Jargon to Justice: Build Your Legal Vocabulary

Jargon to Justice: Build Your Legal Vocabulary

Legal Vocabulary Builder

Legal vocabulary refers to the specific words and phrases used in the field of law. These words and phrases often have specific meanings within the legal context and may not be commonly used in everyday language. Legal vocabulary includes words such as “complaint,” “affidavit,” “citation,” “due process,” “amicus curiae,” “amicus brief,” “amicus curiae brief,” “amicus curiae” and many more.

Legal vocabulary is used in legal documents, court proceedings, and legal writing, and is often specific to certain areas of law, such as criminal law, contract law, or constitutional law. It is important for legal professionals and those working in the legal field to have a strong understanding of legal vocabulary to be able to effectively communicate and understand legal content. Legal professionals are often encouraged to expand their legal vocabulary by reading extensively, participating in legal discussions, attending professional development training, and studying legal terminology.

Here are some ways to improve legal vocabulary:

Read extensively: Reading legal-related books, articles, and publications will expose you to a wide range of legal vocabulary. This can include case law, statutes, legal treatises, and law review articles.

Use flashcards or vocabulary lists: Create flashcards or lists of new legal words and phrases you come across and review them regularly.

Practice active reading: When reading legal materials, underline or highlight new vocabulary and look up words you don’t know. Try to use them in sentences to solidify your understanding of their meanings.

Write: Writing legal briefs, memos, and contracts allows you to practice using legal vocabulary in context.

Use online resources: There are many online resources, such as legal vocabulary quizzes and vocabulary games, that can help you learn and practice legal vocabulary.

Attend professional development training: Attend professional development training and workshops to learn about specific legal terminology and new trends in your field of law.

Participate in legal discussions and court proceedings: Participating in legal discussions and court proceedings allows you to hear and use legal vocabulary in context. Ask questions, provide examples, and make connections with the vocabulary you know.

Get feedback from colleagues or mentors: Have your legal writing reviewed by a colleague or mentor who can provide feedback on your use of legal vocabulary.

Watch legal-related videos or webinars: Watch legal-related videos or webinars that can provide you with a good understanding of the legal vocabulary used in different areas of law.

It’s important to note that improving legal vocabulary is a process that takes time, so you should be patient and persistent with your efforts. Remember that your goal is to learn the words and phrases that will be most useful to you in your legal work and to use them effectively in your writing, speaking, and legal proceedings.

101 commonly used Legal vocabulary words

  1. Acquittal – a decision by a jury or judge to find a defendant not guilty
  2. Administrative Law – laws related to the powers and procedures of government agencies
  3. Affidavit – a written statement made under oath
  4. Appeal – a request to a higher court to review a lower court’s decision
  5. Arbitration – a process in which a neutral third party makes a binding decision in a dispute
  6. Bail – the release of a person from custody on the condition that they will return for trial
  7. Bailiff – an officer of the court responsible for executing court orders
  8. Burden of proof – the responsibility to prove a fact in a legal case
  9. Civil law – a body of law dealing with non-criminal matters, such as contracts and property
  10. Common law – a body of law based on judicial decisions rather than statutes
  11. Complaint – a legal document outlining the plaintiff’s allegations
  12. Conservatorship – the legal authority to manage the property and financial affairs of someone unable to do so
  13. Contract – a legally binding agreement between two or more parties
  14. Contempt of court – an action that interferes with a court’s authority or dignity
  15. Deposition – testimony given under oath outside of court
  16. Evidence – information presented in court to prove or disprove a fact
  17. Executor – a person appointed by a court to manage the estate of a deceased person
  18. Fiduciary – a person or entity who is legally obligated to act in the best interest of another
  19. Guardianship – the legal authority to make decisions for someone who is unable to do so
  20. Injunction – a court order to stop or prohibit a certain action
  21. Intellectual Property Law – laws related to the protection of creative works and inventions
  22. Judgment – a decision made by a court in a legal case
  23. Jurisdiction – the authority of a court to hear and decide a case
  24. Labour Law – laws related to the rights and duties of employers and employees
  25. Lien – a legal claim on property as security for a debt or other obligation
  26. Mediation – a process in which a neutral third party helps disputing parties to reach a settlement
  27. Notary – a public official authorized to certify documents and administer oaths
  28. Ordinance – a law passed by a local government
  29. Power of attorney – a legal document giving someone the authority to act on another’s behalf
  30. Pleading – a document filed by a party in a legal case
  31. Plea – a formal statement in court of a defendant’s guilt or innocence
  32. PIL (Public Interest Litigation) – a legal action taken in the public interest, usually by a social activist or NGO
  33. Precedent – a previous court decision used as an example or authority in later cases
  34. Probate – the legal process of administering a deceased person’s estate
  35. Public law – a body of law dealing with relationships between individuals and the state
  36. Private law – a body of law dealing with relationships between individuals
  37. Regulation – a rule or order issued by an administrative agency
  38. Registrar – an official in charge of maintaining court records
  39. Secular – not related to religion, or not bound by religious rules
  40. Sentence – the punishment given to a person convicted of a crime
  41. Statute – a law passed by a legislature
  42. Statute of Limitations – a law that sets a time limit for taking legal action
  43. Adjudication – the process of making a decision in a legal case
  44. Advocate – a legal professional who represents clients in court
  45. Appellate – relating to an appeal, a higher court’s review of a lower court’s decision
  46. Civil procedure – the set of rules for conducting a civil lawsuit
  47. Code – a collection of laws on a specific subject
  48. Collateral – property pledged as security for a loan
  49. Common property – property owned jointly by a group of people
  50. Constitutional Law – laws related to the Constitution and the powers of government
  51. Consumer Law – laws related to the rights and protection of consumers
  52. Criminal procedure – the set of rules for conducting a criminal trial
  53. Damages – financial compensation awarded to a person as a result of a legal case
  54. Deed poll – a legal document executed by one party
  55. Defamation – the act of making false statements that harm someone’s reputation
  56. Discovery – the process of gathering evidence in a legal case
  57. Equity – a system of justice that supplements common law and is based on fairness and natural justice
  58. Evidence act – a law that lays down the rules of evidence in court
  59. Family law – laws related to marriage, divorce, adoption, and child custody
  60. Habeas corpus – a legal order requiring a person to be brought before a court to determine the legality of their detention
  61. Indictment – a formal accusation that a person has committed a crime
  62. Insurance Law – laws related to the regulation of insurance companies and the rights of policyholders
  63. Alienation – the transfer of ownership of property
  64. Anti-Trust Law – laws related to competition and preventing monopolies
  65. Appeal – a request to a higher court to review a lower court’s decision
  66. Arbitrator – a person appointed to make a binding decision in a dispute
  67. Bill of rights – a set of legal guarantees protecting individual rights
  68. Case law – the law established by judicial decisions
  69. Class action – a legal action brought by a group of people collectively
  70. Coercion – the use of force or threats to make someone do something
  71. Collusion – secret cooperation for an illegal or fraudulent purpose
  72. Commercial Law – laws related to business transactions and commerce
  73. Community property – property owned jointly by a married couple
  74. Computer crime – illegal activity committed using a computer or the internet
  75. Conciliation – a process in which a neutral third party helps disputing parties to reach a settlement
  76. Conflict of laws – the legal principles that govern when a legal dispute involves more than one jurisdiction
  77. Consumer Protection Law – laws related to protecting consumers from fraud and unfair business practices
  78. Contracts of adhesion – standard form contracts, often presented on a “take it or leave it” basis
  79. Contingency fee – a fee charged by a lawyer that is based on the outcome of the case
  80. Copyright Law – laws related to the protection of creative works
  81. Corporate Law – laws related to the formation, regulation, and dissolution of corporations
  82. Counterclaim – a claim brought by a defendant in a legal case
  83. Criminal Law – a body of law dealing with criminal matters and punishments
  84. Customary law – a body of law based on long-standing customs and traditions
  85. Cyber law – laws related to the internet and technology
  86. Damages – financial compensation awarded to a person as a result of a legal case
  87. Deed – a legal document that transfers ownership of property
  88. Defamation – the act of making false statements that harm someone’s reputation
  89. Disclaimer – a statement that denies responsibility or liability
  90. Disclosure – the process of revealing information in a legal case
  91. Discrimination – treating someone differently based on their race, gender, age, etc.
  92. Encumbrance – any claim, lien, charge, or liability attached to property
  93. Endorsement – a signature or statement of support
  94. Equity – a system of justice that supplements common law and is based on fairness and natural justice
  95. Estoppel – a legal principle that prevents someone from denying something that they have previously claimed to be true
  96. Ex parte – a legal proceeding in which one party is absent
  97. Executed – completed, fulfilled or carried out
  98. Expropriation – the act of taking private property for public use
  99. Fraud – the crime of deception or dishonesty
  100. Indemnification – a legal protection against financial loss
  101. Libel – the act of publishing false and defamatory statements in writing.

Whether you’re a student preparing for exams, a professional looking to advance your career, or simply someone looking to improve your communication skills and cognitive function, expanding your vocabulary can have a powerful impact on your life. So why not start today, and unlock the power of vocabulary for yourself?

I have prepared a FREE VOCABULARY BUILDER for you where you can learn:

  1. List of Commonly used Synonyms & Antonyms
  2. Words, their meanings & examples
  3. Important phrases & their uses
  4. commonly used idioms
  5. Famous Quotes
  6. Day to day conversation sentences

We also have live online classes where we teach 2 courses which are given below. Please go through them and if interested you can take a Free Trial Class.

Fearless English Course- SLS Academia
Future Leaders Course- SLS Academia
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