Hi, my name is Alyssia Cinq-Mars Hussein. I am 20 years old, and I live in Montreal. I just finished my Paralegal Technology at Ahuntsic College. My field of study is law. The glossary that I have made is here to help any law students or future paralegals understanding law terms. I chose those terms because people that are not studying law could not know what those terms mean. This glossary will help you know the most important law terms that you will use during your Paralegal Technology. Those terms that can be tricky will be easy for you to understand. Think as if this glossary was your secret weapon for becoming a pro at law vocabulary.
actus reus
noun
Action or conduct which is a constituent element of a crime, as opposed to the mental state of the accused.
Example: Failure to prevent death may be the actus reus of manslaughter.
en: Actus Reus
application to institute proceedings
noun
The instituting or carrying on of an action at law. This form allows the plaintiff to institute proceedings against a person.
Example: I am gonna file an application to institute proceedings against someone because they never paid me for the work I have done on their property.
en: Demande introductive d'instance
case law
noun
The law as established by the outcome of former cases. Case law is made up of the written decisions of judges in court cases and tribunals.
Example: Case law has aided the clarification of the terms 'wound' and 'grievous bodily harm', giving guidance to the jury deciding upon their existence in each case as a matter of fact.
en: Jurisprudence
civil code of quebec
noun
The Civil Code of Quebec contains the rules and regulations that apply in most civil matters in Quebec. It contains provisions that govern various aspects of life in society, including people, relations between people, and property.
Example: If someone in Quebec wants to understand their rights and responsibilities, they can refer to the Civil Code of Quebec.
en: Code civil du Québec
civil law
noun
The system of law concerned with private relations between members of a community rather than criminal, military, or religious affairs.
Example: If a case does not fall under any other civil law, it falls under tort.
en: Droit civil
class action
noun
A lawsuit filed or defended by an individual or small group acting on behalf of a large group.
Example: Me and a group of people filed for a class action.
en: Recours collectif
co-defendant
noun
One of two or more defendants (people accused of having done something illegal) in the same law case.
Example: The two men, who are charged as co-defendants in the case, face two counts of theft.
en: Co-accusé
common law
noun
The part of English law that is derived from custom and judicial precedent rather than statutes. Often contrasted with statutory law.
Example: Finally, the expected social position of women was expressed by the authorities through the law; nowhere did the wife appear more completely subordinate to her husband than in the common law.
en: Common law
compensatory damages
noun
Compensatory damages are money awarded to an injured party that compensate for damages, injury, or another incurred loss.
Example: I received compensatory damages from the defendant after winning my case.
en: Dommages et intérêts compensatoires
contract
noun
A written or spoken agreement, especially one concerning employment, sales, or tenancy, that is intended to be enforceable by law.
Example: Both parties must sign employment contracts.
en: Contrat
criminal code
noun
The Criminal Code is a federal law that includes definitions of most of the criminal offenses that the Parliament of Canada has enacted. It is often updated as society evolves and to improve the Canadian criminal process.
Example: The Criminal Code sets rules on how people, corporations or other organization can be found guilty of crimes.
en: Code criminel
defendant
noun
An individual, company, or institution sued or accused in a court of law.
Example: Like Edmund Davies LJ agreed on, it is common ground that both types of loss were equally foreseeable and equally direct consequence of the defendant's admitted negligence.
en: Défendeur ou Défenderesse
doctrine
noun
A doctrine is a single important rule, a set of rules, a theory, or a principle that is widely followed in a field of law. It is formed via the continuous application of legal precedents.
Example: A doctrine comes about when a judge makes a ruling where a process is outlined and applied, and allows for it to be equally applied to like cases.
en: Doctrine
judgment
noun
Judgment means the final decision made by a court or tribunal. After the judges consider all the relevant evidence of the legal trial and consider all rights and obligations, the plaintiff and defendant will receive the final ruling.
Example: After the audience, the court gave a judgment.
en: Jugement
laws
noun
The system of rules which a particular country or community recognizes as regulating the actions of its members and which it may enforce by the imposition of penalties.
Example: They were taken to court for breaking the law.
en: Lois
lawyer
noun
A person who practices or studies law.
Example: As paralegals, we assist lawyers.
en: Avocat
legal research
noun
Legal research is the process of identifying and retrieving information necessary to support legal decision-making. In its broadest sense, legal research includes each step of a course of action that begins with an analysis of the facts of a problem and concludes with the application and communication of the results of the investigation.
Example: I have to do legal research for this case the lawyer is defending.
en: Recherche juridique
mens rea
noun
The intention or knowledge of wrongdoing that constitutes part of a crime, as opposed to the action or conduct of the accused.
Example: A mistaken belief in consent meant that the defendant lacked mens rea.
en: mens rea
Notary
noun
A person authorized to perform certain legal formalities, especially to draw up or certify contracts, deeds, and other documents for use in other jurisdictions.
Example: As paralegals, we assist notaries.
en: Notaire
plaintiff
noun
A person who brings a case against another in a court of law.
Example: The plaintiff commenced an action for damages.
