Sources of Law

• Legislation

: 

Acts of Parliament, 

Orders, by-laws

• Common law

:

ancient law, 

derived from customs and 
interpreted in court by judges

• European Union Law

: 

economic and social matters

 

 

Criminal charge

• Crown Prosecution Service
• The Director of Public 

Prosecution

• Chief Crown Prosecutors

 

 

 

 

Criminal Law

 Magistrates’ courts         lay magistrates

                                         

(Justice of Peace)

 Crown courts                   circuit judges
 High courts                      judges

                                          

(Mr. Justice)

 The Court of Appeal        judges 

 

(criminal division)                 

(Mr. Justice)

 The Supreme Court

               

judges 

   

(Justice)

 

 

circuit judge

 

 

Mr Justice

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appeals

 Magistrates’ courts – 

                               crown court 

                                  High Court of Justice
 Crown court

High Court of Justice-The Court of 
Appeal

 The Court of Appeal-The Supreme Court

 

 

 

 

Juvenile Courts   lay 

magistrates

Coroners’ Courts    
coroners

  

   

lawyer 

                             

doctor