The Magistrates Court deals with a wide variety of criminal and non-criminal prosecutions and applications. People are summonsed to the court in the district in which the alleged offence took place. The Court is divided into four jurisdictions:

Civil (general claims) - deals with damages for injury arising from car accidents up to $80 000 and general claims seeking amounts of between $6000 and $40 000. Civil (minor claims) - deals informally with small claims, which include recovering debts of up to $6000 and neighbourhood disputes. Parties are not entitled to legal representation except in special circumstances.

Criminal - hears matters where the penalty can be a fine, a prison sentence of up to two years, a good behaviour bond or a community service order.

Civil Consumer and Business - deals with disputes over second-hand motor vehicle warranties and disputes between landlords and tenants over shops and residential buildings.

More serious matters are referred to the District Court, the principal trial court in South Australia, or the Supreme Court of SA if they concern important civil cases and serious criminal matters.