Paralegal Glossary
This glossary contains terms commonly used in the paralegal field, in which I study.
- case
- noun
- A specific occurence or matter requiring discussion, decision, or investigation, as by officials or law-enforcement authorities.
- Example: The judge made a decision about this case.
- fr: dossier
- client
- noun
- A person or group that uses the professional advice or services of a lawyer.
- Example: I have to meet with my client.
- fr: client
- contract
- noun
- An agreement between two or more parties for the doing or not doing of something specified.
- Example: He didn't respect their contract.
- fr: contrat
- court
- noun
- A judicial tribunal duly constituted for the hearing and determination of cases.
- Example: This case must be brought to court.
- fr: cour
- courthouse
- noun
- A building in which courts of law are held.
- Example: We are going to the courthouse.
- fr: palais de justice
- judge
- noun
- A public officer authorized to hear and decide cases in a court of law.
- Example: The judge is hearing the case.
- fr: juge
- judgment
- noun
- A judicial decision given by a judge.
- Example: We received a judgment from the judge.
- fr: jugement
- judicial
- adjective
- Pertaining to judgment in courts of justice or to the administration of justice.
- Example: The judicial system is complicated.
- fr: judiciaire
- justice
- noun
- The maintenance or administration of what is just by law, as by judicial or other proceedings.
- Example: The court of justice is over there.
- fr: justice
- law
- noun
- The principles and regulations established in a community by some authority and applicable to its people, wether in the form of legislation or of custom and policies recognized and enforced by judicial decision.
- Example: You must respect the law.
- fr: loi
- lawyer
- noun
- A person whose profession is to represent clients in a court of law or to advise or act for clients in other legal matters.
- Example: I need to call my lawyer.
- fr: avocat
- legal research
- noun
- The process of identifying and retrieving information necessary to support legal decision-making.
- Example: The paralegal started her legal research for the case.
- fr: recherche juridique
- paralegal
- noun
- A lawyer's assistant, not admitted to the practice of law but trained to perform certain legal tasks
- Example: The lawyer required the help of the paralegal.
- fr: parajuriste
- prejudice
- noun
- A damage or an injury, a detriment.
- Example: The non-respect of this contract caused me a prejudice.
- fr: préjudice
- regulation
- noun
- A law, rule, or other order prescribed by authority, especially to regulate conduct.
- Example: We must follow the regulation.
- fr: règlement
- trial
- noun
- The examination before a judicial tribunal of the facts put in issue in a cause, often including issues of law as well as those of fact.
- Example: The trial for our case is tomorrow.
- fr: procès