Basic Legal Vocabulary
The typography uses a difference in the size of the letters to indicate which syllable of the word is stressed. Illustrative sentences are put in italics.
sell
v. ir. (sold, sold) to transfer the ownership of property in exchange for a consideration, usually money
sale n. transfer of something from one owner to another in exchange for a consideration, usually money
The sale of firearms is usually strictly controlled.
They put their art collection up for sale to raise money to buy a bigger house.
seller n. the person who sells something
This transfer can be looked at from the other side, of the person getting something, and then we talk about a purchase, to purchase (or to buy), a purchaser (or a buyer).
sentence
n. The punishment given to a person who has been convicted (found to be guilty) of a crime.
In England, it may be time in prison, a Community Penalty Order (formerly community service) or a Community Rehabilitation Order (formerly probation), a fine or discharge.
He was given a suspended sentence and warned to behave himself in the future.
v. sentence someone to prison
I take no pleasure in sentencing you to 292 months,'' the judge told Jamie Olis, ''but my job is to follow the law."
He was sentenced to life imprisonment.
settle
v. to agree to end a legal dispute before a final decision by a court
The parties settled the case after the jury was sworn in, just before the plaintiff's opening statement.
settlement n.
Rather than appealing the decision, McDonald's came to a settlement after secret negotiations.
Your honor, the parties have reached a settlement in this case.
solicitor (UK)
n. A lawyer that restricts his or her practice to the giving of legal advice and does not normally litigate. In England and some other Commonwealth jurisdictions, a legal distinction is made between solicitors and barristers, the former with exclusive privileges of giving oral or written legal advice, and the latter with exclusive privileges of preparing and conducting litigation in the courts. In other words, solicitors don't appear in court on a client's behalf and barristers don't give legal advice to clients.
In England, barristers and solicitors work as a team: the solicitor would typically make the first contact with a client and if the issue cannot be resolved and proceeds to trial, the solicitor would transfer the case to a barrister for the duration of the litigation.
Lawyers in Canada, sometimes use the title "barrister and solicitor" even though, contrary to England, there is no legal distinction between the advising and litigating roles. Canadian lawyers can litigate or give legal advice (as is the case in the USA, where lawyers are referred to as "attorneys").
You can obtain the appropriate forms to start a civil action from your local County Court, but it is advisable to seek advice from a solicitor.
standard of proof
n. the level of certitude required to reach a verdict — see burden of proof
Proof beyond a reasonable doubt is the standard of proof necessary for a conviction in a criminal trial, whereas the standard in civil cases is merely a fair preponderance of the evidence.
After his acquittal, the victims' survivors sued Simpson in civil court, where a jury, using a lesser standard of proof than required at a criminal trial, found him liable for the murders and ordered him to pay $33.5 million.
statute
n. a written law approved by legislatures, parliaments or houses of assembly (i.e., politicians). — see act, law, legislation
The written laws of the Canadian Province of Newfoundland are in a multi-volume set of books called the Statutes of Newfoundland.
statutory, adj. a statutory rule has its source in legislation, as opposed to case law — see common law (1)
In the common law system, we find a distinction between statutory and common law rules.
steal
v. ir. (stole, stolen) steal something from someone
to take something from someone without permission
The victim of the crime is indicated either by a possessive adjective -The thief stole all my parents' traveler’s checks.
or by using from + victim, or both - The thief took all my parents' money from them.
theft n. The wrongful taking of the property of another. It is a broad term and includes larceny, pilfering, hold-up, robbery and pick-pocketing.
To find the men guilty of theft of government property, the jury had to determine the property was worth more than $1,000.
thief n. the criminal who steals
sue
v. to take legal action against a person or organization, especially by making a legal claim for money because of some harm that they have caused you — see action
Anthony Passero, a 16-year-old high school junior from New Jersey who was left a quadriplegic after a skiing accident, sued the ski resort where the accident occurred for negligence.
A lawyer for Nazi victims who sued the [Swiss] banks said the agreement could allow the victims or their descendants to obtain hundreds of millions of dollars in unclaimed funds.
suit (or lawsuit) n. comprehensive term for any proceeding in a court of law whereby an individual seeks a legal remedy
LICRA and UEJF are within their rights to bring suit in France against Yahoo! for violation of French speech law.
swear (to tell the truth)
v. ir. (swore, sworn) to make a solemn promise
The witnesses were sworn in and testified that they had seen the accused at the scene of the crime with a bloody knife in his hand.
also to take an oath (a solemn promise)