General Legal Terms:
1. Acquittal – A judgment that a person is not guilty of the crime charged.
2. Affidavit – A written statement confirmed by oath or affirmation for use as evidence
in court.
3. Alibi – A claim that a person was elsewhere when an act, typically a criminal one,
took place.
4. Amicus Curiae – A "friend of the court," someone not a party to a case who offers
information relevant to the case.
5. Appeal – Request to a higher court for a review of a decision.
6. Arbitration – Resolving a dispute outside the courts, with the decision being legally
binding.
7. Arraignment – The formal reading of criminal charges to the accused.
8. Bail – Temporary release of an accused person awaiting trial.
9. Brief – A written statement submitted in a trial or appellate court outlining a party's
legal arguments.
10. Burden of Proof – Obligation to prove one's assertion.
Legal Actions and Procedures:
11. Capital Punishment – The legally authorized killing of someone as punishment for a
crime.
12. Caveat – A warning or proviso of specific stipulations.
13. Certiorari – An order by a higher court to review the decision of a lower court.
14. Class Action – A lawsuit filed by one or more plaintiffs on behalf of a larger group.
15. Cross-Examination – Questioning of a witness by the opposing party.
16. Decree – A formal order issued by a court.
17. Default Judgment – A decision made by the court when the defendant fails to contest
the case.
18. Defendant – A person accused of a crime or against whom a lawsuit is filed.
19. Deposition – Sworn, out-of-court testimony.
20. Double Jeopardy – Being tried twice for the same offense.
Contracts and Agreements:
21. Consideration – Something of value exchanged in a contract.
22. Force Majeure – Unforeseeable circumstances preventing contract fulfillment.
23. Indemnity – Security or protection against loss or damage.
24. Lease – A contract granting use of property for a specified time.
25. Lien – A legal claim on another's property as security for a debt.
26. Novation – Replacement of an obligation with a new one.
27. Promissory Note – A written promise to pay a specified amount of money.
28. Quid Pro Quo – An exchange of goods or services, "this for that."
29. Rescission – Cancellation of a contract.
30. Warranty – A promise or guarantee in a contract.
Property Law:
31. Adverse Possession – Acquiring ownership of land through continuous possession.
32. Easement – A right to cross or otherwise use someone else's land.
33. Encumbrance – A claim or liability on property.
34. Foreclosure – Legal process of taking possession of mortgaged property.
35. Real Property – Land and anything permanently attached to it.
36. Title – Legal right to ownership of property.
37. Trust – Arrangement where property is managed by one party for another.
38. Zoning – Laws regulating land use.
39. Deed – A legal document transferring property ownership.
40. Tenancy – Right to use and occupy property.
Criminal Law:
41. Arson – Deliberately setting fire to property.
42. Assault – Threat or attempt to inflict harm.
43. Battery – Intentional physical contact causing harm.
44. Forgery – Falsifying a document for personal gain.
45. Fraud – Intentional deception to secure unfair gain.
46. Habeas Corpus – Legal action to determine the lawfulness of detention.
47. Larceny – Theft of personal property.
48. Manslaughter – Killing someone without premeditation.
49. Perjury – Lying under oath.
50. Robbery – Taking property by force or threat of force.
Court and Legal Concepts:
51. Jurisdiction – Authority of a court to hear a case.
52. Litigation – The process of taking legal action.
53. Mediation – A process where a neutral third party helps resolve disputes.
54. Pleadings – Written documents filed by parties in a legal case.
55. Precedent – A previous case used as an example in deciding similar cases.
56. Pro Bono – Legal work done for free.
57. Quash – To reject or void, especially by legal procedure.
58. Subpoena – A legal order requiring someone to attend court.
59. Tort – A wrongful act leading to civil legal liability.
60. Verdict – A decision on a case by a jury or judge.
Miscellaneous:
61. Abatement – Reduction or removal of a nuisance.
62. Adjudication – Formal judgment in a dispute.
63. Amnesty – A pardon for offenses, often political.
64. Clemency – Mercy shown in the punishment of a crime.
65. Common Law – Law derived from judicial decisions rather than statutes.
66. Competency – Legal capacity to testify or act in court.
67. Emancipation – Legal release of a minor from parental control.
68. Escheat – Reversion of property to the state when there are no heirs.
69. Fiduciary – A person obligated to act in another's best interest.
70. Guardian – A person legally responsible for another's care.
International Law:
71. Asylum – Protection granted to political refugees.
72. Embargo – Ban on trade with a particular country.
73. Extradition – Surrender of a person accused of a crime to another jurisdiction.
74. Genocide – Deliberate killing of a large group, particularly an ethnic group.
75. Human Rights – Fundamental rights inherent to all individuals.
76. Sanctions – Penalties imposed for violating international laws.
77. Sovereignty – Supreme authority within a territory.
78. Treaty – Formal agreement between countries.
79. War Crimes – Violations of the laws of war.
80. Neutrality – State of not supporting any side in a conflict.
Indian Legal Terms:
81. PIL (Public Interest Litigation) – Legal action for the public good.
82. Lok Adalat – People's court for settling disputes.
83. Article 370 – Provision related to the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.
84. Cognizable Offense – A serious crime where police can arrest without a warrant.
85. Non-Cognizable Offense – Minor offenses requiring judicial approval for arrest.
86. Writ Petition – Formal request to a court to enforce constitutional rights.
87. RTI (Right to Information) – Legal right to access government information.
88. Scheduled Castes and Tribes – Groups protected under Indian law.
89. Gram Nyayalayas – Village courts in India.
90. Judicial Review – Power of the judiciary to review laws.
Specialized Legal Terms:
91. Antitrust Laws – Laws to prevent monopolies.
92. Bankruptcy – Legal process for resolving debt insolvency.
93. Copyright – Legal right protecting intellectual property.
94. Defamation – Act of harming someone's reputation.
95. Euthanasia – Mercy killing, often legally controversial.
96. Hearsay – Evidence based on second-hand information.
97. Intestate – Dying without a will.
98. Malpractice – Professional negligence causing harm.
99. Prima Facie – Based on first impression; accepted as correct until proven otherwise.
100. Willful Negligence – Intentional failure to perform a legal duty.
This list provides an overview of terms you may encounter in legal contexts. Let me know if
you'd like explanations or additional terms!
