3. Tribunals

Proceedings in tribunals are often relatively informal compared to the courts. Although some types of hearings take place in rooms which look very much like a court (for example in Immigration and Asylum cases) others have the tribunals judges and members and the user sitting around a table (for example in Social Security appeals).

Tribunal users often appear without legal representation so the judges and members generally explain the proceedings to users and ask questions to get more information about the case they are hearing.

Legal profession in the UK

England is unique in having two different kinds of lawyers. They are solicitors and barristers.

If a person has a legal problem, he goes to see a solicitor. Almost every town has at least one. In fact, there are about 100,000 solicitors practicing in England and Wales governed by the Law Society. Many problems are dealt with exclusively by a solicitor. For instance, the solicitor deals with petty crimes and some matrimonial matters in MC. He prepares the case and evidence. He may represent his client in the lower courts. In a civil action, he can speak in the county court, when the case is one of divorce or recovering some debts. Solicitor generally engage in preparatory work and advice, such as drafting and reviewing legal documents, preparing evidence and managing conveyancing.

Barristers are different from solicitors. There are about 15,000 barristers practicing in England and Wales governed by the Bar Standards Board. Barristers are experts in interpretation of the law and advocacy. They advise on really difficult points, and conduct legal proceedings in the higher courts. Their work includes presenting evidence, making submissions on behalf of their clients, representing parties in criminal trials, dealing with civil claims for damages. Barristers have an exclusive right of audience in the High Court and the Court of Appeal.

However, what about education of a barrister and solicitor? Is it different?

It is necessary to choose either to be a barrister or a solicitor as the training for the professions is different. A person who wishes to become a barrister completes the Bar Course Aptitude Nest (BCAT) in order to apply for the Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) at one of the Inns of Court. A third stage, known as pupilage, is a year-long apprenticeship, usually at a set of barrister’s chambers, which customarily consists of groups of 20-60 barristers.

Similarly, a person wishing to become a solicitor, must also complete 3 stages: the first stage involves gaining a law degree; the second stage requires a one-year Legal Practice Course (LPC); and the final stage entails working for 2 years as a trainee solicitor with a firm of solicitors or in the legal department of a local authority or large company.

Legal system in the Russian Federation

I’d like to tell you about system of courts in the Russian Federation. To begin with, the Judiciary of Russia interprets and applies the law of Russia. It is defined under the Constitution and law with a hierarchical structure with the Constitutional Court and Supreme Court at the apex. The judges of these courts are nominated by the President of the Russian Federation and appointed by the Federation Council. Judges of other federal courts are appointed by the President. The creation of emergency courts is not allowed by the Constitution of the Russian Federation. Courts in Russia are divided into: Constitutional courts, Ordinary courts, Arbitration courts. Constitutional courts consider cases on compliance of normative legal acts of all levels with the current Constitution of the Russian Federation – this is done by the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation. And the Constitutional (statutory) courts of the subjects of the Russian Federation check for compliance with the normative legal acts of the subjects of the Federation with their Constitutions (statutes). The main link of Ordinary courts is subject to criminal, administrative, civil and other cases, the same cases relating to military personnel and organizations in which there is a military and equivalent service are subject to military courts. Ordinary courts are divided into 2 types: military and non-military. Military are District courts and garrison military courts and Regional courts and military courts of military districts and fleets. Non-military are Appellate courts, Cassation courts, Magistrate courts, District courts and Regional courts. Arbitration courts consider judicial disputes in the field of business and other economic activities. Arbitration courts include Arbitration county courts, Court of intellectual rights, Arbitration appellate courts and Arbitration courts of subjects of Russian Federation. Now I want to move on to the most important trial. The Supreme Court of the Russian Federation is the highest judicial body in the resolution of economic disputes and in civil, criminal, administrative and other matters that are within the jurisdiction of courts established in accordance with federal constitutional law. It exercises judicial review of the activities of the abovementioned courts and provides explanations on matters of judicial practice. The requirements for candidates for the position of judge are different for each court. But still, the main requirements are age, citizenship of the Russian Federation, completed higher legal education and work experience in the legal field. Judges are independent, irremovable, immune and subject only to the Constitution. On the 1st of September, in 2021 , the relevant amendments to the law on the status of judges came into force. Now there are officially four types of disciplinary punishments for judges: a remark, a warning, a demotion in the qualification class, and early termination of the judge's powers. For ordinary crimes, judges are responsible under the Criminal Code, as are all citizens. At the same time, to exclude the possibility of pressure on justice, the legislator provided for a special procedure for bringing judges to criminal and administrative responsibility. If the judge shows bad faith at work, he can be punished in a disciplinary manner. The prosecutor’s office is not part of the judicial system and is independent of all branches of power. The Prosecutor’s Office system is headed by the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Russian Federation, led by the Prosecutor General.