The legal year and term dates

The legal year traditionally begins in October and courts sit for four terms during the year. The start of the legal year is marked by a procession of judges arriving at Westminster Abbey from Temple Bar for a religious service and the 'breakfast' reception in Westminster Hall which follows.

The term dates for the legal year apply to sittings in the High Court and Court of Appeal only, and are fixed in accordance with the Practice Direction which supplements Part 39 of the Civil Procedure Rules available on the Ministry of Justice website

Judges are expected to sit in court for a certain number of days during the year, as well as completing out-of-court duties such as writing judgments and keeping up to date with the law.