Hi, my name is Jade Merette, I'm 18 years old and I have been studying Paralegal Technology for the past two years at Ahuntsic College in Montreal. I would eventually like to go to university in the same field of study and become a lawyer. Paralegal Technology covers various areas of law such as civil law, criminal law and business law. I made this glossary so it could help people to learn about my program and maybe even go in a program related to law if their interested in it.
acquittal
noun
A judgment that a person is not guilty of the crime with which the person has been charged.
Example: The trial resulted in an acquittal.
fr: acquittement
admissible
adjective
Acceptable or valid, especially as evidence in a court of law.
Example: The Court unanimously held that the hearsay was admissible.
fr: admissible
appeal
verb
Apply to a higher court for a reversal of the decision of a lower court.
Example: He said he would appeal against the conviction.
fr: appeler le jugement
business law
noun
Business law is the law that governs what happens with commercial matters, and there are two main types: regulation of commercial entities and regulation of commercial transactions.
Example: After she qualified as a lawyer, she decided to specialize in business law.
fr: droit des affaires
civil law
noun
The system of law concerned with private relations between members of a community rather than criminal, military, or religious affairs.
Example: I am currently investigating a civil law case regarding the distribution of property between two people that are divorcing.
fr: droit civil
court
noun
A tribunal presided over by a judge, judges, or a magistrate in civil and criminal cases.
Example: She will take the matter to court.
fr: tribunal
criminal law
noun
A system of law concerned with the punishment of those who commit crimes.
Example: It is the function of the criminal law to punish.
fr: droit pénal
defendant
noun
An individual, company, or institution sued or accused in a court of law.
Example: The defendant tried to claim that it was self-defense.
fr: défendeur
evidence
noun
The available body of facts or information indicating whether a belief or proposition is true or valid.
Example: That will be used in evidence against her.
fr: preuve
lawyer
noun
A person who practices or studies law; an attorney or a counselor.
Example: He's a prominent criminal lawyer.
fr: avocat
paralegal
noun
A person trained in subsidiary legal matters but not fully qualified as a lawyer.
Example: She's a paralegal at Peskind Hymson & Goldstein.
fr: parajuriste
plaintiff
noun
A person who brings a case against another in a court of law.
Example: The plaintiff commenced an action for damages.
fr: demandeur
punitive damages
noun
Damages exceeding simple compensation and awarded to punish the defendant.
Example: The jury awarded punitive damages.
fr: dommages-intérêts punitifs
tort
noun
A wrongful act or an infringement of a right (other than under contract) leading to civil legal liability.
Example: A public nuisance is a crime as well as a tort.
