Judges And Legal Professions Flashcards
Role of Judges
Provide over court proceedings
Interpret and apply the law
Create case laws
Decide sentencing
Chair public inquiries and commissions
(As they are seen as impartial + independent )
Judicial Review
When a higher court looks at a specific case made by another court to see if they’ve made the correct decision. These decisions can be overruled .
3 main branches of legal profession
Legal executives
Solicitors
Barristers
Legal Executives
Legally qualified specialists employed largely by solicitors. Regulated by Institute of legal executives.
Solicitors
Mainly graduates who cover both civil and criminal legal work and have to be formally qualified.
Take up most of the work in Magistrates + Civil courts as well as commercial work , land and building issues.
Barristers
Graduates who become specialists in narrow aspect of the law and are employed by solicitors on behalf of their clients to represent them in the higher courts. Traditional work is advocacy.
Magistrate
Volunteer judge with no legal expertise who decides on less serious criminal cases.