What to Expect When You Go to Court

Description

Outline of England and Wales civil and criminal litigation, practice and procedure. NB: out of date, many changes since 2005 including "temporary" COVID-19 related governmental legislative measures from 2020 onwards. What to Expect When You Go to Court - Front Cover Half-title Title Page Printer's Imprint CONTENTS Introduction 1. How the legal system works Legal terms explained Using the legal system to resolve disputes The structure of the court system Criminal cases Civil cases The county court Small claims in the county court The magistrates' court Criminal offences in the magistrates' court The youth court Civil cases in the magistrates' court The Crown Court The High Court The Family Division The Queen's Bench Division The Chancery Division The Court of Appeal The House of Lords The Court of First Instance The European Court of Justice of the European Communities The European Court of Human Rights 2. Legal Help Solicitors Choosing the right firm Using a solicitor Other sources of legal advice Legal aid What does the scheme cover Legal problems covered by the scheme Financial conditions for the scheme Income Extra costs that the person may have to pay How to apply 3. Solving disputes before taking legal action Payments into court Timing of court action Damages Damages for criminal injury Procedures Benefits and award limits Compensable costs Emergency awards Funding Appealing against a CICA decision What to do if you are sued 4. Procedure in the Crown Court The jury Complaining about jury service Inside a Crown Court Court etiquette The judge Barristers Solicitors Clerk The usher The Crown Prosecution Service The defendant Witnesses The press The public Court reporter Dock Officer Case study -- guide to a criminal case Background to the case The procedure Summary of trial process in the Crown Court 5. Procedure in the County Courts County courts The Civil Procedure Rules Circuit judges Registrars County court jurisdiction Small claims procedure Tribunals Civil cases in the county court Case study outlining county court procedure The case process Summary of the trial process in the county court 6. Using the County Court: Commencing a Small Claim Commencing a claim Types of case dealt with in the small claims track Types of claims in the small claims court Actions before applying to court Which court deals with a small claim Commencing a claim Applying for the claim form to be issued If the case is not defended If the defendant is defending the case The day of the hearing Preparing a case The final hearing Appealing against a decision Enforcement of orders Useful addresses Glossary of terms Appendix 1: Court Charters 1. Courts Charter for the Civil Courts 2. Court Charter for the Crown Court Other titles in the Straightforward Guides Series Rear Cover