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Plea and Case Management Hearings: a preliminary hearing, before a judge at a Crown Court, where the accused may indicate whether or not they plan to plead guilty and have the chance to argue that there is insufficient evidence for the case to go before a jury. Directions are also given on matters such as what evidence will be admitted.

Policy: the Government sets out its policy on a wide range of issues, for example through manifesto pledges and in response to events or changes in society. In a lot of cases, after consultation, they will then look to make this policy law by placing a Bill before Parliament.

Practice Directions: they are directions which deal with a specific practice or procedures (for example, the use of expert evidence, or a certain form, or the setting of costs) relating to a particular court. They need to be read in conjunction with the overall Court Rules in order to have a better understanding of how the Court operates. They are written in plain English although it is legal professionals who will mainly consider Practice Directions.

Preferment: advancing to a higher rank; another term for promotion.

President of the Family Division (PFD): the President of the Family Division of the High Court and Head of Family Justice presides over cases in the Court of Appeal, and is also administrative head of the Family Division of the High Court. Based at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, the Family Division hears some of the most sensitive cases to come before the courts, especially those involving children and young persons.

Pre-trial Hearing: a short court hearing at which a judge considers how ready all parties in a case may be for the trial and fixes a timetable where necessary.

Privilege: the right of a party to refuse to disclose a document or produce a document or to refuse to answer questions on the ground of some special interest recognised by law.

Probate: the legal recognition of the validity of a will.

Prosecution: the beginning or conduct of criminal proceedings against a person.

Protocol: occasionally, senior judges will set out protocols or guidance for the way in which criminal cases should be handled. For example they may share good practice, which can help judges to reduce delays in court proceedings.

Pupillage: pupillage is the final stage of training to be a barrister. It usually takes a year to complete, with the year divided into two six-month periods spent in a set of chambers.