jurisdiction
/ˌdʒʊrəsˈdɪkʃən/The official power of a court or authority to make legal decisions over a certain area or matter.
Example: The case fell outside the court's jurisdiction.
C120 words · Advanced
Legal English vocabulary — C1
Advanced legal English for how a case is argued and decided, including jurisdiction, legal precedent, arbitration and the burden of proof behind an indictment or acquittal.
20 questions
Words in this set
20precedent
/ˈprɛsɪdənt/A previous court decision used as a guide for deciding similar future cases.
Example:
The judge cited an earlier precedent in her ruling.
statute
/ˈstætʃut/A law formally passed by a government or legislature.
Example:
The new statute raised the minimum wage.
arbitration
/ˌɑrbɪˈtreɪʃən/A way of settling a dispute outside court, using an independent person to decide the outcome.
Example:
The contract required disputes to go to arbitration.
mediation
/ˌmidiˈeɪʃən/A process in which a neutral person helps two sides reach an agreement, without deciding the outcome for them.
Example:
The couple settled their business dispute through mediation.
indictment
/ˌɪnˈdaɪtmənt/A formal, written accusation charging someone with a serious crime.
Example:
A grand jury issued an indictment against the former director.
acquittal
/əˈkwɪtəl/A court's decision that a person is not guilty of the crime they were charged with.
Example:
The jury's acquittal ended a two-year legal battle.
appellate
/əˈpɛlɪt/Relating to appeals, or a court that reviews decisions made by a lower court.
Example:
She took her case to the appellate court.
waiver
/ˈweɪvər/A written statement giving up a legal right or claim.
Example:
Every skydiver must sign a waiver before jumping.
class action
A lawsuit brought by one group of people who share the same complaint against another party.
Example:
Thousands joined the class action against the car manufacturer.
burden of proof
The duty to prove what you are claiming.
Example:
The burden of proof sat with the claimant throughout.
mitigating circumstances
Facts that make an offence seem less serious.
Example:
Mitigating circumstances reduced the sentence by a third.
void
/vɔɪd/Having no legal effect at all.
Example:
The clause was void from the day it was written.
force majeure
An unforeseeable event that excuses a party from a contract.
Example:
They invoked force majeure and the argument lasted two years.
legal personality
The status of being able to sue and be sued.
Example:
A partnership has no separate legal personality.
beneficiary
/ˌbɛnəˈfɪʃiˌɛri/The person who receives something under a will or trust.
Example:
Each beneficiary received a letter and a set of accounts.
caveat emptor
The principle that the buyer is responsible for checking.
Example:
At auction it is caveat emptor and nothing else.
quantum
/ˈkwɑntəm/The amount of money to be awarded in a case.
Example:
Liability was admitted and only quantum remained in dispute.
undertaking
/ˈʌndərˌteɪkɪŋ/A formal promise given to a court or another party.
Example:
The undertaking was breached within a fortnight.
severability
The rule that one invalid clause does not void the whole contract.
Example:
Severability saved the agreement when the penalty clause failed.
