Legal System Flashcards
What is a civil claim?
Claims made in the civil courts when an individual or business believes their rights have been infringed in some way
What is the county court?
Their main areas of jurisdiction are:
- all contract and tort claims
- all cases for the recovery of land
- disputes over equitable matters such as trusts up to a value of £350,000
Which judge hear cases in the county court?
Circuit judge or district judge
What is the high court?
The high court is based all around the country and has the jurisdiction to hear any civil case.
There are three division:
- queens bench division
- Chancery division
- family division
What is the queens bench division?
This is the biggest of the divisions which deals with contract and torr cases where an amount is claimed over £100,000.
What is the chancery division?
The main business of this division involves disputes with such matters as:
- insolvency, both for companies and individuals
- mortgages
- trust property
- copyright and patents
- intellectual property matters
- probate actions
What is the family division?
This division hears family cases where there is a dispute about which country’s law’s should apply.
What is the small claims track?
For disputes under £10,000
What is the fast track?
For straightforward disputes in between £10,000 to £25,000
What is the multi- track?
For cases over £25,000 or for complex cases under this amount
What is the effects of the Woolf reforms?
There is now much better co-operation between the parties lawyers
Gave judges responsibility of managing cases via the three track system
What are the advantages of using the courts?
- The process is fair (impartial judge)
- Trial is conducted by a legal expert
- There is an appeals process
- May be possible to gain legal aid
What are the disadvantages of using the courts?
- There are high costs of taking a case to court
- There is often huge delay in cases
- Sometimes the process is complicated and the appellant may not understand this
- There is huge uncertainty surrounding cases and the losing person may have to cover the others costs
What is a tribunal?
Forums used instead of a court for deciding certain types of disputes
What is the advantaged of using a tribunal?
- Tribunals are much cheaper than court
- The hearings are very quick
- The hearing is more informal meaning it may be easier to understand
- In some tribunals lawyers sit in (experts)