Civil Courts. County court. Jurisdiction.

First instance civil claims in example contract, tort, landlord and tenant, probate and insolvency. Composition. A single district judge sitting alone deals with small track claims. A single circuit judge sitting alone deals with fast track and multi-track claims. Appeal. In the main lies to the court of appeal, but probate and insolvency appeals lie to the chancery divisional court. High court of justice. Jurisdiction. For jurisdictional purposes the high court has three divisions, the queens bench division, the chancery division and the family division. The Queens bench division. Mainly first instance contract and tort multi-track claims. The power of judicial review is exercised by the queens bench divisional court. The Chancery division. Its first instance civil jurisdiction includes probate, company law, partnership law and insolvency. The chancery divisional court hears appeals from the county court on probate and insolvency matters. The family division. It has first instance civil jurisdiction in all matrimonial matters. It hears appeals from the magistrates court on family matters. Composition. At first instance a single high court judge sits alone but as a divisional, (appellate), court two or sometimes three judges sit. Appeal. Appeal from the high courts first instance jurisdiction lies to the court of appeal, although exceptionally a leap frog appeal may be made direct to the supreme court if the appeal is on a point of law of importance on which there is already in existence a binding court of appeal precedent. The appeals from the divisional courts lie to the supreme court. The three tracks system. Mainly of relevance to contract and tort claims in the county court and the high court. On a receipt of a claim, the court will allocate the case to one of three tracks for the hearing. The County courts hears all claims allocated to small claims track, the majority of fast track cases and some multi-track cases. The high court hears some fast track cases and most multi-track cases. Small claims track is for simple claims valued at no more than 5000. The hearing is informal, there are limited grounds for appeal and the costs of lawyers are not usually awarded. Fast track provides a streamlined procedure for moderately valued claims (5000 to 25000). Multi track provides a flexible procedure for high value, (over 25000),and complex claims.

Court of appeal. Jurisdiction. Hears appeals from the county courts and the high court of justice. Composition. Three lords justice of appeal sit to hear a case. Appeal. Lies to the supreme court. Supreme court. Jurisdiction. Hears appeals from the court of appeal and the high court of justice. Composition. Usually 5 law lords, (lords of appeal in ordinary), sit to hear a case. Magistrates court. Although its jurisdiction is mainly criminal, sitting as a family proceedings court it has a small but important civil first instance jurisdiction dealing with matters under the children act 1989 such as council care orders. It also has jurisdiction to deal with recovery of council tax arrears. Employment appeal tribunal. Jurisdiction. Hears appeals on a point of law from the local employment tribunals. The employment tribunals deal with actions by employee v employer, (example unfair dismissal). Composition. A high court judge plus two or four expert laymen. Appeal. Lies to the court of appeal.