50 Most Important Legal Terms with Explanations for Law Students and Law Entrance Exams
Enhance your legal vocabulary with this list of 50 legal terms along with their English meanings. From plaintiff and defendant to evidence and verdict, explore the essential terminology used in the legal field. Whether you're a law student, legal professional, or simply interested in understanding legal concepts, this comprehensive list provides a valuable resource for familiarizing yourself with key legal terms and their corresponding English translations.
Adjournment: The postponement of a hearing or trial to a later date.
Affidavit: A sworn statement made in writing.
Allegation: A statement of fact made by a party in a lawsuit.
Appeal: A request to a higher court to review a decision made by a lower court.
Arrest: The taking of a person into custody by law enforcement officers.
Assault: An intentional act that creates a reasonable fear of imminent harm to another person.
Battery: The unlawful application of force to another person.
Bench warrant: A warrant issued by a judge for the arrest of a person who has failed to appear in court.
Breach of contract: A failure to fulfill one's obligations under a contract.
Burden of proof: The obligation to prove a claim or assertion.
Case law: The body of law that is created by the decisions of courts.
Citation: A reference to a legal source, such as a case, statute, or regulation.
Civil case: A lawsuit between two or more private parties.
Complaint: A document that is filed with the court to initiate a lawsuit.
Conciliation: A process of mediation in which a neutral third party helps the parties to reach a settlement.
Conviction: A finding of guilt by a court.
Damages: A sum of money that is awarded to a party in a lawsuit as compensation for a loss.
Deposition: A pre-trial proceeding in which a witness is questioned under oath.
Discovery: The process of exchanging information between the parties in a lawsuit.
Equity: A branch of law that deals with fairness and justice.
Evidence: Information that is presented to a court to prove or disprove a claim.
Extradition: The process of returning a fugitive to the jurisdiction where they are accused of a crime.
Felony: A serious crime that is punishable by imprisonment for more than one year.
Grand jury: A group of people who decide whether there is enough evidence to charge someone with a crime.
Hearing: A proceeding in which evidence is presented to a judge or jury.
Injunction: An order from a court that prohibits someone from doing something.
Judgment: A decision made by a court.
Juvenile delinquency: The commission of an act that would be a crime if committed by an adult, but is committed by a person who is under the age of majority.
Lawsuit: A formal legal proceeding in which one party brings a claim against another party.
Liability: The legal obligation to pay damages for a loss.
Malicious prosecution: The filing of a lawsuit without probable cause and with the intent to harm the defendant.
Mediation: A process in which a neutral third party helps the parties to reach a settlement.
Misdemeanor: A less serious crime that is punishable by imprisonment for up to one year.
Motion: A request to the court for an order or ruling.
Negligence: A failure to act with the care that a reasonable person would exercise in the same situation.
Nolo contendere: A plea in which the defendant does not admit guilt, but agrees to the conviction.
Order: A direction from a court that must be obeyed.
Perjury: The intentional giving of false testimony under oath.
Plaintiff: The party who brings a lawsuit.
Pleadings: The documents that are filed with the court to initiate a lawsuit.
Precedent: A decision by a court that is binding on other courts in the same jurisdiction.
Pretrial conference: A meeting between the parties and the judge before trial to discuss the case and to try to resolve any disputes.
Probation: A sentence that allows a defendant to avoid imprisonment if they meet certain conditions, such as paying a fine or completing community service.
Property: Anything that is owned by a person, such as land, buildings, or personal belongings.
Remedy: A remedy is a legal action or procedure that is used to enforce a right or to obtain relief from a wrong.