In NSW, there are two categories of law: civil law and criminal
law. Civil law is a system that defines and protects citizen
rights. It offers resolutions for legal disputes in areas such as
property, contracts and family law. It pretty much deals with every
legal matter outside of criminal law.
As a lawyer who practices predominantly in civil law, I'm
often asked what the best method is to commence legal proceedings.
Thus, I've written this brief outline.
Initiating legal action
Under civil law, there are a number of ways to commence legal
proceedings. These include issuing a statement of claim, a summons,
a notice of motion, or a writ (which is now used for a slightly
different purpose than it was originally designed for).
