Hi! My name is Adam Simoneau. I've made this glossary around paralegal matter. This glossary can help you have a bigger vocabulary on the job. I've been studying paralegal technology for 2 years now and as I was told being fluent in both French and English will not only help you discuss with the clients but might give you the extra step to get ahead of your workmates and maybe get a higher salary.
Acquittal
noun
A judgment that a person is not guilty of the crime with which the person has been charged.
Example: The case resulted in the acquittal of the defendant.
fr: Acquittement
Act of god
a phrase
An act of God refers to a severe, unanticipated natural event for which no human is responsible.
Example: The insurance company dismissed the accident as an act of God and refused to pay out.
fr: Force majeure
Adjournment
noun
To suspend (a meeting, legal case, or game) with the intention of resuming it later.
Example: The adjournment took place on the 31st of October.
fr: Ajournement
Bailiff
noun
An official in a court of law who keeps order, looks after prisoners, etc.
Example: They didn't pay their rent, so the landlord sent in a bailiff.
fr: Huissier de justice
Bench trial
noun
A bench trial is a trial by a judge instead of a trial by jury.
Example: He opted for a bench trial believing the judge would understand the complexities of his case.
fr: Procès sans jury
Bifurcation
noun
"Division into two branches."
"Possibility of option between several routes."
Example: In this section, we investigate the control of bifurcations using fiscal feedback laws.
fr: Bifurcation
Defamation
noun
The action of harming someone's good reputation by spreading false accusations or statements about them; slander or libel.
Example: While plaintiff alleging defamation in court must usually prove that the statement caused harm, and was made without adequate research into the truthfulness of the statement
fr: Diffamation
Foreclosure
noun
The action of taking possession of a mortgaged property when the mortgagor fails to keep up their mortgage payments.
Example: They've been unable to make their mortgage payments, and the bank has threatened to foreclose.
fr: Saisie immobilière
hearsay
noun
The report of another person's words by a witness, which is usually disallowed as evidence in a court of law.
Example: An example of hearsay would be where person A sees someone climbing into the window of a house. A later tells person B that the person he saw was C. Evidence from B of what A told him is hearsay. If A gave his account in a witness statement to the police, the statement itself would be hearsay.
fr: ouï-dire
Intestate
noun, adjective
adjective :
not having made a will before one dies.
"he died intestate"
noun :
a person who has died without having made a will.
Example: If you die intestate, the government decides how your money is shared out.
