The legal system can seem overwhelming at times. However, it is worth learning a bit more so that when the time comes, you know a bit about what you are dealing with.
The UK
The first thing to be aware of is that England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland all have their own legal systems. In 1973 the UK joined the European Union, meaning that a number of European laws had to become part of UK law. This has become an issue now with the EU referendum vote, meaning there is some debate as to how the British legal system will work after the UK has formally split from the European Union.
Effectively there is no UK constitution, with laws defined by the House of Commons (made up of 659 members of parliament) and the House of Lords (who receive the title of lord through factors such as hereditary titles and for public service.)
Courts
On the lower level, cases are heard at county courts. After that, cases can be taken to the high court. If a case fails there, appeals can be taken to the Supreme Court (first established in 2005). Criminal cases are heard in the Magistrate’s Court, or if it is more serious, it can be taken to the Crown Court.
Legislation
Various acts of legislation are passed, mainly Public General Acts and Personal Acts. Around 40 to 70 acts are put through every year, covering everything from childcare to personal data. Statutory Instruments are brought in before acts, with around 3500 every year, giving detail about upcoming acts before they are brought out.
Review
In 1965 the Law Commission was brought in. This body is designed to oversee laws, reviewing them and making recommendations on possible changes where necessary. For example, the laws on data protection have had to be updated to reflect the development of social media, and to ensure that companies properly protect the personal data of their customers, and it is these kinds of developments that the Law Commission looks at when making their recommendations for updating laws.
We can help
There are various websites available, including official government sites that can give you more information on how the UK legal system works. However, if you have a case that is coming up, and you are not sure whether or not you have a case, it is worth talking to someone who knows UK law.
A quick look at the Larcomes website will show you a number of professionals with specific legal experience. This is important because the skills and experience needed for a conveyancing case are likely to be different from personal injury or medical negligence.
Larcomes has always been a family firm. As the company has grown, it has managed to balance out the need for specialist resources and legal knowledge with a personal customer service that people should expect. For more information or to discuss your circumstances in more detail please contact us today, and we will be happy to go over your case and help you decide what you want to do next.