Why Is Understanding Legal Terms Important?
Lawyers use many specialized words and terms, and some of these words have a different meaning in law than the same words when used in everyday conversation. It is, therefore, important to have an understanding of the main legal terms, especially if you become involved in the legal system. At some point in our lives, we will be involved in hiring someone to do work for us or entering into a legal agreement or employment contract so it is important for everyone to have a basic understanding of legal terms.
Legal Vocabulary (legalese)
A lawyer or solicitor will use these terms in their explanation of a case. They will be used throughout these Business Law pages. Learning these now will help you to understand the legal concepts being explained.
Allegation: A claim made against someone that they have committed an unlawful act.
Agreement: Where two parties agree on a set of facts or course of action.
Claimant: A person making a claim or allegation.
Compensation: Return, recompense, or reparation for loss, injury, or suffering.
Conditions: Requirements, restriction,s or permission added to a document.
Damages: An award, usually money, which is paid to a person or organization as compensation for loss or injury.
Evidence: Something that tends to prove or disprove something.
Liability: Responsibility. If you are ‘liable’ for paying costs you are the one who is ‘responsible for paying’ those costs. In many cases, a lawsuits purpose is to prove that one party is liable for the damages suffered by the other.
Negligence: This is where a person has a ‘duty’ towards another and they break that duty. They have been negligent or ‘careless’ and due to their ‘negligence’, another party has suffered an injury, which they can claim ‘damages’ for.
Parties: These are the people (or corporations) who are directly involved in a legal proceeding. They may be the people (parties) who enter into an agreement (contract) or other transaction. When a dispute results in legal action those directly involved are called the ‘parties’ to the lawsuit.
Precedent: A legal principle created by a court decision.
Parties: This Precedent: A legal principle created by a court decision.
The Sides In A Case
Plaintiff: The person (or corporation) that starts a lawsuit.
Defendant: The person (or corporation) that must defend itself.
Appellant: The party who loses in a trial court and appeals to a higher court.
Appellee: The party who wins in the trial court and must defend their victory in an appeal court.
There are many more legal terms but these Clever few will help you gain an understanding of the legal rems being used in lawsuits, legal cases and legal information.
For criminal legal terms see:
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