Includes bibliographical references.

Contents: Historical introduction: The Courts -- The common law -- Trial at common law -- Civil jurisdiction: Civil law and criminal law -- County courts -- The High court -- The Mode of trial -- The Enforcement of judgments and orders -- The Restrictive practices court -- The Civil division of the court of appeal and the house of lords -- The Judicial committee of the privy council -- Arbitration -- Criminal jurisdiction: The General pattern of Courts with original criminal jurisdiction -- Reorganisation of the higher criminal courts -- The Process of prosecution -- Criminal procedure -- The defence of criminal charges -- Lay justices and stipendiary magistrates -- The Impact on magistrates' courts of the reorganisation of the higher criminal courts -- Affiliation and Matrimonial jurisdiction of justices -- Juvenile courts -- The Probation and after-care service -- The Process of sentencing -- Habeas corpus -- Contempt of court -- The Personnel of the law: Solicitors -- Barristers -- Legal education -- Should the profession continue to be divided into barristers and solicitors? -- Judges -- Juries -- Court officials -- The Cost of the law: The Finances of the law courts -- 'Costs' -- Legal aid -- Special tribunals: The Creation of special tribunals -- Examples of special tribunals -- The Distinction between ministers' decisions, special tribunals and law courts -- The Franks committee and the aftermath -- Control by the law courts -- The Outlook for reforms -- Appendix: The location of courts under the courts act 1971.