100 Words Every Lawyer Should Know

Essential legal vocabulary and definitions covering 100 terms that every lawyer should know.

actus reus

criminal act

affidavit

written sworn statement

alibi

claim of being elsewhere

answer

defendant's written response

appeal

request for higher court review

arbitration

private dispute resolution by arbitrator

arraignment

first court appearance on charges

attorney

lawyer authorized to act

bail

money securing court appearance

bankruptcy

legal process for debt relief

beneficiary

person receiving a benefit

bequest

gift made by will

breach

violation of duty or contract

brief

written legal argument

complaint

document starting a civil case

consideration

something exchanged in a contract

contract

binding legal agreement

conviction

formal finding of guilt

corporation

separate legal business entity

counsel

lawyer or legal advice

cross-examination

questioning opposing witness

custody

legal control of a person

damages

money awarded for loss

deed

document transferring property ownership

defendant

person sued or accused

defense

side opposing a claim or charge

deposition

sworn out-of-court testimony

discovery

pretrial exchange of information

divorce

legal end of marriage

duress

pressure destroying free choice

easement

right to use another's land

estate

person's property and interests

estoppel

bar against inconsistent claims

evidence

proof presented in a case

executor

person administering a will

felony

serious crime

fiduciary

bound to act for another

foreclosure

forced sale after loan default

fraud

intentional deception for gain

guardian

person legally caring for another

habeas corpus

challenge to unlawful detention

hearing

court proceeding on an issue

hearsay

out-of-court statement offered as proof

holding

court's legal ruling

immunity

protection from legal liability

impeachment

attack on witness credibility

indemnity

protection against loss or liability

indictment

formal criminal charge

infringement

unauthorized use violating rights

injunction

court order to do or stop

insolvency

inability to pay debts

intestate

without a valid will

judgment

court's final decision

jurisdiction

court's legal authority

juror

member of a jury

jury

group deciding facts at trial

lease

contract for temporary possession

liability

legal responsibility for harm or debt

lien

legal claim on property

litigation

process of taking legal action

majority opinion

main opinion of the court

mandamus

order compelling official action

mediation

assisted negotiation by neutral third party

mens rea

criminal intent

misdemeanor

less serious crime

mortgage

loan secured by property

motion

formal request to a court

negligence

failure to use reasonable care

oath

solemn promise to tell truth

objection

formal protest in court

offer

proposal to form a contract

perjury

lying under oath

plaintiff

person who brings a lawsuit

plea

defendant's formal court response

pleading

formal written court statement

precedent

earlier case guiding later decision

principal

person represented by an agent

probable cause

reasonable basis for belief

prosecution

side bringing criminal charges

remedy

legal means of redress

res judicata

claim cannot be relitigated

search warrant

order allowing a search

sentence

punishment imposed by court

settlement

agreement resolving a dispute

standing

right to bring a case

statute

written law enacted by legislature

stipulation

agreed fact or procedure

subpoena

order to appear or produce

testimony

statement given under oath

title

legal ownership of property

tort

civil wrong causing legal liability

trademark

protected brand name or symbol

trial

formal court examination of facts

trust

property held for beneficiaries

venue

proper location for trial

verdict

jury's formal decision

voir dire

jury selection questioning

waiver

voluntary surrender of a right

warrant

court authorization for action

witness

person giving evidence