The courts are the arm of the State established to make and enforce binding adjudications. This is the only form of dispute resolution that one party can compel the other to attend. This definition encompasses tribunals and small claims arbitration. These are essentially courts with specialised or restricted jurisdictions that operate different rules of procedure and evidence from the longer-established courts. Tribunals are very different from one another in terms of the nature of the issues they deal with, their workload, procedures and administrative arrangements.
Many tribunals deal with issues of administrative justice.
Some, notably the Industrial Tribunal, adjudicate disputes between private parties. The following section gives some basic facts and figures about civil justice. These illustrate the diverse and fragmented nature of the scheme. A number of studies have confirmed that the vast majority of potential cases are either not pursued at all or resolved informally. Most provide services free at the point of delivery as a matter of principle.