Introduction
A Q&A guide to the legal system in the UK.
The Q&A gives a high level overview of the key legal concepts including the constitution, system of governance and the general legislative process; the main sources of law; the court structure and hierarchy; the judiciary and its appointment; the general rules of civil and criminal litigation, including reporting restrictions, evidentiary requirements, the roles of the judge and counsel, burdens of proof and penalties.
This resource may be affected by Brexit. The UK left the EU on 31 January 2020. The transition period ended on 31 December 2020 (see Brexit essentials: Q&As on agreements and operation of UK law: What happened at the end of the transition period?). If you require more specific information, please see Beyond Brexit: the legal implications.