UNIT 1 ASSIGNMENT - CRIMINAL AND CIVIL
COURTS
SUPREME COURT
COURT OF APPEAL
CRIMINAL DIVISION CIVIL DIVISION
CROWN COURT HIGH COURT
QUEEN'S
FAMILY CHANCERY
BENCH
DIVISION DIVISION
DIVISION
MAGISTRATES COURT
TRIBUNAL COUNTY COURT
This diagram shows the hierarchy of criminal and civil law.
, Laws are designed to make us act in a certain way. For example, to stop at a red light
or to respect other people’s property. Many laws are written down in Acts of
Parliament but in most institutions such as schools have their own rules in which
people.
Civil Law is the term given to when an individual or a business believes their rights
have been infringed in some way. The main areas of civil law are contract, tort,
family, employment and company law. The main purpose is to redress private
wrongs between individual organisations, this is done through one organisation or
individual receiving compensation if found wronged, this is known as damages.
Examples of civil cases include, not paying the fare on a train and a company going
bankrupt and are unable to repay money it owes.
There are two types of courts within civil law, they are County and High court, these
are also known as First Instance courts. County Courts were set up in 1846 with the
aim to deal with minor cases and disputes over contracts which involve small
amounts of damages. In addition, County courts only hear claims which are below
£50,000. These cases are usually overheard by a district judge. District judges are the
lowest level of judges and usually the first appointed role as a judge. However circuit
judges are more experienced and will hear more complex cases (usually heard within
the high court). Compared to other courts such as High Court, and Crown Court, the
County Court has very limited powers, this is due to the people who are involved in
the cases and the size and cost of claims which are heard. For example, compared to
the high court, claims up to only £50,000 are heard within County court.
Furthermore cases which are heard are much more complex in the High Court
compared to County court, for example divorces which involve the custody of a child
are usually heard within the High Court as it is much more complex as there is a child
involved.
The other Court within civil law is the High Court. Unlike the County Court, there is
only one High Court in Britain, this is located in London. However, there are 20
district registries . The aim of the High Court is to hear more important cases and
claims for large amounts of damages, usually cases including high profile celebrities
and claims over £50000. Due to the size of the claims, cases are heard by High Court
judges which will also sometimes include a jury. The main difference between the
County Court and high court, is that the High Court has three divisions of which it
specialises in hearing certain types of cases, they are: QBD ( Queen's Bench Division);
Chancery Division and finally Family Division. The QBD does not hear any specific
cases, it mainly hears everything else that is not heard within the other two divisions.
COURTS
SUPREME COURT
COURT OF APPEAL
CRIMINAL DIVISION CIVIL DIVISION
CROWN COURT HIGH COURT
QUEEN'S
FAMILY CHANCERY
BENCH
DIVISION DIVISION
DIVISION
MAGISTRATES COURT
TRIBUNAL COUNTY COURT
This diagram shows the hierarchy of criminal and civil law.
, Laws are designed to make us act in a certain way. For example, to stop at a red light
or to respect other people’s property. Many laws are written down in Acts of
Parliament but in most institutions such as schools have their own rules in which
people.
Civil Law is the term given to when an individual or a business believes their rights
have been infringed in some way. The main areas of civil law are contract, tort,
family, employment and company law. The main purpose is to redress private
wrongs between individual organisations, this is done through one organisation or
individual receiving compensation if found wronged, this is known as damages.
Examples of civil cases include, not paying the fare on a train and a company going
bankrupt and are unable to repay money it owes.
There are two types of courts within civil law, they are County and High court, these
are also known as First Instance courts. County Courts were set up in 1846 with the
aim to deal with minor cases and disputes over contracts which involve small
amounts of damages. In addition, County courts only hear claims which are below
£50,000. These cases are usually overheard by a district judge. District judges are the
lowest level of judges and usually the first appointed role as a judge. However circuit
judges are more experienced and will hear more complex cases (usually heard within
the high court). Compared to other courts such as High Court, and Crown Court, the
County Court has very limited powers, this is due to the people who are involved in
the cases and the size and cost of claims which are heard. For example, compared to
the high court, claims up to only £50,000 are heard within County court.
Furthermore cases which are heard are much more complex in the High Court
compared to County court, for example divorces which involve the custody of a child
are usually heard within the High Court as it is much more complex as there is a child
involved.
The other Court within civil law is the High Court. Unlike the County Court, there is
only one High Court in Britain, this is located in London. However, there are 20
district registries . The aim of the High Court is to hear more important cases and
claims for large amounts of damages, usually cases including high profile celebrities
and claims over £50000. Due to the size of the claims, cases are heard by High Court
judges which will also sometimes include a jury. The main difference between the
County Court and high court, is that the High Court has three divisions of which it
specialises in hearing certain types of cases, they are: QBD ( Queen's Bench Division);
Chancery Division and finally Family Division. The QBD does not hear any specific
cases, it mainly hears everything else that is not heard within the other two divisions.
