The Court System (U.K.) Trivia Quiz

Answer: Magistrates Court

In England and Wales, the majority of cases are heard in a magistrates court, meaning that they are either summary offences or triable either way offences. As the name of the court suggests, the cases are heard by magistrates, who are usually on a bench of three, and have limited sentencing powers.

In Scotland they're heard in the Justices of the Peace Courts which, in 2007, replaced the District Courts.

Answer: Jury

In a crown court there will be a jury of 10-12 people from the local area who have been randomly selected to hear the case. They decide whether the defendant is guilty or not guilty, depending on the evidence that they have heard in court. The judge will then decide what the sentence for the defendant will be.

The barristers are the legal representatives for either the defence or the prosecution and a magistrate will not participate in the legal proceedings of a crown court.

Answer: County Court

The county court is the lowest court in the hierarchy for civil courts. It has several divisions, each one designed to make the legal procedure quicker and easier for the claimant. After the county court is the high court, which is also split into separate divisions, the court of appeal civil division and the house of lords.

Answer: Court of Appeal

The court of appeal will have a separate division for civil cases- obviously called the civil division- and will have a division for criminal cases. The crown court, as you know, deals with criminal cases, while the high court and county court deal specifically with civil cases.

Answer: Legal Advisor

In a magistrates court, the legal adviser takes notes throughout the case and will summarise it to the magistrates before they leave the court to discuss whether the defendant is guilty or not guilty and what the sentence should be for them. This summary should be unbiased, in order to encourage a fair and reasonable decision.

Answer: Large Claims Track

The small claims track is used for claims up to £5000, or £1000 for personal injury, the advantages being that it is quick, cheap and efficient. The fast track is used for claims between £5000 and £15,000 where the claimants are often successful and there will usually be a maximum of a one day hearing. Finally, the multi track, which is not mentioned above, is for claims over £15,000 or for more complicated cases.

It is important to remember the differences between these three tracks as you may be asked to explain them in the exam.

Answer: Circuit Judge

Although district judges usually oversee cases in the County Court, it is important to remember that Circuit Judges will usually oversee fast track cases. A Circuit Judge is usually someone with 10 years experience working in courts. The office of the Circuit Judge was established by the Courts Act 1971.

Answer: All of these

The Chancery Division of the High Court usually deals with cases involving probate, trusts (money inherited by minors who are too young to use it), property, business partnerships, and mortgages. The cases will normally be presided over by the Lord Chancellor (or his deputy).

Answer: Youths

YOT stands for youth offending team, often working in magistrates courts, they are a team designed to prevent young offenders from re-offending. An example of a sentence which may be imposed upon young offenders is a term in a young offenders institute.

Answer: False

ADR, alternative dispute resolution, is a way of settling disputes without going to court, which is usually costly, time consuming or inappropriate. The most common forms of ADR are negotiation, mediation and arbitration.

Answer: Arbitration

Arbitration is a way of settling disputes when the parties allow a third person to settle their dispute and agree to follow that decision. Arbitration is governed by the Arbitration Act 1996 and the third party who settles the dispute is called an arbitrator.

Answer: Lord Justice of Appeal

A lord justice of appeal oversees cases in the civil division of the court of appeal and must have been a barrister for at least 15 years, has to have been a high court judge for several years and is appointed by the Queen on the advice of the prime minister. They will listen to appeals from the country court and the high court.

Answer: Law Lord

The law lords will hear appeals from the court of appeal in groups of three. The position of law lord means that that person must have been a barrister for at least 15 years, amoungst other requirements.

Answer: Legal aid is readily available

The small claims procedure has many advantages, such as: it is easy to recover small amounts of money quickly and cheaply, no solicitor is needed, and it is heard in an ordinary court, not in private. However, there are also disadvantages, for example, there is no legal aid available and a limited right to appeal, it is difficult to enforce the judgement, and a less experienced judge may oversee the case.

Answer: Social Security Tribunals

Social security tribunals hear claims on disputes about unemployment and sickness benefits. Employment tribunals hear cases where there has been an unfair dismissal and cases concerning redundancy payment. There are also rent tribunals, land tribunals, immigration tribunals, and mental health review tribunals. These are fairly self-explanatory.