Common law the legal system that originated in england and is now in use in the united. As a student at the pontifical institute of mediaeval studies in toronto in the 1960s, i enjoyed noting the antique flavor of the language of ontarios lawyers and courts, a daily echo of the old legal systems that formed the content of the courses i was. The law can be complicated and it is often described in technical terminology that many people might find unfamiliar. Understanding legal terminology is vital for understanding the law itself and properly applying it in research, legal analysis, document preparation and compliance with local, state and federal judicial systems. When you seek asylum, you look for protection in another country.
Legal terminology, part 1 3 as a legal term, however, the word allegeis used to describe the action of formally stating a specific charge in a court of law or legal document. An easytounderstand guide to the language of law from the dictionary experts at merriamwebster. The non lawyers guide to legal terms pinnington law. Thus, it may be more suitable for a student or other person interested in understanding an array of. E v e r s h e d s e u r o p e a n d i c t i o n a r y o f s e l e c t e d l e g a l t e r m s eversheds in europe european dictionary of selected legal terms the words you need, the languages you need them in.
The a to z guide to legal phrases this is only a basic guide. Courtroom terminology nc conference of district attorneys. Somali court interpreter glossary english somali abstract. Legal questions come up regularly in our daily lives and the language of law is everywhere. Glossary of legal terms and phrases the inner temple library. The peoples law dictionary by gerald and kathleen hill publisher fine communications. Glossary provided courtesy of the state of maryland. A guilty act the prohibited conduct or behaviour that the law seeks to prevent.
But there are still legal phrases that baffle nonlawyers. The officer certifies same, whose certification is known as the acknowledgment acquit. Glossary of legal terminology most frequently used terms glossary of legal terminology edited and expanded by john lombardi aka. Commit to the custody of the commissioner of corrections. A glossary of legal terms and expressions in uk business law and used iun this site. An authorised firm is one that has permission from the financial services authority fsa to carry out regulated activities. Structured into short, easily digested chapters, legal terminology presents the fundamentals of the principal areas of the law, including. Affidavit a written statement that the party signs in front of a notary public, after swearing or affirming that the statement is true. The related legal term allegation refers to the specific charge against a person made in accordance with state or federal legal codes. For the purpose of financial settlements, a loan on a piece of property or house can factor into the value of said property and thus determine if a settlement using that asset is possible. Legal terminology in 1974, a group of legal interpreting experts convened in michigan to develop a manual to be used in training legal interpreters. To find all definitions that include a specific term, enter a word or phrase below. First, as a law student, you must learn a large body of factual material about the fundamental concepts of law, the sources of english law, and the institutions and the personnel of the law. Notes on legal terminology in buying and selling a house we often find clients are confused by some of the legal terminology involved in house purchase and sale, and therefore we produce this guide to assist you.
A loan borrowed from a bank or building society to purchase property. Glossary of legal terms created by peter english, surry partners lawyers, for the australian design unit au surry partners lawyers 2009. English common law is the basis of state legal systems in the u. The experts worked from a list of commonly used legal terms and created what they hoped to be standardized translations of these terms. Below is our growing list of legal definitions beginning with the letter a. It begins as a bill and passes through both houses of parliament. A legal terminology textbook is a textbook that arranges and defines legal words and phrases in groups and by topic, in contrast with a law dictionary, which arranges and defines legal words and phrases individually and in alphabetical order. Acronym that stands for also known as and introduces any alternative or assumed names or aliases of an individual. Glossary of legal terminology english arabic 472 words ayman khatib arabic interpreter and translator khalil ansara arkan rule of law team in west bank and gaza.
However, a foundation of legal terminology is a good start in understanding courtroom lingo and legal documents. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Common law principles can be changed by legislation. So for legal advice that you can rely on, use our find a. The nature and history of english legal language b. For example, armed robbery includes the act of using or pretending to use a weapon. The following is a glossary of terms that are frequently used in the debt collection industry and by collection attorneys. We have tried to choose words that you may generally come across in working with the law, and words that are used a lot in this manual. The coexistence of english and scots legal systems b. As a student at the pontifical institute of mediaeval studies in toronto in the 1960s, i enjoyed noting the antique flavor of the language of ontarios lawyers and courts, a daily echo of the old legal systems that formed the content of the courses i was then. Legal terminology 6th edition brown, gordon, kauffman, kent on. The easiesttoread, most userfriendly guide to legal terms. First, as a law student, you must learn a large body of factual material about the fundamental concepts of law, the sources of english law, and the.
Choose from 500 different sets of legal terminology flashcards on quizlet. For the definition of a legal term, enter a word or phrase below. Search more than 10,000 legal words and phrases for clear definitions written in plain language. Legal terminology correspondence course legal language. This glossary is also available as a pdf adobe acrobat reader required. Accessory not the perpetrator of the crime but in some way involved without being present in the commission of the crime. English legal system an overview introduction the study of the english legal system involves two different, but related processes. Crown prosecution service cps the cps is the organisation that prosecutes criminal cases investigated by the police in england and wales. The legal system that originated in england and is now in use in the united states, which relies on the articulation of legal principles in a historical succession of judicial decisions.
If for the uk audience, is it england or scotland with its. A term to indicate another name by which a person is known. The explanations in this guide are not intended to be straight alternatives. Legal terminology 101 is a comprehensive guide to the language of the legal system. Non uk residents can apply for asylum as soon as they reach the uk, although they may need legal help to be recognised as a refugee. Pdf the article discusses terminology mining on a small scale as used by legal freelance translators. If there is a term you are looking for please use our search form below and enter the legal term.
Learn legal terminology with free interactive flashcards. Legal language course online legal terminology course. English french legal glossary wisconsin court system. The terms and explanations are for the law in england and wales. Abstraction taking away with intent to harm or deceive. Although commonly referred to as the guilty act this is rather simplistic, as the. Noting interest when you have seen a property you like, get in touch with your solicitor as soon as possible. Legal terminology is not only used by lawyers but also used in a wide range of associated legal professions. There are a lot of good legal dictionaries available, both in print and online, but sometimes they dont contain words that nonlawyers do not understand or are not sure they understand and might be afraid to ask for fear of looking stupid yes, weve all been there. Pdf on jan 1, 1999, peter sandrini and others published legal terminology.
Below is our growing list of legal definitions beginning with the letter i. It should not be regarded or relied upon as a complete or authoritative statement of the law or treated as a substitute for specific legal advice concerning individual situations. This is a list of words which will be useful for you as a paralegal. If youre planning on purchasing a house, involved in a landlordtenant dispute, making a will, buying a car, getting health insurance, applying for a credit card or hiring a lawyer then understanding the terminology of. This glossary provides short definitions of legal terms you will find on this website. Glossary of legal latin a fortiori from stronger argument used to express a conclusion for which there is stronger evidence than for a previously accepted one ab initio from the beginning if a contract is void say for mistake ab initio, this has the consequence that no. Solicitors are the experts when it comes to the law and how it affects you.
More commonly, the term means the whole body of lawyers. Eversheds in europe european dictionary of one continent. Acknowledgment of service a document signed by the respondent to say to the court that heshe has received a copy of the petition. Victoria law foundation legal glossary 2 adduce to adduce or lead evidence is to show a document or thing to the court, or to ask a witness questions, as part of an argument in a court case. Legal terminology is the collection of words and phrases that have a precise or peculiar use in the law profession. Abduction taking away by violence or fraud and persuasion. The a to z guide to legal phrases plain english campaign.
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