Appeal

An appeal is a legal process that allows a party dissatisfied with a court's decision to request a higher court to review and potentially change that decision. Typically, appeals are made on the grounds that the lower court either applied the law incorrectly, or that the decision reached was unreasonable or unjust. The process of appealing is an essential part of the justice system, ensuring that errors in legal proceedings can be corrected and that fairness is maintained for all parties involved. When appealing, the party making the challenge is referred to as the appellant, and the opposing party is called the respondent. The appellate court reviews the transcripts and evidence from the original case but does not hear new evidence or testimony. Following this review, the appellate court can affirm, reverse, or modify the original decision.

Historically, the House of Lords served as the highest court of appeal in the UK. The party bringing an appeal to the House of Lords was reviewed by Law Lords, also known as Lords of Appeal in Ordinary. Usually, appeals were heard by a panel of five Law Lords, although in particularly significant cases, a panel of seven or even nine might be convened. For example, in A v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2004], nine Law Lords reviewed the case. Since 2009, however, the Supreme Court has replaced the House of Lords as the UK's highest court of appeal, retaining a similar function but now serving as a distinct and separate judicial body.

Appeals to the High Court occur when a party wishes to challenge a decision made by a lower court, such as the Crown Court, County Court, or Upper Tribunal. The High Court serves as an appellate body that reviews whether the decision made by the lower court was legally sound, based on the facts and evidence presented. To initiate an appeal to the High Court, the appellant must file within a specified timeframe and must have valid legal grounds, such as an error in law or fact-finding. The High Court is often the final court of appeal unless permission is granted to bring the case before the Supreme Court. Appeals to the High Court can be complex, often requiring legal guidance to navigate the procedural requirements and deadlines effectively.

The Court of Appeal is a key appellate body within the UK judicial system, divided into two sections: the Civil Division and the Criminal Division. The Civil Division hears appeals from the High Court, County Courts, and certain tribunals, while the Criminal Division handles appeals from the Crown Court. Appeals to the Court of Appeal are usually based on legal grounds such as errors in law, misinterpretations, or procedural irregularities. The court has the power to uphold, modify, or reverse the decisions made by lower courts, and in some cases, the decision may be further appealed to the Supreme Court if the issue is of sufficient legal significance.

The Supreme Court is the final court of appeal in the UK, having replaced the judicial functions of the House of Lords in 2009. It hears appeals from the Court of Appeal of England and Wales, the Court of Appeal of Northern Ireland, and the Inner House of the Court of Session in Scotland. The Supreme Court only considers cases that involve important points of law or matters with broad societal impact. As the highest appellate body, the Supreme Court’s decisions are binding on all lower courts and carry significant weight in the development and interpretation of the law. The decisions made by the Supreme Court can have a profound effect on society, as the court has the authority to provide guidance on legal principles and strike down laws deemed unconstitutional. Because of its role in interpreting and shaping the law, a Supreme Court ruling can influence daily life, business practices, and government policies, often setting precedents that guide the lower courts and future cases.
Back to blog
UOLLB SQE Turbocharge

UOLLB SQE Turbocharge

Get ready for the SQE1 with high-performance SQE Study Guides developed by UOLLB and published by UOL Press to revolutionise your study method and exam strategy.

Turbocharge SQE Performance Here

UOL Case Bank

Upon joining, you become a valuable UOL student and gain instant access to over 2,100 essential case summaries. UOL Case Bank is constantly expanding. Speed up your revision with us now.

Subscribe Now

Where are our students from?

Council of Europe
Crown Prosecution Service
Baker Mckenzie 
Yale University
University of Chicago
Columbia University
New York University
University of Michigan 
INSEAD
University of London
University College London (UCL)
London School of Economics (LSE)
King’s College London (KCL)
Royal Holloway, University of London 
Birkbeck, University of London
SOAS, University of London
University of Manchester
University of Zurich
University of York
Brandeis University
University of Exeter
University of Sheffield
Boston University
University of Washington
University of Leeds
University of Law
University of Kent
University of Hull
Queen’s University Belfast
Toronto Metropolitan University
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
University of Buckingham
ESSEC Business School

  • Criminal Practice

    Diagrams and Charts

    Our carefully designed diagrams and charts will guide you through complex legal issues.

  • Criminal Law

    Clear and Succinct Definitions

    Key concepts are concisely defined to help you understand legal topics quickly.

  • Property Law

    Statutory Provisions

    Statutory provisions are provided side by side with legal concepts to help you swiftly locate the relevant legislation.

  • Public Law

    Case Summaries

    We have summarised important cases for you so that you don't need to read long and boring cases.

  • Evidence

    Rules and Exceptions

    Rules and exceptions are clearly listed so that you know when a rule applies and when it doesn't.

  • Company Law

    Terminology

    Legal terms and key concepts are explained at the beginning of each chapter to help you learn efficiently.

  • Case Law

    Case law is provided side by side with legal concepts so that you know how legal principles and precedents were established.

  • Law Exam Guide

    Law Essay Guide

    You will learn essential law exam skills and essay writing techniques that are not taught in class.

  • Law Exam Guide

    Problem Question Guide

    We will show you how to answer problem questions step by step to achieve first-class results.

  • Conflict of Laws

    Structured Explanations

    Complex legal concepts are broken down into concise and digestible bullet point explanations.

  • Legal System and Method

    Legal Research

    You will learn legal research techniques with our study guide and become a proficient legal researcher.

  • Jurisprudence and Legal Theory

    Exam-focused

    All essential concepts, principles, and case law are included so that you can answer exam questions quickly.