Full Answer
Attorney-at-Law – A licensed advocate or counsel authorized by the courts to prepare, manage and try cases in court, to prepare legal documents, or otherwise represent the interests of citizens.
The Legal Terms Glossary defines over 100 of the most common legal terms in easy-to-understand language. Terms are listed in alphabetical order and can be better accessed by choosing a letter here:
Often times you may find an attorney willing to provide free legal services if your case involves some issue of social justice. Social justice issues are easy to spot as they will have implications that extend well beyond the scope of your case and include things like sexual harassment in the workplace or freedom of speech.
By learning common legal terms, you can execute your professional duties with confidence in your own expertise. While earning an advanced degree in legal studies is one way to improve your legal knowledge, here are some common legal terms for non-lawyers in a variety of industries to help you get a head start:
What is a pro bono program? Pro bono programs help low-income people find volunteer lawyers who are willing to handle their cases for free. These programs usually are sponsored by state or local bar associations.
for the public goodThe term "pro bono," which is short for pro bono publico, is a Latin term that means "for the public good." Although the term is used in different contexts to mean “the offering of free services,” it has a very specific meaning to those in the legal profession.
In this page you can discover 8 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for pro-bono, like: done without compensation, free help, legal aid, for the public good, non-lawyer, solicitor, LawWorks and non-profit-making.
Contingency fee - which is a conditional payment a lawyer receives for rendering his legal services upon successful representation of his client. Such a fee depends on the result/outcome of the dispute.
As with community legal aid clinics, pro bono services typically are offered to individuals whose combined household income is less than 125 percent of the federal poverty level . There are some exceptions to these income limits, which you would need to learn about from each pro bono program.
There are a number of organizations that have legal teams dedicated to providing free legal services on social justice issues, including organizations such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the National Center for Lesbian Rights.
The lawsuits that legal aid attorneys normally litigate are ones involving denial of unemployment benefits, social security benefits, consumer credit issues, and eviction and other landlord tenant lawsuits. Before you begin looking to obtain services from a legal aid organization, you should make sure you qualify.
Moreover, law students can provide a range of legal services including, but not limited to, research and writing, drafting legal documents, client interviews, negotiation, and court preparation.
Legal aid organizations and attorneys often receive funds from the government and are normally tasked with taking on cases concerning the poor and impoverished. Because of their limited funding, however, legal aid societies and lawyers can usually only take on a select few cases.
Legal services are often thought to be one of the more expensive things a person may need during their life - next to emergency medical care and the costs of buying a home. Fortunately, there are many different places you can turn to for free or low-cost legal services, including free legal services provided by the government, law firms, ...
Many personal injury attorneys take cases on a contingency fee basis, which means that you do not pay anything to the attorney up front and the lawyer only gets paid if you get paid. Contingency fee arrangements are great for those who have winning cases but no real means of paying an hourly fee to an attorney.
bail - Security given for the release of a criminal defendant or witness from legal custody (usually in the form of money) to secure his/her appearance on the day and time appointed.
The plaintiff initially decides where to bring the suit, but in some cases, the defendant can seek to change the court. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases. A federal court in one state, for example, can usually only decide a case that arose from actions in that state.
A. acquittal - Judgment that a criminal defendant has not been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. affidavit - A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it. Affidavits must be notarized or administered by an officer of the court with such authority.
To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal.". Both the plaintiff and the defendant can appeal, and the party doing so is called the appellant. Appeals can be made for a variety of reasons including improper procedure and asking the court to change its interpretation of the law.
appellate - About appeals; an appellate court has the power to review the judgment of another lower court or tribunal. arraignment - A proceeding in which an individual who is accused of committing a crime is brought into court, told of the charges, and asked to plead guilty or not guilty.
charge to the jury - The judge's instructions to the jury concerning the law that applies to the facts of the case on trial. chief judge - The judge who has primary responsibility for the administration of a court. The chief judge also decides cases, and the choice of chief judges is determined by seniority.
capital offense - A crime punishable by death. In the federal system, it applies to crimes such as first degree murder, genocide, and treason. case law - The use of court decisions to determine how other law (such as statutes) should apply in a given situation.
Damages : Damages are the pecuniary compensation given by the process of law, to a person for the actionable wrong that another has done him.
A case law is a collection of reported judicial decisions related to specific topics, and is an important part of the modern legal rules. Causa Mortis: A Latin term which means, “in expectation of the approaching death”. This term is mainly used to denote gifts, which are given by a person who is expecting death.
Kangaroo Court: A term, which refers to a bogus court or sham legal proceedings that deny the basic rights of a party to a case. This term may denote an unauthorized court or an authorized one, which conducts its proceedings without taking into account the principles of law and justice.
Obligation: A legal requirement to do what is imposed by law, contract, or as a result of unlawful harm caused to the person or property of another. In a more technical meaning, it is a duty to do something agreeably to the laws and customs of the country in which the obligation is made.
Law: A set of rules established and enforced by a governing authority of a state, and is applicable to the people of that state.
Illicit: Unlawful/forbidden by law or contrary to accepted morality.
Fact: Any information, event, or anything that occurred which can be proved in a court of law.
The party who opposes an appellant's appeal, and who seeks to persuade the appeals court to affirm the district court's decision. Arraignment. A proceeding in which a criminal defendant is brought into court, told of the charges in an indictment or information, and asked to plead guilty or not guilty.
A lawsuit in which one or more members of a large group, or class, of individuals or other entities sue on behalf of the entire class. The district court must find that the claims of the class members contain questions of law or fact in common before the lawsuit can proceed as a class action. Clerk of court.
Bankruptcy code. The informal name for title 11 of the United States Code (11 U.S.C. §§ 101-1330), the federal bankruptcy law. Bankruptcy court. The bankruptcy judges in regular active service in each district; a unit of the district court. Bankruptcy estate.
Acquittal. A jury verdict that a criminal defendant is not guilty, or the finding of a judge that the evidence is insufficient to support a conviction. Active judge. A judge in the full-time service of the court. Compare to senior judge.
The release, prior to trial, of a person accused of a crime, under specified conditions designed to assure that person's appearance in court when required. Also can refer to the amount of bond money posted as a financial condition of pretrial release.
Adversary proceeding. A lawsuit arising in or related to a bankruptcy case that begins by filing a complaint with the court, that is , a "trial" that takes place within the context of a bankruptcy case. Affidavit. A written or printed statement made under oath.
Amicus curiae. Latin for "friend of the court.". It is advice formally offered to the court in a brief filed by an entity interested in, but not a party to, the case. Answer. The formal written statement by a defendant in a civil case that responds to a complaint, articulating the grounds for defense. Appeal.
In the United States, laws can be statutes, ordinances or regulations, and are usually enacted by the legislative branch at a state or federal level, or by a branch of the government with authorization from a law already established. malfeasance: Doing something illegal or morally wrong.
laws: A system of regulations governing the conduct of a community, state, society or nation in order to provide consistent order and justice. In the United States, laws can be statutes, ordinances or regulations, and are usually enacted by the legislative branch at a state or federal level, or by a branch of the government with authorization from a law already established.
demurrer (dee-muhr-ur): A formal response to a complaint filed in a lawsuit, pleading for dismissal and saying , in effect, that even if the facts are true , there is no legal basis for a lawsuit. Examples include a missing necessary element of fact, or a complaint that is unclear.
As a paralegal you will need to become familiar with legal terms and especially familiar with terms used in the field of law you end up working in. Should you work for a public defender, prosecutor or criminal defense attorney you will be dealing with more terms relating to criminal law.
statute: A written law passed by Congress or another legislative body.
constitutional law: Law prescribed by the written federal and state constitutions, as well as the interpretation and implementation of this law.
administrative law: The area of law that concerns government agencies. cause of action: The reason for which a plaintiff files a complaint or suit against someone. This can be negligence, breach of contract, malpractice or defamation, to name a few.
The Probate Court Glossary can be found in Chapter 12 of the Probate Judges Manual.
Oaths - Sworn attestations required in court, usually administered by the in-court clerk.
Affidavit of Insolvency - A detailed form signed by the defendant, under oath, attesting to his/her indigency (inability to pay for private legal counsel).
Felony – A crime that allows a defendant to be imprisoned for more than one year upon being found guilty.
Amend – Improve, correct or change a complaint or other pleading. Amicus Curiae - A friend of the court. One not a party to a case who volunteers, or is asked by the court, to offer information on a point of law or some other aspect of the case to assist the court in deciding a matter before it.
Aid and Abet - To actively, knowingly or intentionally assist another person in the commission or attempted commission of a crime. Alford Plea - A plea to a criminal charge that does not admit guilt, but admits that sufficient evidence exists to obtain a conviction.
Abstract of Title - A chronological summary of all official records and recorded documents affecting the title to a parcel of real property.
An advocate, counsel, or official agent employed in preparing, managing and trying cases in court . Attorney-at-law is the official name for a lawyer in the United States; in England they are called solicitors. An attorney-at-law was consulted for the initial drafting of the legal document. BAIL.
Case, cause, suit or controversy disputed or contested before a court of justice. Also termed action at law. Action is used more often for civil lawsuits than for criminal cases. A criminal action is a proceeding initiated by the government to punish a person or entity for a crime.
A jury may acquit a defendant charged with armed robbery by finding him or her not guilty of the charge.
A jury may acquit a defendant charged with armed robbery by finding him or her not guilty of the charge. ACQUITTAL. In criminal law, a verdict of not guilty.
In criminal cases, affidavits are often used by police officers seeking to convince courts to grant a warrant to make an arrest or a search. In civil cases, affidavits of witnesses are often used to support motions for summary judgment. ATTORNEY-AT-LAW.
In a bank robbery for example, the person who helps break open the vault or the person watching the hostages would be considered an accomplice.
An attorney-at-law was consulted for the initial drafting of the legal document.
Case law is a way of citing legal precedent. Civil case vs. criminal case: The most commonly cited distinction between civil and criminal cases is that the latter are generally offenses ...
Affidavit: A term you’ve likely heard referenced often, an affidavit is simply a written or printed statement made under oath.
Probate: The process of administration of the estate of a dead person is referred to as probate. As such, the appropriate court for handling estate matters is called probate court. Quash: A motion to quash essentially asks the judge to annul or set aside a specific action.
Burden of proof: The burden of proof refers to the standard used to prove allegations in a court proceeding. The bar for this depends on the type of court proceeding.
summons: While both entail a requirement for the recipient to appear in court, a subpoena is a process that directs a witness to give testimony or submit evidence, while a summons is a document that orders a person to appear before the court in response to a complaint.
Recusal: A recusal is the voluntary action by a judge or prosecutor to remove themselves from presiding in a case. Recusals are often based on things like bias, conflict of interest or prejudice—for example, a state prosecutor may choose to recuse from a proceeding if the case is against their former employer.
If the defendant pled “not guilty,” then the judge will use the pretrial hearing to set a date for the trial. Additionally, this hearing allows legal teams to challenge the permissibility of evidence, come to settlement agreements and discuss other important pretrial matters.