ABSTRACT
The young practitioner, in the first months of practice, is likely to deal with a wide range of matters in the magistrates’ court and other courts, including such actions as possession orders and winding up petitions. The vast majority of all crime is dealt with in the magistrates’ court. Due to the large number of courts and the fact that it is usually a lay tribunal, the organisation of the courts and the standard of the bench vary enormously. For the novice advocate, his greatest ally in the court will be the clerk, well versed in practice and procedure and in most cases willing to offer advice and assistance. Fellow lawyers are another source of helpful advice: never be afraid to ask them for assistance. Law and procedure in the magistrates’ court is covered in the three volume work Stones Justices’ Manual, Butterworths.There is a new edition published every year and it covers all statutory material relating to the workings of the court and the law for the substantive offences with which the court is concerned.However,most young practitioners carry the one volume work Blackstone’s Criminal Practice, Blackstone, updated yearly, which covers all the criminal material needed for magistrates’ court work.
