CitizenReady
Home › Topics › Courts & Justice

Topic: Courts & Justice

INTERACTIVE TOPIC · CHAPTER 5 — GOVERNMENT, THE LAW AND YOUR ROLE

Courts & Justice

Two kinds of case, a ladder of courts, and a Scottish system with rules of its own. Climb the ladder, sort criminal from civil, and flip the legal professions.

⏱ About 10 minutesPASS PACK TOPIC7 learning blocksMastery check: 6 real questions
0 of 7 learning blocks done
STEP 1 · PRIME YOUR BRAIN

Before we start — have a guess

Two warm-up questions from the courtroom.

How many people sit on a jury in England, Wales and Northern Ireland?

Where are the least serious criminal cases heard?

STEP 2 · THE PICTURE

The court ladder

Magistrates’ Court — minor offences, unpaid magistrates, no jury
Crown Court — serious trials, a judge and a jury of 12
Court of Appeal — hears appeals against convictions and sentences
The Supreme Court — the final appeal court for the whole UK, in London

Cases start low and can climb on appeal. And there are two kinds of case all the way up: criminal (the state prosecutes) and civil (people and organisations in dispute).

STEP 3 · LEARN BY DOING — 1 OF 3

Climb the ladder

Tap the courts in order, lowest first.

LEARN BY DOING — 2 OF 3

Criminal or civil?

Tap a case to select it, then tap its bucket.

⚖️ Criminal case

📄 Civil case

LEARN BY DOING — 3 OF 3

Match the courts

Tap a court, then tap the work it does.

THE LEGAL WORLD

Flip the details

Answer in your head first, then tap to check.

TAP TO REVEAL

How is Scotland’s system different?

Scotland has its own courts — the Sheriff Court and the High Court of Justiciary — juries of 15, and a third possible verdict: “not proven”.

TAP TO REVEAL

Criminal or civil — what changes?

Criminal cases must be proved beyond reasonable doubt. Civil cases are decided on the balance of probabilities — a lower bar.

TAP TO REVEAL

Solicitor or barrister — who does what?

Solicitors advise clients and prepare cases. Barristers speak for them in court — the advocates in wigs and gowns.

TAP TO REVEAL

What if you cannot afford a lawyer?

You may qualify for legal aid — help with legal costs — and Citizens Advice gives free guidance to everyone.

STEP 4 · QUICKFIRE RECALL

True or false — no thinking time allowed

STEP 5 · MASTERY CHECK

Six real questions on this topic

Score 5 or 6 and this topic is marked mastered on your path. Anything less: revisit the block you missed and retake.

Question 1 of 60 answered · 0 correct
Question 1 · Chapter 5: Government, Law & Your Role
A jury in England, Wales and Northern Ireland has 12 members.
Juries in England, Wales and Northern Ireland have 12 members; in Scotland a jury has 15 members.
Question 2 · Chapter 5: Government, Law & Your Role
A person accused of stealing from a shop would normally face which kind of court case?
Criminal law deals with offences such as theft and assault, which are treated as crimes against society and can lead to prosecution.
Question 3 · Chapter 5: Government, Law & Your Role
The most serious criminal cases in Scotland, such as murder, are heard in which court?
The High Court of Justiciary is Scotland's highest criminal court and hears the most serious cases, such as murder and rape.
Question 4 · Chapter 5: Government, Law & Your Role
Which court is the highest court in the United Kingdom, hearing final appeals?
The UK Supreme Court is the final court of appeal in the UK for civil cases, and for criminal cases from England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Question 5 · Chapter 5: Government, Law & Your Role
In England and Wales, people in which age range can be called for jury service?
In England and Wales you can be summoned for jury service if you are aged between 18 and 70 and on the electoral register. (The upper age limit has since risen to 75, but 18 to 70 is the range the test is based on.)
Question 6 · Chapter 5: Government, Law & Your Role
Which TWO of these rights are protected by the European Convention on Human Rights?
Choose TWO answers — select both to see the result
The European Convention protects civil and political rights, including the right to a fair trial and an absolute ban on torture and inhuman or degrading treatment. It does not guarantee anyone a large house provided free by the state, or a job for life.

✓ green = correct · ✗ red = wrong · 🚩 red ring = marked for review · gold outline = current question

✕ Exit to Topics
STEP 6 · TEACH IT BACK

Say it in your own words

Explain the difference between a criminal and a civil case, and name the courts where each kind is heard. Say it out loud or write it down — then compare.

Reveal a model answer

In a criminal case the state prosecutes someone accused of a crime, and guilt must be proved beyond reasonable doubt; minor cases are heard in a Magistrates’ Court and serious ones in the Crown Court, before a jury. In a civil case, people or organisations settle a dispute — decided on the balance of probabilities — usually in the County Court, with small claims handled by a simpler track. Either kind can climb on appeal to the Court of Appeal and finally the Supreme Court.

Where next?

Drill all of Chapter 5 in the Chapter 5 practice sets, or pick your next topic on the Topics path.