LAW terms

Law

A system of rules created and enforced by a recognised authority to regulate behaviour.

Legal system

The institutions, courts, people and processes through which law operates.

Legal rule

A rule that determines what the law requires, permits or prohibits.

Legal principle

A fundamental rule or idea underlying a legal rule or decision.

Legal authority

A source of law or legal reasoning that can be used to support a legal argument.

Private law

Law dealing mainly with disputes between private individuals or organisations.

Public law

Law dealing mainly with relationships between individuals and the state.

Substantive law

Law that establishes legal rights, duties and liabilities.

Procedural law

Law governing the processes used to enforce substantive rights and duties.

Criminal law

Law dealing with offences against the state or society.

Civil law

Law dealing mainly with disputes between individuals or organisations.

Crime

An act or omission prohibited by criminal law.

Offence

An act or omission that breaks criminal law.

Criminal liability

Legal responsibility for committing a criminal offence.

Civil liability

Legal responsibility arising from a civil wrong.

Liability

Legal responsibility for an act or omission.

Common law system

A legal system in which judge-made law and precedent play an important role.

Adversarial system

A legal system in which opposing parties present their cases before an impartial judge or tribunal.

Inquisitorial system

A legal system in which the judge takes a more active role in investigating and determining the facts.

Evidence

Information used to establish facts in a legal case.

Witness

A person who gives evidence in a legal case.

Testimony

Evidence given by a witness.

Claim

A civil action brought by a claimant.

Claimant

The person bringing a civil claim.

Defendant

The person accused of a criminal offence or defending a civil claim.

Prosecution

The process of bringing a criminal case against a defendant.

Prosecutor

The person or organisation responsible for bringing a criminal prosecution.

Plaintiff

A former term for a claimant in civil proceedings.

Liability

Legal responsibility for an act or omission.

Remedy

The legal solution provided to someone who has suffered a legal wrong.

Compensation

Money or another remedy intended to compensate someone for loss or injury.

Damages

Money awarded by a court as a remedy for loss or injury.

Injunction

A court order requiring someone to do something or stop doing something.

Court

A body where legal cases and disputes are heard and decided.

Trial

The formal examination of a case in court.

Hearing

A court proceeding in which a particular issue or case is considered.

Judgment

The decision of a court together with its legal reasoning.

Verdict

The decision about whether a defendant is guilty or not guilty.

Conviction

A finding that a defendant is guilty of a criminal offence.

Acquittal

A finding that a defendant is not guilty of a criminal offence.

Sentence

The punishment imposed after a criminal conviction.

Jurisdiction

The legal authority of a court to hear a particular case.

Court hierarchy

The ranking of courts within the legal system.

Higher court

A court positioned above another court in the court hierarchy.

Lower court

A court positioned below another court in the court hierarchy.

Appeal

A request for a higher court to reconsider a decision.

Appellant

The person who appeals a decision.

Respondent

The person responding to an appeal.

Judge

A judicial official who oversees cases and applies and interprets the law.

Judiciary

The branch of the legal system made up of judges.

Judicial decision

A decision made by a judge in a legal case.

Magistrate

A member of the judiciary who generally deals with less serious criminal cases and some other legal matters.

Jury

A group of members of the public who determine facts in certain trials.

Barrister

A qualified legal professional who specialises in advocacy and specialist legal advice.

Solicitor

A qualified legal professional who commonly advises clients, prepares cases and represents clients.

Legal profession

The professions involved in providing legal services.

Legal representative

A qualified person representing someone in a legal matter.

Legal adviser

A person qualified to provide legal advice.

Client

A person or organisation receiving legal services.

Advocate

A person who represents or argues a case on behalf of another person.

Advocacy

The process of presenting arguments on behalf of a client.

Legal executive

A qualified legal professional who specialises in a particular area of law.

Rights of audience

The right to appear and speak on behalf of a client in a particular court.

Access to justice

The ability of individuals to obtain legal advice, representation and have their cases fairly heard.

Legal aid

Financial assistance provided to help eligible people obtain legal advice or representation.

Alternative dispute resolution (ADR)

Methods of resolving disputes without going through a full court trial.

Negotiation

A process where parties attempt to reach an agreement themselves.

Mediation

A process where an independent third party helps disputing parties reach an agreement.

Arbitration

A process where an independent arbitrator makes a decision to resolve a dispute.

Tribunal

A body established to resolve particular types of disputes outside the ordinary court system.

Pre-action protocol

Procedures parties are expected to follow before beginning certain civil proceedings.

Legislation

Law made by Parliament.

Statute

Another name for an Act of Parliament.

Act of Parliament

A law passed by Parliament that has received Royal Assent.

Bill

A proposed law being considered by Parliament.

Parliament

The UK's legislative body.

Legislature

The body responsible for making laws.

House of Commons

The elected chamber of the UK Parliament.

House of Lords

The second chamber of the UK Parliament.

Member of Parliament (MP)

A person elected to represent a constituency in the House of Commons.

Government

The political body responsible for running the country and proposing government policy and legislation.

Government Bill

A Bill introduced into Parliament by the government.

Private Member's Bill

A Bill introduced by an individual MP or member of the House of Lords who is not acting as a government minister.

Public Bill

A Bill intended to affect the general public.

Private Bill

A Bill intended to affect a particular individual, organisation or locality.

Green Paper

A government consultation document setting out proposals for discussion.

White Paper

A government document setting out more developed proposals for legislation.

First reading

The first stage of a Bill in a chamber of Parliament.

Second reading

The stage at which the general principles of a Bill are debated.

Committee stage

The stage where a Bill is examined in detail and amendments may be considered.

Report stage

The stage where a Bill is further considered and amended by the chamber.

Third reading

The final stage of consideration of a Bill in a chamber of Parliament.

Royal Assent

Formal approval by the monarch that turns a Bill into an Act of Parliament.

Amendment

A proposed change to a Bill or piece of legislation.

Repeal

The removal of a law so that it is no longer legally effective.

Common law

Law developed by judges through decisions in cases.

Case law

Law established through decisions made by judges in cases.

Judge-made law

Law developed by judges through their decisions.

Precedent

A previous court decision that can influence or bind a later case.

Judicial precedent

The principle that courts follow legal principles established in previous cases.