Hi! My name is Kerry-Ann Viau. I am a student at Ahuntsic College in the program Paralegal Technology and I have been studying this for 2 years now. I will graduate in 2026 and hopefully proceed to go to law school. Paralegal Technology usually leads to becoming a paralegal whose job is to assist a lawyer the same way a nurse assists a doctor. This glossary will help you deconstruct some words from the field of law who are quite hard to understand. It has 20 words related to the field and features pronunciation of the words, definitions, translations, examples, and images. You will simply have to scroll and press on the play button when you want to hear their pronunciation. Hope this will help!
bailiff
noun
An officer, similar to a sheriff's deputy, employed to execute writs and processes, make arrests, keep order in the court.
Example: The bailiff was ready to intervene between the plaintiff and the complainant because of apparent tension between both parties in court.
fr: huissier
distension
noun
The act of distending or the state of being distended.
Example: A distension is often required to have a good relationship with our clients.
fr: distension
docket
noun
A calendar of the cases awaiting action in a court.
Example: My case didn't appear in the docket before I complained to the secretary.
fr: calendrier des audiences
doctrine
noun
A belief or set of beliefs held and taught by a church, political party, or other group.
Example: My uncle believes a doctrine that no one does.
fr: doctrine
expunge
verb
Erase or remove completely (something unwanted or unpleasant).
Example: I have to expunge some details in my case to have the best chances to win it.
fr: effacer
fiduciary
adjective
Involving trust, esp. With regard to the relationship between a trustee and a beneficiary.
Example: My client has to be fiduciary towards me if we want to win this trial.
fr: fiduciaire
grievance
noun
A real or imagined wrong or other cause for complaint or protest, such as unfair treatment.
Example: Do you think there are evidences to support the idea of other grievance in this case?
fr: grief
habeas corpus
noun
A writ requiring a person under arrest to be brought before a judge or into court, esp. To secure the person's release unless lawful grounds are shown for their detention.
Example: Many prisonners have to sign an habeas corpus because they are known to never appear in court.
fr: habeas corpus
indict
verb
To make a formal accusation or indictment against (a party) by the findings of a jury, especially a grand jury.
Example: The plaintiff indicts that the complainant did him harm.
fr: accuser
interlocutory judgment
noun
A judgment that determines a preliminary or side issue in the case, but does not finally decide the case.
Example: One of the first judgments accorded in court is an interlocutory judgment.
fr: jugement interlocutoire
jurisprudential
adjective
Relating to the science or philosophy of law or a system of laws.
Example: Commercial, sociological, anthropological and jurisprudential approaches all give different answers.
fr: jurisprudentiel
lawyer
noun
A person who practices or studies law; an attorney or a counselor.
Example: Nicholas is a bad lawyer because he loses all of his trials.
fr: avocat
loitering
verb
Remaining in an area for no obvious reason.
Example: Many people are loitering in the hall which causes blockages.
fr: flâner
monograph
noun
A detailed written study of a single specialized subject or an aspect of it.
Example: Doctrine books are good examples of monographs.
fr: monographie
panel
noun
To select or impanel (a jury)
Example: I have been selected to be a part of a panel for a hearing in court.
fr: jury
proxy
noun
The agency, function, r power of a person authorized to act as the deputy or substitute for another.
Example: The court approved the request of a proxy speaking on behalf of a patient who cannot speak himself.
fr: fondé de pouvoir
recusal
noun
The disqualification of a judge or jury by reason of prejudice or conflict of interest; a judge can be recused by objections of either party or judges can disqualify themselves.
Example: A famous judge in the United States once had a recusal because he has been proved to be corrupted.
fr: récusation
subpoena
noun
A writ ordering a person to attend a court.
Example: My father had to sign a subpoena because he is known by judges to never show up.
fr: assignation
trustee
noun
An individual person or member of a board given control or powers of administration of property in trust with a legal obligation to administer it solely for the purposes specified.
Example: In theory, the tortuous duty of care and the trustee's duty of care are distinct.
fr: curateur
waiver
noun
An international relinquishment of some right, interest, or the like.
Example: No disclosure can be made without a client waiver.
fr: renonciation
writs
noun
A formal order under seal, issued in the name of sovereign, government, court, or other competent authority, enjoigning the officer or other person to whom it is issued or addressed to do or refrain from specified act.
Example: I received a writ from the government this morning to refrain me from doing renovations in my house.
