Steel square. The steel square is a tool that carpenters use. They use many tools to lay out a square or right-angle, many of which are made of steel, but the title steel square refers to a specific long-armed square that has additional uses for measurement, especially of angles, as well as simple right-angles.
At present appeals from the Sheriff Court in civil cases can be made either to the Sheriff Principal or direct to the Inner House of the Court of Session. The choice is largely down to the parties. The Bill sets up a new Sheriff Appeal Court which is intended to hear the vast majority of appeals from Sheriff Courts.
These are also sometimes called the small claims courts, although they also hear more serious cases. The most serious ones are heard in the High Court. About 1.4 million civil claims and petitions are brought to the county courts each year. Typically only about 3-4% of these require a hearing. In the vast majority of cases, either the defendant does nothing so the claimant can ask the court to order the defendant to pay the amount claimed, or the disputes are settled without a court hearing being needed. More about how courts work...