Vocabulary Unit 1

Adjudicate	To decide a matter by legal means; for example, court, mediation, arbitration.
Albeit	Although; even though.
Allegation	A statement or charge made in a pleading which one intends to prove by legal evidence.
Bankruptcy	Legal status where court divides person’s assets, if any, among creditors and discharges debts.
Case law	Law based on court decisions.
Citation	A reference to laws or other cases concerning law applicable in current case.
Common law	The major source of law in the United States; based on old English law.
Constitutional law	Law established by either federal or state constitutions as interpreted by appropriate federal or state courts.
Counsel	Attorney at law.
Defendant	The party being sued or tried in either civil or criminal action.
Execute	To sign a legal document as required by the document; for example, before a notary public.
Feasance	The proper performance of an act (rarely used).
Forthwith	Immediately, soon.
Heretofore	Previously; up to this time.
Hereunto	To this matter or document.
In propria persona	Latin; refers to one who represents himself without the assistance of a attorney.
Jurisprudence	The science or philosophy of law.
Jurist	A person who has a substantial knowledge of law and who has written extensively on legal matters; for example, judges, professors, and so on.
Law	Rules of conduct applicable to all people and enforceable in court.
Legal	Authorized by law or not forbidden by law.
Malfeasance	Misconduct; the performance of an illegal act, especially by government official; for example, the Chief of Police.
Mandatory	Required, frequently by law.
Misfeasance	Improperly doing a legal act.
Nonfeasance	Failure to perform a duty.
Per se	Latin, meaning “in Itself or by itself.”
Plaintiff	The party who initiates an action at law (lawsuit).
Precedent	A judicial decision that is used as a guide in subsequent, similar cases.
Statutory law	Law established by Congress or state legislatures.
The bar	When capitalized, refers to the legal profession as a whole.
The court	When capitalized, refers to the judge.
Thereby	By it; as a result of it.
Therefor	For the thing previously mentioned; for it.
Therefore	For that reason.
Tort	A civil wrong (other than failure to fulfill a contract) that requires the payment of money damages as compensation for injury to person or property.
Tortfeasor	One who commits a tortuous (wrong or devious) activity; for example, auto accident, assault.
Whereas	Since; in view of the fact that.

Source: Legal Terminology and Transcription by Marilynn K. Wallis