CASE n. statement of the facts in a trial, esp. the argument of one side. 'The prosecutor built a really strong case and the defendant was found guilty.' CONTRACT n. a formal agreement, usually in writing, between two or more parties. 'Before signing the contract, get a lawyer to check it for you.
Definition
Are you a judge, an attorney, a prosecutor, or a paralegal? At your place of business, do you frequently handle contracts? Perhaps you have plans to buy or rent a home overseas. In both business and daily life, legalese is difficult to avoid. You will discover some of the most significant legal English vocabulary terms for courts and crimes, contracts and property law in this post. When it comes to law and business, there is a lot of specialized vocabulary that you need to know in order to be successful. Here are some key terms that you should familiarize yourself with:
Elements
Accuse
To accuse someone is to declare that someone committed a crime.
It’s often used in the passive voice, to describe the state of someone who is accused or was accused of something.
He was accused of stealing the woman’s wallet.
Advocate
A legal adviser or professional who pleads on behalf of the accused in court.
The advocate asked for her immediate release from jail.
Appeal
To apply to a higher court to change a judge’s decision.
The judge’s decision is unreasonable. Let’s make an appeal.
Arrest
To take someone who supposedly did something illegal into police custody.
My sister was arrested last night. I wonder what she did!
Barrister
A specialized lawyer typically found in England or Australia.
They asked a barrister to give the defendant some advice.
Capital punishment
Also known as the “death penalty,” when the guilty person is sentenced to death.
The prosecutor wanted capital punishment for the defendant who had killed three people.
Charge
To formally accuse someone of a crime.
The police charged him with murder this morning.
Case
Legal action—something that should be decided on in court.
The police had built a strong case against the robber.
Civil law
The law that’s not criminal law.
She practices civil law and spends most of her time helping people get divorced.
Convict
Someone who has been found guilty of a crime and is serving a jail sentence.
My uncle is a convict. He has to serve three more years in jail.
Courtroom
The room where the judge hears cases.
We need to be in the courtroom in 10 minutes.
Criminal law
The law that punishes criminals and people who break the law.
She practices criminal law. Right now she’s working on a robbery case.
Defendant
The person who has been accused of a crime.
The defendant is accused of stealing this woman’s car.
Defense Attorney
The lawyer who argues for the defendant.
I’m not going to jail. I’ve hired the best defense attorney in the city.
Deposition
Giving sworn evidence, usually written or spoken.
She gave her deposition last week. We will use it in court today.
Conclusion
Simply living or working abroad might benefit from knowing legal English. Living in an English-speaking nation can be difficult. You'll be far more prepared to deal with contracts, immigration paperwork, purchasing or renting property, and other situations if you grasp basic legal terminology.
