The English Legal system

Branches of the legal system
Criminal courts
Civil courts

Criminal courts
Magistrates court
Youth court
Crown court
Cases in criminal courts are brought by the Crown Prosecution Service

Civil courts
County court
High court
Cases in civil courts are brought by private citizens (or companies) referred to as claimants

Appeal courts
From Crown or County Court to Court of Appeal (either criminal or civil)
From Court of Appeal to UK Supreme Court
In certain circumstances from Supreme Court to European Court of Justice
Citizens may appeal against decisions of lower courts to higher courts in certain circumstances.

Legal Personnel
Two types of lawyers
Solicitors – represent clients in lower courts and undertake general legal work eg drawing up contracts and wills. Solicitors also ‘instruct’ barristers.
Barristers – Represent clients in higher courts and are usually experts in a field of law

Court personnel
Magistrates courts
Lay magistrates – Judge cases in magistrates courts usually groups of three on the “bench”. Unpaid and members of local community rather than trained lawyers
Stipendiary magistrates – (District judges) Professional lawyers who are paid to sit as full-time magistrates
Clerk to the court – The clerk has legal training and can assist the magistrates with advice on points of law

Court personnel
Crown court
Judge
Presides over trial
Ensures fair conduct and gives rulings on points of law
Sums up evidence at end of trial and may direct the jury eg as to possible verdicts and points of law
Passes sentence
Most judges are former barristers

Court personnel Crown court
Juries
Consist of 12 people aged 18-70
Drawn from electoral registers in local community
Certain occupations are exempt but the number of these have been reduced in recent years
The jury decides on the guilt of the accused based on evidence presented and following guidance from the judge about the law