An Appellant is the person who appeals to the highter court against a decision made by a lower court. See Appeal.

An Appointer is the person who uses a power of appointment.

The Bar Council is the professional body for barristers in England and Wales. It provides representation and services for the Bar, and Guidance on issues of professional practice.

Visit The Bar Council for more information.

Who is a Barrister and what do they do?

A Barrister is a lawyer with the right to speak and argue as an advocate in higher lawcourts. Barristers are instructed by solicitors. They specialise in a particular field of law and can present a case in any court, where as a solicitor's rights to speak in court are limited.
Another term for Barrister is 'Counsel'.
Barristers normally have no direct contact with the public and appear in court when instructed to do so by a solicitor.
Barristers put legal arguments to judges, magistrates and juries, and they cross-examine witnesses to attempt to control the outcome of a court case.
Only barristers or qualified Solicitor Advocates may represent clients in the higher courts.

A Bench Chairman is the Magistrate who sits in the centre of the two other Magistrates in Court. They are responsible for addressing the court on behalf of thier colleagues and presiding over the proceedings.

A Bench Chairman is elected annually by other members of the bench to act as their leader, representative, and spokesperson.

On either side of the chairman sit the two ‘wingers’.

A Circuit Judge is a senior judge who presides over cases in the Crown Court.

The Coroner of Inquests is an independent judicial officer who follows laws which apply to coroners and inquests. In the Isle of Man, the Coroner of Inquests is always the High Bailiff or the Deputy High Bailiff.
The Coroner of Inquests inquires into deaths which appear violent, unnatural, sudden or unexplained.
A full inquest will determine:-
• who has died;
• where the death occurred
• when the death occurred; and
• how the person died.
An inquest is not a trial and the Coroner does not apportion blame.

This not to be confused with a Coroner (Isle of Man).

A District Judge is a type of Magistrate who is legally qualified and paid.

• They usually sit alone and are addressed as Sir or Madam.
• They decide 'mode of trial', take plea, consider evidence and give a verdict making the decision whether to remand, bail or place the individual in custody.
• If the accused is found guilty the District Judge passes sentence or may refer the case to Crown Court (see allocation of either way offences in a Magistrates Court).
• They perform the same role as Justice's of the Peace.

Prior to August 2000, District Judges were known as Stipendiary Magistrates.

Who is a Duty Solicitor?

In the United Kingdom a duty solicitor is a solicitor whose services are available to a person either suspected of, or charged with, a criminal offence pro bono (free of charge), if the person does not have access to a solicitor of their own.

In England and Wales, there are two duty solicitor schemes which operate in parallel:

• The Police Station Duty Solicitor scheme enables a person who is arrested on suspicion of a criminal offence to consult with a solicitor, either in person or on the telephone, or both, whilst in police custody. This right is most often taken up when the suspect is to be interviewed concerning their suspected involvement in the commission of a crime.
• The Court Duty Solicitor scheme allows a person that has already been charged with an offence to consult with and be represented by a solicitor at the Magistrates' Court on their first appearance if they do not have, or simply have not contacted, their own solicitor.

The Faculty of Advocates is an independent body of lawyers who have been admitted to practise as Advocates before the courts of Scotland.

A High Court Enforcement Officer is an officer appointed by the Lord Chancellor to enforce High Court judgements and orders.

HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) is an agency of the Minitry of Justice responsible for administering all 650 Crown, county, tribunal, and magistrates’ courts in England and Wales. In each locality the HMCTS Delivery Director and Cluster Manager are responsible for running the courts.

HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) is governed by a partnership agreement between the Lord Chancellor and Lord Chief Justice and responsible for responsible for the administration of the criminal, civil and family courts and tribunals in England and Wales and non-devolved tribunals in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The stated aims of HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) are to implement the effective, efficient and speedy operation of the courts and tribunals procedures allowing individuals access to justice according to their different needs, whether as victims or witnesses of crime, defendants accused of crimes, consumers in debt, children at risk of harm, businesses involved in commercial disputes or as individuals asserting their employment rights or challenging the decisions of government bodies.

How to address a Court - What to call Judges/Magistrates:

Magistrates Court, Youth Court & Family Court Proceedings
District Judge: Sir/Madam
Chairman of Lay Bench: Sir/Madam
Members of Lay Bench: Your Worships

Tribunals
Chairman: Sir/Madam
Other members: Sir/Madam                                      

County Court - Civil Justice Centres
Circuit Judge: Your Honour
Recorder or any person sitting as a deputy Circuit Judge: Your Honour
District Judge: Sir/Madam
                     
Crown Court
High Court Judge: My Lord/My Lady
Circuit Judge: Your Honour 
Lay Bench sitting with a judge on appeal against sentencing in a magistrates court: Your Honour's colleagues
Recorder or any person sitting as a deputy Circuit Judge: Your Honour
Exceptions:  

• Any person sitting as a Judge at the Central Criminal Court:  My Lord/My Lady 
• Recorder of Manchester/ Liverpool:  My Lord/My Lady

                        
High Court
Judge: My Lord/My Lady
Any Circuit Judge sitting as a Judge of the High Court: My Lord/My Lady
District Judge: Sir/Madam
Master: Master                                    

Court of Appeal 
Lord Justice: My Lord/My Lady  

House of Lords  
Lord of Appeal in Ordinary: My Lord/My Lady  

If you are a witness in a criminal trial and need help to communicate your evidence, you can request to use a Registered Intermediary. Registered Intermediaries are approved by the court. Their role is to explain to the witness any questions the court, defence and prosecution teams may ask. They also communicate the answers that the witness gives in response. They must not change the meaning of what they explain.

Intermediaries remain neutral throughout a court case and do not act for the defence, the prosecution or the witness.

Intermediaries may also be used at a Police station when giving evidence (interview under caution).

A Legal Interpreter is a qualified person who can assist in the communication between two or more people who are not speaking the same language.
For more information and to find a Legal Interpretation company click here.

The Judicial Office (JO) is an independent organisation which reports to the Lord Chief Justice. Its purpose is to support the judiciary in upholding the rule of law and in delivering justice impartially, speedily and efficiently.

The Judicial Office includes professional trainers, legal advisers and communication experts, policy makers, and administrators.

A Justice of the Peace, also known as a Lay Magistrate is a person who hears criminal cases such as theft, assault, breach of the peace and road traffic offences in the local courts. Generally they are not legally qualified; however, a legally qualified person can become a Justice of the Peace, but cannot act in any proceedings in a Justice of the Peace Court (Magistrates Court) within their own judicial district.

This role is now known as Legal Advisors to the Justices.

A juvenile is an adolescent who may display a lack of maturity, and in law is referred to as a minor.

A Lay Magistrate, also known as Justice of the Peace, has no legal qualifications. They are unpaid and usually three sit together. They are addressed as your worship, sir or madam.

Legal Advisors to the Justices are qualified solicitors or barristers who manage the Magistrates' Courts Service and provide legal advice to lay magistrates.
They also train newly appointed magistrates, act as secretaries to management and selection committees, and liaise with other professionals in the criminal justice system.

This role was previously known as Justices Clerks, or Clerks to the Justice.

The cabinet minister who acts as speaker of the House of Lords and oversees the hearings of the Law Lords. Additional responsibilities include supervising the procedure of Courts other than Magistrates or Coroners Courts and selection of judges, magistrates, queens counsel and members of tribunals.

Magistrates for England and Wales are appointed by the Lord Chancellor on behalf of the Queen.

The Lord Chancellor has a particular responsibility for working to ensure the judiciary reflects the diversity of society as a whole.

The Lord Chancellor is also responsible, with the agreement of the Lord Chief Justice, for the removal of magistrates who have been found to have acted improperly. In considering appointment and disciplinary matters, he relies on the advice of his advisory committees.

The Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales is head of the judiciary. This includes acting as the Senior judge of the Court of Appeal (Criminal Division) and is also head of the Queens Bench Division of the High Court of Justice.

The Lord Chief Justice is also responsible for the welfare, training, and deployment of magistrates; for approving the names of candidates recommended to the Lord Chancellor for appointment; and for disciplinary action, short of removal, where a magistrate has been found to have acted improperly. The Lord Chief Justice is also President of the Magistrates' Association.

There are two types of Magistrate: 

• Lay, or Justice of the Peace - has no legal qualifications and is unpaid. Usually three sit together,one of whom is chairperson. Magistrates are members of the public who rely on a Court Clerk, or Justice Clerk to advise on points of law.

• District Judge - legally qualified and paid. Usually sits alone and is addressed 'Sir' or 'Madam'.

The Ministry of Justice states its work is to protect the public and reduce reoffending, and to provide a more effective, transparent and responsive criminal justice system for victims and the public.

The Minitry of Justice also supports the Lord Chancellor, with the independent advice of the Judicial Office, on the appointment of magistrates and on some magistrate related policy areas.

The Ministry Of Justice is responsible for the following ares of the justice system:

• courts
• prisons
• probation services
• attendance centres

The Ministry Of Justice also works in partnership with the other government departments and agencies to reform the criminal justice system and serve the public and support the victims of crime. The Ministry Of Justice is also responsible for making new laws, strengthening democracy, and safeguarding human rights.

The stated priorities of the Ministry of Justice are to:

• reduce reoffending by using the skills of the public, private and voluntary sectors
• reduce youth crime by putting education at the centre of youth justice
• build a prison system that delivers maximum value for money
• reduce the cost of legal aid and ensure it helps those cases that genuinely need it
• improve the way our courts are run and put the needs of victims first

Depending on the jurisdiction and application, the age of a Minor may vary, but is usually marked at either 12, 16, 18, 20, or 21. Currently in the UK this is someone below 18 years of age and unable to sue or be sued without representation, other than for wages. A minor sues by a next friend and defends by a guardian. A minor is also refered to as an 'infant'. See also Young Offender.

A Privy Council is a body of people appointed by the Crown and may include royalty and former cabinet ministers. Its main purpose is to give confidential advice to the head of state, i.e The Queen.

Up to date information can be found at the Privy Council Office.

The Probation Service provides probation supervision, community service, and specialist support services, to both adult and young offenders. The aim of the service is to stop individuals from committing further offences.

The Prosecuting Counsel presents and argues the case for the Crown. They take instructions (brief) from the prosecutung solicitor. The Prosecuting Counsel can deal direct with the case officer and may be a Queens Counsel (QC).

The term 'Purple  Judge' refers to Circuit Judges  who are senior Judges in Crown and County Court. Such judges wear purple dress robes must be addressed as 'Your Honour.

The Queens Bench Division is a division of the High Court. It has authority to deal with civil disputes involving the recovery of money, including breach of contracts and personal injury.

The term 'Red Judge' refers to a High Court Judge. Such judges wear a red gown and must be addressed as 'My Lord' or 'My Lady', where as a Circuit Judge would be addressed as 'Your Honour'. A red Judge sits in Crown Court and the Court of Appeal

The Senior Presiding Judge is a Board member of HM Courts and Tribunals Service and oversees the work of Presiding Judges on each circuit in England and Wales, providing a general point of contact between the judiciary, the courts and government departments.

The Senior Presiding Judge holds delegated authority from the Lord Chief Justice to exercise a range of functions in respect of the judiciary; for example, statutory concurrence with the Lord Chancellor’s decision to appoint a magistrate and assigning magistrates to local justice areas. It is also the Senior Presiding Judge who issues guidance about issues affecting the judiciary.

The Senior Presiding Judge for England and Wales serves a three-year term. In January 2013, Lord Justice Gross became the new Senior Presiding Judge.

Queens Counsel's are also known as ‘silks’ because when a barrister is invited to be a Queen's Counsel they are allowed to wear coloured robes, traditionally made of silk. When a barrister is appointed as a QC, they are said to ‘take silk’. QCs are the most experienced, senior barristers and judges are usually appointed from their ranks.

Solicitors are the initial point of contact when an individual has a legal problem. Their role is to meet with prospective clients, hear the client's problems, give legal advice, drafts letters and documents, negotiate on the client's behalf, handle the clients money and prepare the client's case for trial corresponding with other parties involved.
Solicitors can only represent their clients in a criminal case that is heard in the magistrates Court. However, if a legal matter is referred to a higher Court then the Solicitor will instruct a Barrister to act on their client’s behalf.
Some Solicitors do have a higher right of Audience allowing them to do the same work as Barristers and are known as Solicitor Advocates.

A Solicitor General assists the Attorney General, who both advise the Government.

William Blackstone is an iconic figure in law. He was born in 1723 and educated at Charterhouse and Pembroke College in Oxford. He was called to the Bar in 1746 and appointed Solicitor General in 1763.

Between 1765 and 1769 his lectures were published in the form of Commentaries on the Laws of England.

In 1770 he was appointed a judge of the Common Pleas (after entering Parliament in 1768).

As well as his famous Commentaries, he also wrote an Analysis of the Laws of England.

He died in February, 1780. 

The term "Wingers" refers to the two magistrates that sit either side of the Bench Chairman in Magistrates Court