What Are Practice Directions in Civil Litigation?

Practice Directions (PDs) are official procedural instructions that complement England and Wales’ Civil Procedure Rules (CPR). While the CPR sets out the core rules and framework for managing civil cases, Practice Directions provide practical guidance on applying those rules in specific scenarios, such as serving documents, preparing witness statements, or controlling costs.

Practice Directions are issued by the Civil Procedure Rule Committee and carry legal weight. In most cases, the court will expect parties to follow Practice Directions. Some PDs are general and apply across all civil claims, while others relate to particular types of proceedings, like personal injury or claims involving children.

For example, PD 7A deals with issuing a claim, PD 16 outlines what should be included in a statement of case, and PD 57AD governs the steps relating to disclosure in the High Court disputes we deal with. Failing to comply with relevant PDs can lead to delays, sanctions, or even adverse costs orders. For this reason, anybody involved in civil litigation, whether that be as a claimant, defendant, or legal representative, should understand and follow them closely. As expert litigation solicitors we have detailed knowledge of the CPR and relevant PDs and routinely use this to our clients’ advantage wherever possible.