上上海海易易维维文文化化传传播播有有限限公公司司 1 电 话:400‐8866858, 021‐58782988, 58782955; Prepared by: Anthony Tao; ©all rights reserved; anthonytao@duanduan.com 地 址:上海市浦东新区东方路428号宏声商务中心632室(200120) 网 址: Chapter1EnglishLegalSystemI.TypesofLaw1.Whatislaw:lawisaformalmechanismofsocialcontrol.☆2.TypesofLaw:CaseLawLegislationDefinitionLawdevelopedbythejudgesastheyaredecidingcasesThisislawmadebyoronbehalfofParliament.PrivateLawPublicLawDefinitionItdealswithrelationshipsandinteractionsbetweenbusinesses,andprivateindividuals,groupsororganisations,e.g.contractandtortlaw.Itismainlyconcernedwithgovernmentandtheoperationandfunctionsofpublicorganisationssuchascouncilsandlocalauthorities,e.g.Constitutionalandadministrativelaw,criminallawandtaxlaw.CivilLawCriminalLawContentCivillawsetsouttherightsanddutiesofpersonsasbetweenthemselves.Thepersonwhoserightshavebeeninfringedcanclaimaremedyfromthewrongdoer.Theaim,therefore,ofthecivillawistoprovideameanswherebyaninjuredpartycanobtaincompensation.Criminallawisapartofpubliclaw.ItisconcernedwithconductthatisconsideredsoundesirablethattheStatepunishespersonswhotransgress.Theaim,therefore,ofthecriminallawistoregulatesocietybythethreatofpunishment.PartiesTheclaimantSuesThedefendantThestateProsecutesTheaccused/defendantBurdenofproofThenecessityofproofnormallylieswiththepersonwholayscharges,i.e.theclaimant,althoughtherearesomeexceptions:StandardofproofIftheclaimantcanprovethewrongonthebalanceofprobabilities,hislitigationissuccessfulandthedefendantisheldliable.Ifthestatecanprovetheoffencebeyondreasonabledoubt,i.e.theprosecutionissuccessfulandthedefendantisfoundguiltyandconvicted.RemediesThecivilcourtwillorderthedefendanttopaydamagesoritmightordersomeotherremediessuchasspecificperformanceorinjunctionThecriminalcourtwillsentencethedefendantafineoritmightimposesomeotherpunishmentsuchasimprisonmentCourtsThemajorcivilcourtsaredealtwithinthenextsection.TheMajorcriminalcourtsare:(1)TheMagistratesCourts;(2)TheCrownCourts;(3)TheCourtofAppeal(CriminalDivision);(4)SupremeCourtfortheUnitedKingdom.EQ11.1-Dec2007/Q1上上海海易易维维文文化化传传播播有有限限公公司司 2 电 话:400‐8866858, 021‐58782988, 58782955; Prepared by: Anthony Tao; ©all rights reserved; anthonytao@duanduan.com 地 址:上海市浦东新区东方路428号宏声商务中心632室(200120) 网 址: II.TheCivilCourts★1.Theroleofthecourts:istodecidecasesbyinterpretingandapplyingthelaw.(1)Applyingthelaw-doctrineofjudicialprecedent:thesystem,adoptedbythejudges,offollowingpreviousprecedents.(2)Interpretingthelaw-statutoryinterpretation:itisthedutyofthecourtstoapplylegislation;inordertoascertaintheintentionofParliamenttheCourtsuserulesofinterpretationandpresumptionswhenconsideringthemeaningofwordsusedinstatute.2.Maincivilcourts:3.Othercivilcourts:(1)CourtsofFirstInstance(CFI):A.HighCourtofJustice(QBD/ChD/FamD);B.CountyCourts.(2)AppellateCourts:A.SupremeCourtfortheUnitedKingdom;B.CourtofAppeal(Criminaldivision/Civildivision).(1)Magistrates’Courts;(2)CrownCourt;(3)EmploymentTribunals;(4)EmploymentAppealTribunal.4.Legalterminology:(1)Jurisdiction:jurisdictionisthepracticalauthoritygrantedtothecourtstodealwithandmakepronouncementsonlegalmattersand,byimplication,toadministerjusticewithinadefinedareaofresponsibility.CivilCourtsJurisdictionSupremeCourtfortheUKHearappealsfromtheCourtofAppealandtheHighCourtofJusticeCourtofAppeal(Criminaldivision&Civildivision)HearsappealsfromtheCountyCourtsandtheHighCourtofJusticeTheQueensBenchDivisionFirstinstancecontractandtortmulti-trackclaims;ThepowerofjudicialreviewisexercisedbytheQueensBenchDivisionalCourt.TheChanceryDivisionFirstinstanceciviljurisdictionincludesprobate,companylaw,partnershiplawandinsolvency;TheChancerydivisionhearsappealfromtheCountycountsonprobateandinsolvencymatters.HighCourtofJusticeTheFamilyDivisionIthasfirstinstanceciviljurisdictioninallmatrimonialmatters;TheFamilydivisionalcourthearsappealsfromtheMagistratesCourtonfamilymatters.ThemaincourtsCountyCourtsFirstinstancecivilclaimincontract,tort,landlord&tenant,probateandinsolvency.Magistrates’courtsMagistrateshavesomeciviljurisdictionsincludingfamilyproceedingsandenforcementoflocalauthoritychargesandrates.OthercourtsCrownCourtTheCrownCourtdealswithafewtypesofcivil上上海海易易维维文文化化传传播播有有限限公公司司 3 电 话:400‐8866858, 021‐58782988, 58782955; Prepared by: Anthony Tao; ©all rights reserved; anthonytao@duanduan.com 地 址:上海市浦东新区东方路428号宏声商务中心632室(200120) 网 址: cases,forexampleappealsfromthemagistrates’courtonmattersofaffiliation,bettingandlicensing.EmploymentTribunals(ETs)ETshaveawidejurisdictionovermostdisputesbetweenUKemployeesandemployers.EmploymentAppealTribunal(EAT)EAThearsappealfromETs.ThisisacourtofequalstatuswiththeHighCourt.Ithearsappealsfromtribunalsmainlyonemploymentmatters.(2)Appeal:itmeansaskingahighercourttoreversethedecisionofatrialcourtafterfinaljudgmentorotherlegalruling.AppellateCourtsLeapfrogAppealCourtsofFirstInstanceEQ11.2-Dec2007/Q1EQ61-June2010/Q13.Thethree-tracksystem:Onreceiptofaclaim,thecourtwillallocatethecasetooneofthreetracksforthehearing.(1)CountyCourts:TheCountyCo