How were legal disputes traditionally settled under the English legal system?

The traditional method of settling legal disputes under the English legal system was primarily through established common law principles, which evolved over time based on judicial decisions in individual cases. Settling disputes on a case-by-case basis before a judge allowed for the application of precedents, where decisions made in previous similar cases would influence outcomes in new cases. This system depended heavily on the interpretation and application of laws and legal principles as established through court rulings, allowing the judiciary to adapt the law to specific circumstances based on factual nuances.

While jury trials became an important mechanism in certain types of cases, they did not apply universally across all disputes in the legal system at its inception. Arbitration and private hearings also exist, but they represent alternative dispute resolution methods rather than the primary approach reflective of the traditional English legal structure. The emphasis on common law and case-by-case adjudication highlights the evolution of legal principles grounded in judicial decisions, reinforcing the idea that legal disputes were settled in the context of established legal norms and precedents.