Court of Session Ordinary Actions (Scotland): A Practical Procedural Guide from Summons and Service to Defences, Adjustment/Amendment, Debate/Proof/Jury, Summary Decree, Motions, Enforcement, Expenses, Appeals and Virtual Hearings

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Practice notes

Civil justice reform

See our Practice Note, Civil justice reform in Scotland—virtual hearings and electronic submission of documents, for authoritative guidance on the current rules and practice in the Scottish civil courts concerning virtual hearings and the electronic signing, secure transmission and lodging of documents. This Practice Note supplies practical and procedural guidance on ordinary actions proceeding in the Court of Session.

For information on:

substantive and procedural matters to consider before commencing a civil action in the Scottish courts, including the jurisdiction of the Court of Session, see Practice Note: Starting a civil claim in Scotland
the role of the Court of Session, how it is constituted and the binding nature of its judgements, see Practice Note: Civil court structure in Scotland

Key:

RCS—Rules of the Court of Session 1994

What is an ordinary action?

An ordinary action is one that follows the ordinary cause procedure set out in the RCS. The ordinary cause procedure was initially intended to cover most categories of action but, since its inception, distinct rules and procedure have been developed for specified types of cases, such as group proceedings, commercial actions, family cases and cases involving personal injury...

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Jim Cormack

Pinsent Masons

Jim is a Solicitor Advocate with rights of audience in all civil and criminal courts in Scotland and in England & Wales, and is lead partner on Pinsent Mason's advocacy programme. He has extensive experience as an advocate before courts and in other types of dispute resolution. His recent advocacy work includes success in a trial before the Commercial Court of the High Court in London and success in a case heard before the General Court of the European Union. Jim also has a particular interest in alternative dispute resolution, being a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and an accredited mediator. Jim works in a wide range of areas, with a particular focus on commercial contract, banking and finance, and intellectual property disputes, along with media and technology regulation. Jim is recommended in the Legal 500 and is a Band 1 Ranked Lawyer in...

Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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