Declaration
A formal binding statement about the legal rights of a party given as a remedy by a court or tribunal.
Civil Litigation
Defence
Defendant’s statement of case.
Defendant
Party against whom the claim is brought.
Deputy High Court judge
A lawyer who sits as a High Court judge for a few weeks every year.
Detailed assessment of costs
Where a district judge decides the amount of the party paying costs must pay after the end of the case.
Directions
Orders made by the court for the things that need to be done to get the claim ready for trial.
Disbursement
Extra expenses over and above the solicitor’s fees.
Disclosure of documents
The formal process of parties revealing relevant documents to each other. The term “discovery” is still sometimes used.
Discovery
An old fashioned term for disclosure of documents.
Disposal hearing
Short hearing to decide the amount of damages to be awarded where a judgment in default has been entered.