Across the UK, law courts play a vital role in ensuring that justice is accessible to all citizens.

The legal sector in Northern Ireland includes solicitors and barristers, similar to the rest of the UK. However, they are regulated by bodies specific to Northern Ireland, such as the Law Society of Northern Ireland and the Bar of Northern Ireland.

In the constitutional and administrative law arena, court decisions have also been profoundly significant. The UK does not have a single written constitution, so the courts play a vital role in defining constitutional principles. For instance, in R (Miller) v Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union (2017), the Supreme Court ruled that the government could not trigger Article 50 (to begin Brexit) without parliamentary approval. This affirmed the principle of parliamentary sovereignty.

In civil matters, the High Court of Justice in Northern Ireland has jurisdiction over complex and high-value cases. It is made up of three divisions: the Queen’s Bench Division, the Chancery Division, and the Family Division. These divisions handle everything from judicial review and commercial disputes to family breakdowns and probate.

These courts are not just places where legal disputes are resolved; they also provide essential support and assistance to individuals navigating the legal system. From offering guidance to those who cannot afford legal representation to ensuring that vulnerable individuals are protected, UK law courts are an important part of the justice system. This article will explore the various ways in which law courts in the UK help the public, including legal aid, court assistance services, and more.

Trust in the courts has steadily increased over recent decades, thanks in part to judicial transparency, media access to courtrooms, and outreach programs that educate the public about the role of courts in a democratic society.