What is the difference between a legal notice and filing a court case directly?

A legal notice is a formal, on-record communication demanding a specific remedy before litigation, giving the other party a chance to resolve the matter voluntarily — it's not itself a court proceeding, but it can prompt settlement, and for certain claims (like cheque bounce cases), sending one is actually a mandatory legal prerequisite before you can file the case.

Going straight to court, without first sending a notice, is certainly possible for many types of disputes and sometimes necessary where urgent relief (like an injunction) is needed and there isn't time for a notice period to run its course.

In most other situations, sending a notice first is generally a sensible, low-cost first step — it sometimes resolves the matter without the expense and time of litigation, and even where it doesn't, it creates a useful record showing you gave the other side fair opportunity to resolve things reasonably. A lawyer can advise on whether your specific type of dispute has any mandatory notice requirement, and whether the circumstances call for urgency that would justify skipping straight to court.