decides if they are guilty or not.
• The Crown Court also has other roles e.g. sentencing and hearing appeals from the magistrates’ court.

Question 4

important facts about the county court

Answer 4

The County Court deals with the majority of civil cases.

E.g., contract, tort, landlord and tenant, mortgages, wills, trusts, bankruptcies and insolvency.

Question 5

important facts about the high court

Answer 5

• The High Court is a course of first instance and an appeal court.
• has 3 divisions

Question 6

important facts about the court of appeals

Answer 6

• It hears appeals from the lower criminal and civil courts
• Civil Division hears civil cases on appeal from the High Court, County Court and some tribunals.
• Criminal Division hears criminal cases on appeal from the Crown Court.

Question 7

important facts about the supreme court

Answer 7

• is the final appeal court for all United Kingdom civil cases, and criminal cases
• hears appeals on points of law of general importance
  The Supreme Court hears appeals from the following courts:
• The Court of Appeal, Civil Division
• The Court of Appeal, Criminal Division
• (in some limited cases) the High Court

Question 8

Put these steps in the civil litigation process in the correct order

Allocation of case to relevant track
Court trial
Interlocutory stages
The defendant responds
Letter of claim
Executing the judgment
Issue of claim

Answer 8

1) Letter of claim
(2) Issue of claim
(3) The defendant responds
(4) Allocation of case to relevant track
(5) Interlocutory stages
(6) Court trial
(7) Executing the judgment

Question 9

What is the difference between the multi-track (MT) and fast-track (FT)?

Pick one correct answer

• MT cases last for one week. FT cases last for three days.
• All FTs take place in the High Court. However, where a MT case is very complex, it will go to the Crown Court.
  -For FT cases there is two months’ preparation time. In MT cases it will be six months.
• FT = civil litigation process for cases involving £10,000-£25,000. MT = civil litigation process for cases involving over £25,000.

Answer 9

FT = civil litigation process for cases involving £10,000-£25,000. MT = civil litigation process for cases involving over £25,000.