The operation of UK laws

It can be misleading to talk of UK laws. Distinction should always be made between laws as they apply in England and Wales, under Scottish law and in Northern Ireland, since the differences can sometimes be significant.

In the UK, new laws come into force almost daily, and existing laws are continually revised. Some of the laws which govern our everyday lives are hundreds of years old.

Throughout the UK laws are categorised and justice administered under the dual system of criminal law and civil law.

Criminal law – enforced throughout the UK by the police and the court system. Less serious crimes are tried in the magistrates’ court, and serious crimes in the Crown Courts

Civil law – distinction must be made between civil law of England and Wales, civil law in Scotland and civil law in Northern Ireland. Civil cases are usually a means for people to settle disputes with other people, companies or organisations. These cases can often be settled out of court using dispute resolution schemes such as mediation, arbitration and the ombudsman system

Certain UK laws have their foundations in European law. European conventions apply throughout the EU, but each EU member state must introduce their own laws based on these conventions in order for them to apply in that country. Human rights law is one area which is based fundamentally on a European convention. Interestingly, since the UK has no written constitution, this is one of the only areas where the rights of citizens are written into law.

The UK government has devolved some legal responsibilities to independent bodies which are set up by Acts of Parliament and remain answerable to parliament. This applies, for example, in the utilities, where bodies such as Ofcom, Ofgen, Ofwat, etc. are responsible for advising on new law and have the authority to enforce the regulations that apply in their particular industries.

The UK’s legal professionals are highly specialised and their activities are strictly regulated so that citizens can be sure of receiving the best advice and representation from their lawyer. The UK law system is incredibly complex, and if you need advice using a solicitor is essential.

If you would like to obtain advice on a particular aspect of UK law, Contact Law can put you in touch with a specialist solicitor free of charge. So, if you have any questions or would like our help in finding local solicitors please call us on 0800 1777 162 or complete the web-form above.