Legal writing is often hard to read because of its specialized language. Specialized terminology refers to words that are specific to the legal profession . ... Some specialized terms originated within the legal system for the purpose of conveying meanings specific to law.
What are some common legal terms?
- Plaintiff – the person that initiates a lawsuit against someone else.
- Defendant – the person, company, etc., that a lawsuit is brought against.
- Deposition – a statement under oath, taken down in writing, to be used in court in place of the spoken testimony from a witness.
What are the 5 legal terminologies?
- Credibility (credible/incredible) Credibility is simply another way of saying you are believable when you speak; the ability to appear honest and trustworthy when telling your side of the story. ...
- Damages. ...
- Default. ...
- Defendant. ...
- Discovery (discovery process) ...
- Docket. ...
- Liability. ...
- Malpractice.
Why is it important to understand legal terminology?
At first, many words and phrases may sound foreign to your ears and difficult to memorize. It’s nevertheless essential to understand their meaning and usage in order to carry out the most basic legal functions. A more subtle difficulty lies in learning new ways to use familiar words and phrases.
What does the word and mean in legal terms?
Any combination of two options; one, the other (either), or both. In law, it is synonymous with “or” which is taken to mean the same thing , and which is a preferred term for the concept of “either or both”, which and/or attempts to convey.
What words do lawyers use?
- Wobbler. YouTube/SpB2Studios. ...
- Recess. ABC. ...
- Tort. Wikimedia Commons. ...
- Upstanding. Universal Pictures. ...
- ‘Religion loves SEX’ Win McNamee/Getty Images. ...
- Therefor. Shutterstock. ...
- Administratrix, executrix, prosecutrix, and testatrix. Shutterstock.
What is it called when you are questioned by an attorney?
leading. 1) v. short for “leading the witness ,” in which the attorney during a trial or deposition asks questions in a form in which he/she puts words in the mouth of the witness or suggests the answer.
What are the 7 types of law?
- Admiralty (Maritime) Law. ...
- Bankruptcy Law. ...
- Business (Corporate) Law. ...
- Civil Rights Law. ...
- Criminal Law. ...
- Entertainment Law. ...
- Environmental Law. ...
- Family Law.
What does S o mean in legal terms?
short for “ own recognizance ,” meaning the judge allowed a person accused in a criminal case to go free pending trial without posting bail. A person so released is often referred to as having been “OR-ed.” O.S.C.
What is it called when you are ordered to court?
Judgment : A court decision. Also called a decree or an order. Judgment File: A permanent court record of the court’s final disposition of the case.
How do you read a legal document?
- Tip #1: Read EVERYTHING. ...
- Tip #2: Check Every Reference. ...
- Tip #3: Question Everything, Especially Things That Don’t Make Sense. ...
- Tip #4: Close Any Open Ended Terms.
What are the words used in court?
- allegation: something that someone says happened.
- continuance: Put off trial unitl another time.
- cross examine: Questioning of a witness by the attorney for the other side.
- interview: A meeting with the police or prosecutor.
- juror: A person who is on the jury.
- oath: A promise to tell the truth.
What is a jargon language?
Jargon usually means the specialized language used by people in the same work or profession . ... This noun can also refer to language that uses long sentences and hard words. If you say that someone’s speech or writing is full of jargon, this means you don’t approve of it and think it should be simplified.
What does should mean legally?
Should means that a certain feature, component and/or action is desirable but not mandatory . 2. APPLICABLE LAWS AND REGULATIONSa. ... The contractor shall comply with all local, state, and federal laws and regulations related to the performance of the contract to the extent that the same may be applicable.
What does the word must mean in law?
‘Must’ always suggests an absolute obligation . ... But to avoid finding yourself in the minority of cases in which your agreement is subject to close scrutiny, ‘must’ provides the safest, most definitive drafting route to capturing your intended absolute obligation.
What is another way to say and or?
And/or (sometimes written and or ) is a grammatical conjunction used to indicate that one or more or all of the cases it connects may occur. It is used as an inclusive or (as in logic and mathematics), while saying “or” in spoken language, or writing “or”, might be inclusive or exclusive.
