1: Nature of Law

• Custom:

  Unwritten rules that are undeliberately established on traditional views within a community (e.g taking off shoes)
• Common Law:

  Unwritten law developed from customs and judicial decisions based on relevance to society
• Statute Law

  Written law from Parliament passed by both Houses of Parliament and received by Royal Assent
• Criminal and Civil: Courts

  Courts that deal with criminal law is the supreme court, court of appeal, crown court, magistrates court and high court

  Courts that deal with civil law is the high court, county court and court of appeal
• Criminal and Civil: Standard of proof

  Criminal standard of proof is beyond reasonable doubt

  Civil standard of proof is on the balance of probabilities
• Criminal and Civil: Two parties and decision

  Two parties in Criminal law is the defendant and prosecutor

  Two parties in civil law is the defendant and the claimant

  Decision in criminal law is guilty or not guilty

  Decsion in civil law is liable or not liable