Civil Courts

Question 1

Civil claims =

Answer 1

Claims made in civil courts when an individual or a business believes that their rights have been infringed in some way

Question 2

Number of county courts
What does county court do
Which judge

Answer 2

200
All contract and tort claims
All cases for recovery of land
Circuit and district

Question 3

3 divisions of high court

Answer 3

Queens bench division
The chancery division
Family division

Question 4

Queens bench division

Answer 4

Biggest
Contract and tort cases where amount is over £100,000
Single judge occasionally jury

Question 5

4 Pre trial procedures

Answer 5

Negotiate
ADR
Pre-action protocol: list of things to be done
Give info to each other

Question 6

County court

Answer 6

£100,000 or less

PI £50,000 or less

Question 7

High court

Answer 7

Over £100,000

PI over £50,000

Question 8

Pre trial county court

Answer 8

Issue a claim in any of 200 courts

Question 9

Pre trial high court

Answer 9

Go to one of 20 district registries
Claim a form N1
Fill it in
Fee charged for issuing claim 
Higher claim higher fee

Question 10

Pre trial Defending claim

Answer 10

Pay full amount
Or
Defend through acknowledgement of service form N9
Within 14 day’s of receiving claim

Question 11

Small claims track

Answer 11

Under £10,000
PI £1000
Can be heard in private 
District judge can be flexible 
Parties can represent themselves

Question 12

Fast track claims

Answer 12

£10,000-£25,000
Strict timetable for Pre-trial
Case heard within 30 weeks (more like 50) 
One day hearing 
One expert allowed

Question 13

Multi track

Answer 13

Over £25,000
Heard by judge who manages the case
Identify issues early on 
Encourage ADR
Fixed timetables
Parties may not need to attend court

Question 14

Reform of civil justice system - lord Woolf 1999

Answer 14

Brought in three track system
Encouraged AdR
Simpliefied terminology 
After reforms- increase amount for small claims track
For future - online court

Question 15

Appeal county court district judge

Answer 15

To Circuit judge in same county court

Question 16

Appeal county court circuit judge

Answer 16

To a high court judge

Question 17

Second Appeal to

Answer 17

Court of appeal (civil division)

Question 18

Appeal high court

Answer 18

To court of appeal (civil division)

May leapfrog to Supreme Court (national importance)

Question 19

5 Advantages of using courts

Answer 19

Fair process
Trial by legal expert
Enforcement of the courts decision is easier
An appeal process
Legal aid available

Question 20

4 disadvantages of using courts

Answer 20

Cost
Delay
Complicated process
Uncertainty