County and High Courts Overview

A neutral third party helps both sides reach an agreement without taking sides.

A process where parties try to resolve their issue directly, potentially face-to-face.

A formal method of dispute resolution where a judge makes decisions based on evidence.

A process where a claimant uses an ET1 form to start a claim in an employment tribunal.

Judges often encourage this before legal action.

A legal claim alleging that someone has made false statements that caused harm to another's reputation.

A civil lawsuit filed when someone wrongly accuses another of a crime, resulting in prosecution.

A type of court case in England and Wales that handles claims with a value between £25,000 and £50,000.

A court where civil cases are heard in England and Wales, typically for smaller claims.

A higher court in England and Wales that handles more complex legal issues and cases involving higher financial amounts.

A process used by judges to manage civil court cases, including setting deadlines and resolving disputes.

A method of resolving disputes without going to court, such as mediation or arbitration.

Legal proceedings that deal with disputes arising between employers and employees.

Offences that are serious enough to only be tried in the Crown Court. They carry the most severe potential sentences.

Offences that can be heard in either the Magistrates' Court or the Crown Court. The choice depends on the seriousness of the crime.

Offences that are less serious than the other categories and are always heard in the Magistrates' Court. These usually have a lesser penalty than the other two.

A legal process where a convicted person applies to a higher court to review the decision of the lower court.

The process of reviewing a conviction or sentence by a higher court. The aim is to ensure that the original decision was fair and accurate.

A formal request to a higher court to reconsider a decision made by a lower court. It usually involves legal arguments and evidence.

The outcome of an appeal, where the original decision is overturned or modified.

A formal request to a higher court to review a decision made by a lower court, specifically related to the sentence given to a criminal offender.

The principle that decisions in court should be based solely on the evidence and the law, without any external influence or bias.

Groups aiming to influence government policy on specific issues, often using lobbying or public campaigns.

The idea that judges should be free from interference or pressure from the government or other external actors.

The principle that judges should be impartial and not favor one side over the other.

The legal protection of citizens' rights against the actions of the government or other entities.

The process of bringing someone to another country to face criminal charges.

A legal principle that judges' decisions are not immune from review or reversal by higher courts.

Immunity of judges from prosecution or lawsuits for their actions while carrying out their judicial duties.

A legal aid scheme that provides free legal representation to defendants in criminal cases, from the police station to the courts, including appeals.

A type of legal funding agreement where clients only pay their solicitor's fees if they win their case. If they lose, they pay nothing.

A success fee added to the solicitor's fees in a Conditional Fee Agreement, paid by the client from their compensation if they win the case.

Organizations offering various legal services, including advice and assistance to individuals and communities, often with a focus on vulnerable groups.

A network of organizations offering free legal advice to individuals who cannot afford a lawyer.

Lawyers who volunteer their time and expertise to provide free legal advice and representation to those in need.

An organization that provides free legal representation to the public, often focusing on cases with potential for social change.

Organisations providing specific and specialised legal advice on issues related to employment and other matters pertinent to their members.

A system used by the government to assess the eligibility of individuals for government funded legal services like legal aid.

The ability of individuals to access the legal system and seek justice, regardless of their financial means.

The process where a jury decides the verdict in a criminal trial.

A legal professional who represents clients in court, often specializing in specific areas of law. They are typically self-employed and work outside of chambers.

A legal professional who acts as the first contact for clients seeking legal advice. They can also represent clients in lower courts.

The judicial body responsible for hearing appeals from lower courts in both criminal and civil cases.

The highest court in the UK legal system, responsible for hearing appeals on points of law in both criminal and civil cases.

The ability of all citizens to be judged by a jury of their peers, often seen as a cornerstone of a fair and democratic legal system.

A legal process where a person is temporarily held in custody while awaiting further legal proceedings.

A legal process that allows a jury to find a defendant not guilty, even if they believe the defendant committed the crime, based on factors such as public interest or mitigating circumstances.

The principle that jurors should come from a diverse range of backgrounds, reflecting the society they are judging.

The right of a defendant to have their case heard by a jury, which is seen as a fundamental principle of a fair trial.

The requirement for a unanimous verdict in a criminal trial, meaning all jurors must agree.

The practice of allowing a majority of jurors to reach a verdict, even if not all jurors are in complete agreement.

The practice of allowing 11 jurors to reach a verdict instead of 12, allowing for a more efficient process but potentially leading to concerns about fairness.

The concern that external factors, such as media coverage, can influence or even pressure jurors, potentially affecting the fairness of a trial.

A situation where jurors reach a verdict that is not justified by the facts of the case, potentially due to bias, misunderstanding, or other factors.