If you struggle to understand law field related terms, this glossary is perfect for you. I’ve been studying to be a paralegal for about two years now, I am pretty familiar with this kind of lingo. These terms are not easy to understand and sometimes might be important to know in our daily lives. If you’re ever called upon in court, you’ll have to know what will happen and what are the people in charge are talking about. Finding the meaning of these words are quite easy with website dedicated to the general public like Éducaloi or SOQUIJ.
Appelant
Noun
An appellant is the party (person or entity) who appeals a lower court's judgment to a higher court, seeking to overturn or modify the decision. As the party bringing the appeal, they are dissatisfied with the outcome, whereas the opposite party is known as the appellee or respondent.
Example: The appelant has issued a statement.
fr: Appelant
Attorney
Noun
An attorney, or attorney-at-law, is a qualified legal professional licensed to practice law, represent clients in court, and provide legal advice.
Example: However, if James is not found to have sufficient standing, he may still be able to seek redress for the public law wrong he has suffered by using the relator procedure, with the ATTORNEY-General as the nominal plaintiff.
fr: Avocat
Case
Noun
A case is a specific instance, situation, or occurrence of something, such as a legal case or a medical case. It also refers to a container for storing or transporting items (e.g., a phone case) or, in grammar, the form of a word indicating its role in a sentence.
Example: This is very complex case.
fr: Cas
Civil law
Noun
Civil law is a branch of law focusing on private disputes between individuals, businesses, or organizations, aimed at resolving issues like contracts, property rights, and family disputes rather than punishing crimes.
Example: If a case does not fall under any other CIVIL LAW, it falls under tort.
fr: Droit civil
Court
Noun
A court is a government institution, person, or assembly authorized to hear legal disputes, administer justice, and decide criminal or civil matters. It also refers to the physical room where proceedings happen, a sports playing area (e.g., tennis), or a royal household. It can also mean courting/wooing
Example: As s.118 provides for the offender to be taken into custody, the judge felt his authority was restricted to committals for contempts made in the face of the COURT.
fr: Tribunal
Criminal law
Noun
Criminal law is the body of law that defines conduct prohibiting actions harmful to public safety and social order, imposing state-sanctioned penalties for violations.
Example: Whilst those attempting to commit an offence may indeed have a mens rea justifiable of punishment, (an argument advocating CRIMINAL LAW's preventative principles), should the fact that they fundamentally do not commit a crime protect them from being labelled a criminal, the stigma of which remains with them for life?
fr: Droit pénal
Defendant
Noun
A defendant is an individual, company, or entity accused of a crime in criminal court or sued in a civil lawsuit. They are the party defending themselves against charges or claims brought by a plaintiff or prosecutor.
Example: The actus reus of theft requires that the DEFENDANT 'appropriates property belonging to another'.
fr: Défendeur
Doctrine
Noun
A doctrine is a codification of beliefs, principles, or teachings held and taught by a specific group, such as religious, political, or legal organizations.
Example: The debate is fuelled by a gradual expansion of the principle; some critics allege that there is: '. . . no particular connection between present-day justifications for vicarious liability and the historical development of the DOCTRINE.' 2 So, what are the justifications for vicarious liability?
fr: Doctrine
Guilty
Adjective
Guilty refers to having committed a crime, act of wrongdoing, or feeling responsible for something bad, often accompanied by shame or regret. It describes someone who has violated moral or legal standards (e.g., "found guilty"), or a state of awareness regarding a misdeed (e.g., "a guilty conscience").
Example: Since, it is unlikely that Bloggs will be found GUILTY, corporate liability in this circumstance may not arise.
fr: Coupable
Judge
Noun
A judge is a public official authorized to decide legal cases in a court of law, or an arbiter appointed to determine the winner of a competition.
Example: Approach to the situation: Critics of the JUDGE's approach: Thus, we can notice that some of the reasons can be challenged and weakened, and as a result provide insufficient support to the final decision. From my point of view, the JUDGE's approach as to the establishment of a constructive trust was wrong.
fr: Juge
Jurisprudence
Noun
Jurisprudence is the philosophy, theory, and study of law, focusing on its origin, principles, and application rather than specific statutes. It analyzes the nature of legal systems, legal reasoning, and the ethical foundations of rules. It is often referred to as the "science of law" or "skill in law".
Example: This essay shall examine whether, following the introduction of the CJPOA, and the resulting JURISPRUDENCE, the legislation has successfully achieved its goal and whether a defendant is in a substantially more disadvantaged position.
fr: Jurisprudence
Legal research
Noun
Legal research is the systematic process of identifying, locating, and analyzing authoritative sources—such as statutes, regulations, and case law—to answer legal questions, support legal arguments, or inform legal decision-making. It involves evaluating the law's applicability to specific facts, ensuring it is current, and covering relevant jurisdictions.
Example: 1 A.C. 454 Guy Holborn, LEGAL RESEARCH Guide, 2nd edition, (Butterworths, 2001) Chapter 4, pp. 123-160 Pepper v Hart , in my understanding, shows that the courts are moving towards the purposive approach in interpreting statutes.
fr: Recherche juridique
Paralegal
Noun
A paralegal is a trained legal professional—qualified through education, training, or work experience—who performs substantive legal work under the supervision of a lawyer.
Example: The paralegal has issued another letter to the appellant in the name of his attorney.
fr: Parajuriste
Statement
Noun
A statement is a formal or informal declaration, assertion, or report of facts and opinions, either spoken or written.
Example: This is in some sense supported by this STATEMENT: "...with the establishment in the TEU of the status of Union citizen, whereby Member State nationals are further distinguished from their non-member country national counterparts, despite the fact that, in the opinion of one commentator, Union citizenship amounts to little more than a 'cynical public relations exercise.
fr: Déclaration
Warrant
Noun
A warrant is an official document, typically issued by a judge or magistrate, authorizing law enforcement to take specific actions like arrests, searches, or seizures. It also refers to a justification for an action, a guarantee of quality, or a financial security allowing the purchase of company stock at a set price.
Example: One of the main enforcement powers established through the Competition Act 1998 was the power to enter business premises without or under a WARRANT.
