Legal Terminology

Preparing for Law School

Civil Law

The part of law that deals with disagreements between private individuals rather than crimes.

Legislation

Laws created by the government of a country.

Common Law

The laws that have been introduced over a long period of time and are based on previous legal decisions.

Criminal Law

A system of law concerned with crimes and the punishment of criminals.

Contract Law

The law that sets rules and agreements to buy and sell items (goods) and services.

Property Law

The law that states the rights and obligations that a person has when they buy, sell, or rent homes and buildings.

Trust Law

Trust law sets out the rules for money that is put into an investment such as pension funds that people save up for their retirement.

Tort Law

Tort Law helps people to make claims for compensation when someone hurts them or damages their property.

Constitutional Law

Constitutional law is used to create laws on how different levels of governments can act and on human rights.

Administrative Law

Administrative law is used by ordinary citizens who want to challenge decisions made by governments.

International Law

International law is used to set out the rules on how countries can act in areas such as trade, the environment or military action.

Plain Meaning Rule

This principle means that wherever possible, the most common and obvious meaning of a word should be used and therefore interpreted. This is adhered to as long as it doesn’t lead to absurd interpretations within the context.

Ordinance

A law introduced by a local government

Directive

Official guide or instructions

Bill

Legal draft before being passed as law.

Statute

Formal written law introduced by a legislative body.

Magistrate’s Court

UK court where small crimes are tried.

Tribunal

A tribunal is a court made up of people that study specific issues, like immigration.

Crown court

British court where cases involving serious crimes are heard.

Supreme Court/High Court

The final decision makers.

Lower Court

Lower court is where a case is heard first and whose decisions are subject to review or to appeal to a higher court.

Moot Court

A moot court is where students of law argue hypothetical cases in order to practice.

Small-claims Court

Small-claims court handles cases involving small amounts of money.

Appellate Court

Appellate court reviews cases that have already been heard in a lower court.

Juvenile Court

A Juvenile court is where minors are tried.