Legal proceedings are the formal processes of a court of law. ACTIONS, TRIALS, hearings, and civil suits are all types of legal proceedings. ACTIONS are the first step in a legal process, where one party brings a claim against another. TRIALS are the next step, where evidence is presented and a verdict is reached. Hearings are similar to TRIALS, but are less formal and involve fewer parties. Civil suits are disputes between two or more parties that do not involve criminal charges. PROSECUTION is the act of bringing a criminal charge against someone.