Civil Procedure Rules

The Civil Procedure Rules lay down the rules governing procedural aspects of the conduct of legal proceedings in the UK. The CPR were enacted in 1998 and replaced the Rules of the Supreme Court, with effect from 26 April 1999.

The CPR were enacted as a result of reforms proposed by the then Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Lord Woolf, in his report Access to Justice 1996 and govern proceedings in civil litigation conducted before the Court of Appeal, High Court and County Courts. Practice Directions supplement the different Parts to set out the requirements and matter relevant to the main thrust of each Part of the CPR.

In parts, the Civil Procedure Rules set out substantive elements of the law in certain matters, but are generally focussed on matters of procedure before county courts and the High Court.  The Civil Procedure Rules are supplemented by Practice Directions and the Pre-Action Protocols, all of which are updated and amended regularly.

Usage: The requirements of documents to be filed in court, methods of obtaining relief, pre-action protocols and the administration of justice are set out in detail in the Civil Procedure Rules.

Related Words: overriding objective; pre-action protocols; claim form; particulars of claim; witness statement; affidavit; Defence: Litigation; request for further information and clarification; Part 36 Offer.

Useful Material:

1. Civil Procedure Rules at the Department of Constitutional Affairs