The Legal System in England & Wales

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts integral to understanding the legal system in England & Wales, focusing on terms used throughout the course.

Burden of Proof

The obligation to prove one's assertion, with varying standards in civil (balance of probability) and criminal (beyond reasonable doubt) cases.

Adversarial System

A legal system characterized by the opposing parties presenting their cases to an impartial judge or jury.

Crown Prosecution Service (CPS)

The principal public agency responsible for conducting criminal prosecutions in England and Wales.

Actus Reus

The 'guilty act,' or the physical act of committing a crime.

Mens Rea

The 'guilty mind,' or the mental state of the defendant at the time of committing the crime.

Magistrates' Court

The lowest court where most criminal cases start, handling summary offences and 'either way' offences.

Indictable Offences

Serious criminal offences that can only be tried in the Crown Court.

Court Hierarchy

The system of courts in England and Wales organized from lower to higher levels, including Magistrates’ Courts, Crown Courts, and the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court

The highest court in the United Kingdom, with final appellate jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases from England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Coroner's Court

A court responsible for determining the cause of death without apportioning blame.

Expert Witness

A person with specialized knowledge or expertise who provides opinion testimony in court.

Civil Proceedings

Legal actions concerned with disputes between individuals or organizations rather than criminal acts.

Jury,

A body of 12 ordinary people who are randomly selected to make a decision in a legal case.

Prosecution and Defence

The parties in a legal case where the prosecution presents the case against the defendant, who is defended by their legal counsel.

Court of Appeal

A court that hears appeals from lower courts and determines points of law.