The English Legal System

Question 1

Unpaid, part-time judges who have no legal qualifications but hear cases in the Magistrate’s courts.

Answer 1

Lay Magistrates

Question 2

Courts which are presided over by magistrates that deals with minor offences and holds preliminary hearings for more serious ones.

Answer 2

The Magistrate’s Courts

Question 3

Crimes that can be proceeded against summarily, without the right to a jury trial and/or indictment.

Answer 3

Summary offences

Question 4

Criminal offences that can be heard in the magistrates’ or Crown Court.

Answer 4

Either-way offences

Question 5

The committee in the local area which selects and recruits magistrates.

Answer 5

The Local Advisory Committee

Question 6

The person who has been delegated the responsibility of appointing Magistrates on behalf of the Queen.

Answer 6

The Lord Chancellor

Question 7

The organisation responsible for training Judges in County, the Crown, Higher Courts and Tribunals

Answer 7

The Judicial Studies Board

Question 8

Training which magistrates receive that covers matters such as the organisation of the bench, the administration of court and the roles and responsibilities they have.

Answer 8

Initial training

Question 9

When a newly trained magistrate is given a mentor to give the support required to develop competencies.

Answer 9

Mentoring

Question 10

An induction course to give magistrates the required knowledge to sit in court.

Answer 10

Core training

Question 11

Training which helps magistrates prepare for their first appraisal.

Answer 11

Consolidation training

Question 12

When a magistrate who has been specially trained will sit on the bench and observe whether the new magistrate successfully demonstrates the competences.

Answer 12

First appraisal

Question 13

Proceedings held in the Magistrate’s Court, after a criminal complaint has been filed by the prosecutor, to determine whether there is enough evidence to require a trial.

Answer 13

Preliminary hearings

Question 14

Deciding the punishment which an offender will receive for criminal behaviour.

Answer 14

Sentencing

Question 15

The measures taken to achieve justice.

Answer 15

Punishment

Question 16

Repaying or giving back to the victim of a crime.

Answer 16

Reparation

Question 17

Giving offenders the skills they need to prevent them from re-offending.

Answer 17

Rehabilitation

Question 18

Preventing possible crimes, whether it is individual deterrence or general deterrence.

Answer 18

Deterrence

Question 19

Mitigating the risks to the public of potentially dangerous individuals.

Answer 19

Public protection

Question 20

Preventing offenders from re-offending.

Answer 20

Individual deterrence

Question 21

The prevention of possible offenders from committing crimes.

Answer 21

General deterrence

Question 22

Judicial sentences consisting of mandatory custody of the convict.

Answer 22

Custodial sentences

Question 23

Monetary penalties which have been imposed upon individuals who have been convicted of a crime.

Answer 23

Financial penalties

Question 24

Set amounts of unpaid work given to convicts to give back to the community.

Answer 24

Community sentences

Question 25

When a defendant is found guilty of a crime but is given no punishment as it would be inappropriate.

Answer 25

Discharge sentences

Question 26

Non-binding guidelines that inform sentencing.

Answer 26

Sentencing guidelines

Question 27

A public body which issues guidelines on sentencing in the UK.

Answer 27

The Sentencing Council

Question 28

Factors which reduce the sentence which a judge gives.

Answer 28

Mitigating factors

Question 29

Factors that increase the sentence which a judge gives.

Answer 29

Aggravating factors

Question 30

A pressure group with centres throughout the United Kingdom that give free legal advice to assist people with money, legal, consumer and social welfare issues.

Answer 30

The Citizens Advice Bureau

Question 31

Centres which offer free legal services to the public in areas with a lack of solicitors.

Answer 31

Law Centres

Question 32

Solicitors whose services are available for free at police stations to those arrested under suspicion of committing crimes.

Answer 32

Duty Solicitors

Question 33

Insurance which the client already had before the prospect of legal proceedings arose.

Answer 33

Before-the-event insurance

Question 34

An agreement with a legal representative which provides for his or her fees, or any part of them, to be paid only in certain circumstances - usually only if the client wins the case.

Answer 34

After-the-event insurance/Conditional Fee Agreement

Question 35

An initial set of requirements which determine whether a client is entitled to free legal aid.

Answer 35

The Interest of Justice Test

Question 36

An order by Magistrates usually at a pre-liminary hearing which grants a defendant free legal aid or representation.

Answer 36

Magistrate’s representation order

Question 37

A set of requirements which determine whether a client is entitled to free legal aid in the Magistrate’s Court.

Answer 37

The Magistrate’s Court Means Test

Question 38

A set of requirements which determine whether a client is entitled to free legal aid in the Crown Court.

Answer 38

The Crown Court Means Test

Question 39

Law which has developed in a community without being deliberately invented.

Answer 39

Custom law

Question 40

Law which is created by judges in court cases.

Answer 40

Common law

Question 41

Law which is made as an Act of Parliament.

Answer 41

Statute law

Question 42

A theory which states that the three branches of government share responsibilities to avoid discretionary powers or any branch from exercising the role of another.

Answer 42

The Separation of Powers theory

Question 43

The doctrine that all people and institutions are subject to and accountable to law that is fairly applied and enforced.

Answer 43

A.V Dicey’s Rule of Law