Law Glossary

Hi, my name is Jade Merette, I'm 18 years old and I have been studying Paralegal Technology for the past two years at Ahuntsic College in Montreal. I would eventually like to go to university in the same field of study and become a lawyer. Paralegal Technology covers various areas of law such as civil law, criminal law and business law. I made this glossary so it could help people to learn about my program and maybe even go in a program related to law if their interested in it.

paralegal
noun
A person trained in subsidiary legal matters but not fully qualified as a lawyer.
Example: She's a paralegal at Peskind Hymson & Goldstein.
fr: parajuriste
paralegal with lawyer
lawyer
noun
A person who practices or studies law; an attorney or a counselor.
Example: He's a prominent criminal lawyer.
fr: avocat
lawyer
civil law
noun
The system of law concerned with private relations between members of a community rather than criminal, military, or religious affairs.
Example: I am currently investigating a civil law case regarding the distribution of property between two people that are divorcing.
fr: droit civil
civil code
criminal law
noun
A system of law concerned with the punishment of those who commit crimes.
Example: It is the function of the criminal law to punish.
fr: droit pénal
criminal law
business law
noun
Business law is the law that governs what happens with commercial matters, and there are two main types: regulation of commercial entities and regulation of commercial transactions.
Example: After she qualified as a lawyer, she decided to specialize in business law.
fr: droit des affaires
business law
punitive damages
noun
Damages exceeding simple compensation and awarded to punish the defendant.
Example: The jury awarded punitive damages.
fr: dommages-intérêts punitifs
money
tort
noun
A wrongful act or an infringement of a right (other than under contract) leading to civil legal liability.
Example: A public nuisance is a crime as well as a tort.
fr: délit
ticket
acquittal
noun
A judgment that a person is not guilty of the crime with which the person has been charged.
Example: The trial resulted in an acquittal.
fr: acquittement
free
admissible
adjective
Acceptable or valid, especially as evidence in a court of law.
Example: The Court unanimously held that the hearsay was admissible.
fr: admissible
appeal
verb
Apply to a higher court for a reversal of the decision of a lower court.
Example: He said he would appeal against the conviction.
fr: appeler le jugement
courts of appel
court
noun
A tribunal presided over by a judge, judges, or a magistrate in civil and criminal cases.
Example: She will take the matter to court.
fr: tribunal
court
defendant
noun
An individual, company, or institution sued or accused in a court of law.
Example: The defendant tried to claim that it was self-defense.
fr: défendeur
defendant
plaintiff
noun
A person who brings a case against another in a court of law.
Example: The plaintiff commenced an action for damages.
fr: demandeur
plaintiff
evidence
noun
Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case in favor of one side or the other.
Example: That will be used in evidence against her.
fr: preuve
DNA
contract
noun
A written or spoken agreement, especially one concerning employment, sales, or tenancy, that is intended to be enforceable by law.
Example: Write, sign a contract.
fr: contrat
contract
judge
noun
A public official appointed to decide cases in a court of law.
Example: The trial judge.
fr: juge
judge
judgment
noun
A decision of a court or judge.
Example: The Supreme Court upheld the judgment of the Alberta Court of Appeal.
fr: jugement
jugement
sequester
verb
Take legal possession of (assets) until a debt has been paid or other claims have been met.
Example: The power of courts to sequester the assets of unions.
fr: séquestrer
safe
sentence
noun
The punishment assigned to a defendant found guilty by a court, or fixed by law for a particular offense.
Example: Her husband is serving a three-year sentence for fraud.
fr: sentence
prison
witness
noun
A person who sees an event, typically a crime or accident, take place.
Example: I was called as a witness.
fr: témoin
witness

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