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The Bar: barristers are "called to the Bar" when they have finished their training, and as a result are then allowed to represent clients. The Bar is also a collective term for all barristers, represented by the General Council of the Bar.

The Bench: judges or magistrates sitting in court are collectively known as "the Bench". The CrownThe institution of the monarchy, or the historical power of the monarchy, usually exercised today through government and courts. It is the Crown which brings all criminal cases to court, via the Crown Prosecution Service.

The Crown Court: the Crown Court deals with all crime committed for trial by magistrates' courts. Cases for trial are heard before a judge and jury. The Crown Court also acts as an appeal court for cases heard and dealt with by magistrates.

The Judicial Executive Board (JEB): the Board provides leadership, direction and support to the judiciary of England and Wales. It comprises the Lord Chief Justice, Master of the Rolls, President of the Queen’s Bench Division, President of the Family Division, Chancellor of the High Court, and two Lords Justices.

Tort: a civil wrong committed against a person for which compensation may be sought through a civil court, eg personal injury, negligent driving or libel.

Tribunals: they are an important part of the judicial system, but function outside of courtrooms. There are almost 100 different tribunals in England and Wales, each dedicated to a specific area - from pensions appeals to asylum and VAT matters. It is an extremely diverse system - the largest tribunal hears over 300,000 cases a year, while some rarely sit. Some are based on a presidential structure, while some are regional; some panels are legally qualified, some are not. Some tribunals are very formal, with legal representation common, but many are not.