Important Legal Terms:
***Affidavit: A written statement made under oath.
**Petition: A formal written application made to a court or other official body requesting a
specific action or order. It is essentially a formal way of asking for something.
**Appeal: A process by which a party dissatisfied with a lower court's decision seeks review by
a higher court.
**Jurisdiction: The power or authority of a court to hear and decide a case. This can be based on
geography, the type of case, or the parties involved.
**Parole - a conditional release of a prisoner before the completion of their sentence
*Alibi - a statement by somebody that says you were in a different place at the time of a crime
and so cannot be guilty of the crime
*Bail - temporary release of an accused person from police custody or jail while they await their
trial or further legal proceedings
*Bona fide: In good faith; genuine.
*Caveat emptor: Let the buyer beware.
*Defendant/Respondent: The party against whom a civil or criminal lawsuit is brought.
*Evidence: Information presented in court to prove or disprove a fact.
*Fraud - an act of) cheating somebody in order to get money, etc. illegally
*Judgment: The final decision of a court in a case
*Plaintiff/Claimant: The party who initiates a civil lawsuit.
*Pleading: Formal written documents filed with the court that outline the parties' claims and
defenses.
*Precedent: A legal principle or rule established in a prior court decision that is binding on lower
courts in the same jurisdiction when deciding similar cases
*Remedy: The means by which a court enforces a right or redresses a wrong
*Trial: A formal examination of the facts and law before a judge or jury to resolve a dispute.
*Verdict: The formal finding of fact made by a jury on the matters or questions duly submitted to
them in a trial.
Important foreign phrases:
**Inter alia - Among other things
**Locus standi - Right to speak or intervene in a matter
**Mala fide - In bad faith
**Ab initio - From the beginning.
*Amicus curiae: Friend of the court; a third party who provides information or arguments to the
court.
**Ad hoc - Established for a particular purpose.
*Amicus curiae - An impartial Advisor
*De facto - In actual fact
*De jure - In law, By legal right
*Ex parte - One side only
*Ex gratia: As a favor; voluntarily.
*Ex officio: By virtue of office or official position.
*Habeas corpus: "You shall have the body." A writ requiring a person under detention to be
brought before a court.
*Inter se - Among themselves
*Mens rea - Criminal intention or guilty mind
*Onus probandi - The burden of proof
*Prima facie - At first sight
*Sine die - To a date not at the moment fixed
*Sub judice - Under judicial consideration
*Suo moto - By itself
*Ultra vires - Beyond powers
Important Legal Maxims
***Volenti non fit injuria - To a willing person, injury is done,"
***Noscitur a sociis - The meaning of a doubtful word can be derived from its association
with other words.
**Res ipsa loquitur: The thing speaks for itself. (In tort law, used when negligence is obvious
from the occurrence of the event.)
*Actus cuem gravabit -riae nemin An act of the court shall prejudice no one.
*Audi alteram partem - Let the other side be heard as well.
*Delegatus non potest delegare - A delegate cannot delegate.
*Ex nudo pacto non oritur actio - No action arises from a contract without consideration.
*Ignorantia facti excusat, ignorantia juris non excusat - Ignorance of facts excuses but
ignorance of law excuses no one.
*Nemo dat quod non habet - No one gives what he does not have.
*Respondeat superior - Let the master answer.
*Igni audi altern partem - "hear the other side,"
