The Legal System: Civil Courts and Other Forms of Dispute Resolution
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Civil courts handle non-criminal cases that concern disputes between private individuals or organisations. Such cases might involve claims for compensation or damages, divorce, breach of contract and land disputes.
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The lowest tier in the hierarchy of civil courts is the County Court. It has limited powers and handles smaller claims such as bankruptcy and repossession of property.
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Above the County Court are the High Court and the Court of Appeal. The High Court makes decisions on more serious civil matters like big claims for damages and complicated cases. It is divided into three divisions: the Queen's Bench Division, the Chancery Division, and the Family Division.
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The Court of Appeal is further divided into the Civil Division and the Criminal Division. The Civil Division hears appeals case from the High Court and County Court.
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At the top of the civil court system is the Supreme Court, hearing only the most important cases. It also hears appeals from lower courts.
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Aside from the traditional system of civil courts, there are other methods of settling disputes including arbitration, mediation and negotiation.
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Arbitration involves a neutral third party (the arbitrator) deciding a dispute. The parties involved present their arguments and evidence to the arbitrator, who makes a decision which is legally binding.
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Mediation is less formal than arbitration and more flexible. The mediator helps the parties to reach their own, mutually acceptable agreement. It is often quicker, cheaper, and more confidential than going through the courts.
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Negotiation is the simplest and most common form of dispute resolution. The parties involved, with or without legal representation, directly communicate with each other to try to reach an agreement.
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Understanding the advantages and disadvantages of each method of dispute resolution can help in choosing the most appropriate one. For instance, while court proceedings might be more expensive and time-consuming, they might be necessary in situations where there is a significant power imbalance between the parties.