Where a civil claim starts, which track it follows and where an appeal goes — the architecture that shapes every case from issue to final judgment.
Choosing the wrong court or misjudging a claim's track has real consequences for cost, procedure and recoverable fees, so the framework matters from the outset. This chapter begins with the hierarchy of the civil courts and the overriding objective that governs how every case is managed, then sets out the financial thresholds dividing the County Court from the High Court and the work of its three divisions. It moves on to claims with specialist or exclusive jurisdiction, from judicial review to the Commercial Court, before explaining how cases are allocated to a track and the distinct features of the small claims, fast, intermediate and multi-tracks. It closes with the tribunal system, including employment claims, and the routes, grounds and permission tests that govern civil appeals.
