Briefing Summary: The new guides provide the
latest legal information on litigation funding, initiating a
lawsuit, pre-trial proceedings, discovery, injunctive relief,
trials and hearings, settlement, damages and judgment, appeals,
costs, alternative dispute resolution (ADR) and arbitration.
1 General
1.1 General characteristics of the legal
system
The Bailiwick of Guernsey is a British Crown dependency. It is
made up of three separate legal systems: Guernsey (together with
some smaller islands), Alderney and Sark. Each island has its own
laws, court system and rules, although a significant proportion of
laws are passed on a Bailiwick-wide basis.
Sources of law
The Bailiwick is a mixed law jurisdiction, combining civil law
concepts from its time under Norman French rule, with elements of
English common law stemming from the influence of the British Crown
post-1066. Various Royal Charters through the centuries have
confirmed the Bailiwick's right to