Legal Terms Quiz

Legal Terms

Immunity refers to legal protection that exempts a person from liability, punishment, or legal action. It can be granted in various contexts, including criminal and civil cases, administrative proceedings, and legislative inquiries.
Liability is the state of being legally responsible for something.
Discharge is the release of a legal obligation, such as a contract or debt.
Remedy is a means of enforcing a right or redressing a wrong.
Plaintiff is the person who initiates a lawsuit.
Defendant is the person who is sued in a lawsuit.
Respondent is the person who responds to a petition or appeal.
Adversary is a person who opposes another in a legal dispute.
Appellant is the person who appeals a decision to a higher court.
Adjudication is the formal judgment or decision by a court or tribunal.
Acquit is to legally clear a person of a criminal charge.
Culprit is a person who is guilty of a crime or offense.
Victim is a person who is harmed or injured by a crime.
Aggrieved Party is a person who has suffered an injury or loss as a result of another’s actions.
Abstain is to refrain from a particular action, especially voting.
Civil Wrong is a wrongful act that violates the rights of another person.
Crime is a wrongful act that violates a criminal law.
Wrongdoer is a person who commits a wrong or an offense.
Wronged means to be treated unfairly or unjustly.
Damages are financial compensation awarded to a person who has been harmed.
Claim is a demand for something that is considered to be rightfully due.
Claimant is a person who makes a claim.
Clear Title is a legal document that proves ownership of a property without any liens or encumbrances.
Possession is the act of having physical control over something.
Ownership is the legal right to possess, use, and dispose of something.
Civil Law is a legal system based on codified laws, rather than judicial precedents.
Common Law is a legal system based on judicial precedents, rather than codified laws.
Positive Law is a system of laws that are created by a legislature or other authority.
Notification is a formal announcement of a legal proceeding.
Byelaw is a local law made by a municipality or other local authority.
Order is a legal directive from a court or other legal authority.
Decree is a formal order made by a court, especially in a civil case.
Bare Act is a legal document that contains the text of a law, without any annotations or interpretations.
Capacity is the legal ability to perform a specific act.
ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution) is a process used to resolve legal disputes outside of a court.
Tribunal is a formal body that has the authority to judge or decide certain legal cases.
Quasi-Judicial Authorities are bodies that have some of the powers of a court, but are not actually courts.

Ownership, Possession, and Adverse Possession

Ownership refers to the legal right to possess, use, and dispose of property.
Possession refers to the physical control of property.
Adverse Possession is a legal doctrine that allows a person to acquire ownership of property by occupying it openly, notoriously, and continuously for a certain period of time.

Actionable Terms

Actionable means something that can be the basis of a lawsuit.
Abate means to reduce or diminish.
Abet means to encourage or assist in a wrongdoing.
Ab initio means "from the beginning".
Assignment is the transfer of rights and responsibilities under a contract.
Assignee is the person who receives the assignment.
Assigner is the person who makes the assignment.
Attachment is a legal process by which a court seizes property to satisfy a judgment.
Attestation is the act of witnessing a document and signing it as a witness.
Bona Fide means in good faith.
Conveyance is the transfer of title to real property.
Easement is a legal right to use another person's property.
Ejectment is a legal action to recover possession of real property.
Evidence is anything that helps to prove or disprove a fact.
Prima Facie means "at first glance" or "on its face".

Authority & Precedent

Authority refers to the power or right to make decisions or take actions.
Precedent is a prior legal decision that serves as a guide for future cases.
Rules are specific directives that govern behavior.
Regulationsare rules or laws made by government agencies.
Enactment is the process of making a law.
Statute is a law that is written and passed by a legislature.
Code is a collection of laws that are organized and compiled by subject matter.
Act is a law that is passed by a legislature.
Bill is a proposed law that is being considered by a legislature.
Ordinance is a law that is passed by a local government.
Dictum - Obiter Dicta is a statement made by a judge that is not essential to the decision in a case.
Ratio - Ratio Decidendi is the reason or principle behind a court’s decision.

Rights and Legal Procedures

Ex-Parte means "on behalf of one party only".
Right In Rem is a right that applies to a specific piece of property.
Right In Personam is a right that applies to a specific person.
In Re means "in the matter of" or "regarding".
Ipso Facto means "by that very fact itself".
Decree is a formal judgment or order made by a court.
Award refers to the judgment or decision of an arbitrator.
Foreign Award is an arbitration award that is made in a foreign country.
Enforcement is the process of putting a court’s decision into effect.

Importance of Legal Terms

Legal terms are crucial in the field of law as they ensure clarity, consistency, and uniformity in interpreting and applying legal concepts.
Legal terms are the foundational language of laws and regulations, allowing us to understand the intentions of lawmakers.
Misinterpreting legal terms can have serious consequences, potentially leading to misrepresentation of facts and jeopardizing the outcome of a case.

Common Law System vs Civil Law System

Common Law Systems are based on judicial precedents, meaning the decisions of judges in past cases influence future cases.
Civil Law Systems are based on codified laws, meaning laws are written down in a systematic code.

Legal Terms:

Immunity: Exemption from legal liability, punishment or action otherwise applicable.
- Granted in criminal, civil cases, administrative proceedings & legislative inquiries.
- Rooted in Common Law but codified in statutes and legal codes.
- Examples: Indian Constitution granting immunity to Federal officials, police officer killing an offender.
- Types: witness immunity, public official's immunity, sovereign immunity, diplomatic immunity.
Liability: Legal responsibility for one's actions, omissions, or negligence that can result in civil lawsuits or criminal prosecution.
Discharge: Legal process or event that releases someone from contractual obligations, debts, or legal responsibilities.
Remedy: Legal means available to enforce a right or compensate for a wrong. Can be monetary, equitable, or both.
Plaintiff: The party who initiates a legal action in a court of law.
Defendant: The party who is sued or accused in a legal action.
Respondent: The party against whom a legal claim is filed in an appellate court.
Adversary: An opponent in a legal dispute.
Appellant: Party who appeals a lower court's decision to a higher court.
Adjudication: The act of making a formal judgment or decision in a legal matter, often by a court.
Acquit: To formally declare someone not guilty of criminal charges.
Culprit: The person responsible for a crime or offense.
Victim: Person who suffers harm or injury as a result of a crime or wrongful act.
Aggrieved Party: Someone who has suffered a legal wrong and is entitled to seek a remedy.
Abstain: To refrain from participating in a legal action or proceeding.
Civil Wrong: A wrongful act that gives rise to a civil liability.
Crime: An act committed in violation of criminal law.
Wrongdoer: Someone who commits a wrong or illegal act.
Wronged: To have been unjustly treated or harmed.
Damages: Monetary compensation awarded to a party who has suffered a loss or injury.
Claim: Formal request for something due or owed, often in a legal context.
Claimant: Person making a claim.
Clear Title: A legal document that establishes undisputed ownership of property.
Possession: The act of physically controlling or holding a thing.
Ownership: The legal right to possess, use, and dispose of a thing.
Civil law: Legal system based on a comprehensive set of written laws, often contained in codes.
Common Law: Legal system based on precedent and judicial decisions.
Positive Law: Legally enacted rules and regulations that apply to society.
Notification: Formal announcement or communication of information.
Byelaw: Local rule or regulation made by a municipality or other authority.
Order: A directive issued by a court or other authority.
Decree: A formal judgment or order issued by a court.
Bare Act: A legal document containing the text of a statute or law, without any commentary or interpretation.
Capacity: Legal ability to perform a specific act or enter into a legal agreement.
ADR: Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), a process for resolving disputes outside of traditional court proceedings.
Tribunal: A body of people with authority to hear and decide disputes, such as a court or arbitration panel.
Quasi-Judicial Authorities: Entities or individuals that have some power to make decisions that have legal consequences, but are not formally considered courts.
Ownership: The legal right to possess, use, and dispose of property.
Possession: The act of physically controlling or holding a thing.
Adverse Possession: The acquisition of title to real property by open, continuous, and hostile possession for a statutory period.
Actionable: Something that can be the basis for a legal action or lawsuit.
Abate/Abet: To encourage or assist in the commission of a crime.
Ab Initio: From the beginning.
Assignment: The transfer of rights or interests from one party to another.
Assignee: The party who receives the assignment.
Assigner: The party who makes the assignment.
Attachment: Legal seizure of property to secure payment of a debt or judgment.
Attestation: The act of witnessing a document and signing it as a witness.
Bona Fide: In good faith.
Conveyance: The transfer of ownership of real property.
Easement: A legal right to use another person's property for a specific purpose.
Ejectment: A legal action to remove someone from possession of property.
Evidence: Proof presented in a legal action to support a claim.
Prima Facie: At first glance.
Authority: Power or legal right to give orders, make decisions, or enforce laws.
Precedent: Past legal decisions that serve as guides for resolving future cases.
Rules: Instructions or guidelines that govern conduct or behavior.
Regulations: Rules or standards that enforce a law or policy.
Enactment: The process of making a law or regulation.
Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
Code: A collection of laws and regulations that cover a specific area of law.
Act: A law passed by a legislature.
Bill: A proposed law that has not yet been enacted.
Ordinance: A law passed by a local government.
Dictum: An authoritative statement or observation made by a judge in a legal opinion.
Obiter Dicta: Statements made by a judge in an opinion that are not essential to the holding of the case and are not binding precedent.
Ratio Decidendi: The legal reasoning or principle that forms the basis for a judicial decision.
Ex Parte: One-sided, where only one party is present.
Right In Rem: A legal right that applies to a specific object or property.
Right In Personam: A legal right that applies to a specific person.
In Re: A legal proceeding concerning a particular matter or issue.
Ipso Facto: By the very fact of the matter.
Decree: A formal judgment or order issued by a court.
Award: A judgment or decision made by an arbitrator or other decision-making body (e.g., a court).
Foreign Award: A judgment or decision made by a tribunal in another country.
Enforcement: The process of putting a law or judgment into effect.

Common Law System v/s Civil Law System

Common law: Relies on precedent established by judicial decisions, "judge-made law"
Civil law: Uses a comprehensive written code for legal rules & principles, "code law"