Hi, my name is Britny Redhead and I'm transferring next semester to Paralegal Technology at Ahuntsic College. The term paralegal means that we are assisting the lawyers on their cases. Since I was eight years old I want to become a lawyer, so I decided I'll pursue in it. I want to study Law at university. I'm creating this glossary for people who want to study Law. I hope this glossary can help in case a student ever gets a blank about the meaning of a word or just to know how to pronounce it correctly.
affidavit
noun
A written statement confirmed by oath or affirmation, for use as evidence in court.
Example: A former employee swore an affidavit relating to his claim for unfair dismissal.
fr: déclaration écrite sous serment
allegation
noun
A claim or assertion that someone has done something illegal or wrong, typically one made without proof.
Example: After leaving he made allegations of corruption against the company.
fr: allégation
appellant
noun
A person who applies to a higher court for a reversal of the decision of a lower court.
Example: The Appellant appeals from the order of [name of decision-maker] made on [date that the order was made]: [here you might provide the name of the decision, the citation, and a link to the decision if it is publicly available.
fr: appelant
bail
noun
The temporary release of an accused person awaiting trial, sometimes on condition that a sum of money be lodged to guarantee their appearance in court.
Example: He has been released on bail.
fr: caution
burden of proof
noun
The obligation to prove one's assertion.
Example: Elements of the crime alleged and satisfying the burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt.
fr: charge de la preuve
burglar
noun
A person who commits burglary; housebreaker.
Example: The burglars smashed a glass door to gain access.
fr: cambrioleur
civil code of Quebec
noun
The civil code in force in the Province of Quebec, Canada, which came into effect on January 1, 1994.
Example: According to the civil code of Quebec, Quebec is a French state.
fr: code civil du Québec
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: A common-law husband.
fr: loi commune
constitutional law
noun
The body of law which defines the relationship of different entities within a state, namely, the executive, the legislature, and the judiciary.
Example: The Constitutional law has said that the federal government can make laws about marriage.
fr: droit constitutionel
court of appeals
noun
A court to which appeals are taken in a federal circuit or a state.
Example: After the high court, there is the court of appeal and then the Kenya Supreme Court.
fr: cour d'appel
criminal record
noun
A list of a person's previous criminal convictions.
Example: The court said his criminal record would be expunged at the end of the year.
fr: casier judiciaire
default judgment
noun
A ruling granted by a judge or court in favor of a plaintiff in the event that the defendant in a legal case fails to respond to a court summons or does not appear in court.
Example: A default judgment occurs when the defendant in a legal case fails to respond to a court summons.
fr: jugement par défaut
denunciation
noun
Public condemnation of someone or something.
Example: Denunciation of his reckless methods.
fr: dénonciation
distension
noun
The act of distending or the state of being distended especially unduly or abnormally.
Example: Skrillex has never restricted his distension of sonic materials to merely supersizing his bass lines, and among other things, the voices on this album are routinely phased and retuned and cut up.
fr: distension
due process
noun
Fair treatment through the normal judicial system, especially as a citizen's entitlement.
Example: Those arrested have a right to due process.
fr: procédure régulière
expert witness
noun
A person who is permitted to testify at a trial because of special knowledge or proficiency in a particular field that is relevant to the case.
Example: She was hired as an expert witness because she had assisted in more than 100 similar surgical procedures.
fr: expert judiciaire
family law
noun
An area of the law that deals with family-related matters and domestic relations, including: marriage, civil unions, and domestic partnerships; adoption and surrogacy, etc.
Example: You should contact a lawyer who specializes in family law.
fr: droit de la famille
felony
noun
A serious crime, usually punishable by at least one year in prison.
Example: He pleaded guilty to six felonies.
fr: crime
fraud
noun
Wrongful or criminal deception intended to result in financial or personal gain.
Example: He was convicted of fraud.
fr: fraude
grand jury
noun
A jury, typically of twenty-three people, selected to examine the validity of an accusation before trial.
Example: This case will need grand jury to decide.
