The Lord Chief Justice of England is the most senior judge in England and Wales
Roles, types and jurisdiction
Read about the types of judges, magistrates and tribunal members and their roles, responsibilities and powers.
We introduce you to the civil, criminal and family law jurisdictions and also the work of tribunals.
You can also read about a typical day in the life of a range of judicial office holders.
Lord Chief Justice
Head of the judiciary in England and Wales. Read more about the Lord Chief Justice
Civil jurisdiction
Usually involving county court cases, anything from small claims to complex claims by multi-national companies. Read more about the Civil jurisdiction
Family jurisdiction
Helps families resolve disputes, for example in divorce cases and child contact issues.. Read more about the Family jurisdiction
Criminal jurisdiction
Cases involving an individual charged with committing a criminal offence, usually takes place in a magistrates' court or in the Crown Court. Read more about the Criminal jurisdiction
Tribunals
A major part of the civil justice system, their main role is to try to bring about the resolution of disputes in specific areas of law. Read more about Tribunals
Profiles
What each type of judge does and in which court they sit. Find out more about Judicial Profiles
Roles in court
The role of the different types of judges in the various jurisdictions. Read more about judges' roles in court
A day in the life of ...
For many of us our image of a judge is that of someone in a wig and robes presiding over a court room. In reality judicial post holders' working lives involve much unseen work that happens before and after court. Read about a day in the life of a judge