Role of a jury One of the most well known features of the English legal system is the jury. Juries have been used for centuries and remain an important part of the criminal justice system today. They ensure that ordinary members of the public play a direct role in deciding whether someone accused of a crime is guilty or not guilty. This blog will explain the role of a jury throughout a criminal trial. A jury is only used in the Crown Court, which deals with the most serious c

The aims of sentencing The Aims of Sentencing in English Law When a person is found guilty of a criminal offence, the judge or magistrate must decide on an appropriate sentence. Before the magistrates or judges can choose a punishment, they first must consider what they are trying to achieve through that sentence. Sentencing is not simply about punishing someone; it is also about protecting society, reducing crime, helping offenders change their behaviour, and supporting vict

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Ultra Vires Delegated legislation plays a very important role in the UK legal system. It allows individuals or bodies other than Parliament to make law using powers granted to them in an Enabling Act (also known as a Parent Act). Whilst this system allows laws to be made quickly and by people with specialist knowledge, it also raises an important constitutional issue in the fact that delegated legislation is created by unelected individuals. Due to this, delegated legislation

Role of Barristers Barristers are specialist legal professionals who primarily represent clients in court. The role of a barrister can be interesting and varied. They are experts in advocacy, which means that they represent their clients in court by presenting legal arguments and evidence in front of a judge and sometimes a jury. Barristers play a key role in the justice system in England and Wales, particularly in more serious or complex cases heard in higher courts such as

Role of a Judge

Advantages and Disadvantages of the Purposive Rule In our previous blog post we explored the different rules that are used by judges to interpret the words or phrases of an Act of Parliament. You can access this blog here. Within this blog we are going to delve further into the rules of statutory interpretation and evaluate the use of the purposive rule. We will explore the advantages and disadvantages of the purposive rule in detail. You can access the evaluation of each o

Advantages and disadvantages of the mischief rule In our previous blog post we explored the different rules that are used by judges to interpret the words or phrases of an Act of Parliament. You can access this blog here. Within this blog we are going to delve further into the rules of statutory interpretation and evaluate the use of the mischief rule. We will explore the advantages and disadvantages of the mischief rule in detail. You can access the evaluation of each of t

Advantages and Disadvantages of the Golden Rule In our previous blog posts we have explored the different rules that are used by judges to interpret the words or phrases of an Act of Parliament. You can access this blog here. Within this blog we are going to delve further into the rules of statutory interpretation and evaluate the use of the golden rule. We will explore the advantages and disadvantages of the golden rule in detail. You can access the evaluation of each of t

Advantages and Disadvantages of the Literal Rule In our previous blog post we explored the different rules that are used by judges to interpret the words or phrases of an Act of Parliament. You can access this blog here. Within this blog we are going to delve further into the rules of statutory interpretation and evaluate the use of the literal rule. We will explore the advantages and disadvantages of the literal rule in detail. You can access the evaluation of each of the

Statutory Interpretation What is Statutory Interpretation? Before we begin our exploration of the different rules of interpretation, it is important to know why statutory interpretation exists in our legal system. To understand this topic, we must first understand that Acts of Parliament are laws made by Parliament and they are the main source of law in the UK. Once an Act has been passed, it is the role of judges to apply the laws and rules contained within the Act when deci

Advantages and Disadvantages of using a jury Juries have been a central feature of the English legal system for centuries. In criminal trials, they play a vital role in deciding whether a defendant is guilty or not guilty. While many see juries as a symbol of democracy and fairness, their use is not without criticism. This blog will explore both the advantages and disadvantages of using a jury in criminal trials. Advantages of Using a Jury: Private Decisions: One of the key a

This blog explores the different non-custodial sentences available in the UK.

The Role of Magistrates Magistrates are lay people, which means that they have no formal legal training. They are volunteer judges who sit in the Magistrates Court and play a vital role in the justice system. Despite being volunteers, they deal with the vast majority of criminal cases. In fact, magistrates handle around 97% of all criminal cases from start to finish. To become a magistrate, there are no formal academic qualifications needed. Instead, applicants must: Be aged

The Role of Solicitors In the UK legal system, a solicitor is a type of lawyer who provides expert legal advice and support to clients. Solicitors often work directly with individuals, businesses, or organisations to handle legal matters, prepare documents, and offer guidance upon the law. They can also represent clients in criminal cases in the lower courts, and with additional qualifications, they can represent clients in higher courts too. Solicitors play a key role in ens

Introduction to Law When you begin to study law in the UK, one of the first and most important foundations to understand is the difference between civil law and criminal law. These two branches of law have very different purposes, processes, and outcomes. Knowing how they differ will help you make sense of the entire legal system, from who brings a case to court, to which judges hear it, to what the final decision means. Civil law is concerned with settling disputes between i

Types of Delegated Legislation When studying UK law, it’s important to understand that not all laws are made directly by Parliament. In fact, a lot of the day to day rules and regulations that affect us are made by other people or bodies, these are known as pieces of delegated legislation. Let’s break down the words delegated legislation. The word delegate means to pass on responsibility or authority. And as law students we known that legislation means the law. So, delegated

The Four Tracks in Civil Cases If you're studying A-level or BTEC Law, it is important to know how civil cases and claims are allocated...