Law 1: Basic Vocabulary

Video Vocab 04

Law

Part 1: Basic Legal Terms

Part 2: Court Vocabulary

Part 3: Commercial Law

collocationsWord partnerships or

words that are commonly used together by native

speakers.

Word + Word = Collocation

wikipediaOnline encyclopedia

made up of contributions from many different

people.

lawA system of rules that people are supposed to follow in a society or country.

The courts and police enforce this system of rules and punish people who break the law.

lawA legal code is a written code of laws that are enforced.

A lawyer is a professional who studies and argues the rules of law.

lawlaw + adjective:

civil lawcriminal law

collocationslaw + verb:

break the lawenforce the lawbecome lawpass a law

civil lawPart of the law that deals with disagreements between private individuals.

civil lawComes from 2 sources:

1. legislation - laws created by the government.

2. common law - laws based on previous legal decisions and tradition.

criminal lawCriminal law is a system of law concerned with crimes and the punishment of criminals.

Most criminal law is based on government legislation.

contract lawContract law sets rules on agreements to buy and sell items and services.

property lawProperty law states the rights and obligations that a person has when they buy, sell or rent homes and buildings.

trust lawTrust law sets out the rules for money that is put into an investment, such as pension funds.

tort lawTort law helps people to make claims for compensation when someone hurts them or their property.

constitutional law

Constitutional law relates to the running of governments and civil rights.

administrative law

Administrative law is used by citizens when they want to challenge government decisions.

international law

International law is used to set out rules on how countries interact in areas such as trade, environment or war.

lawyerSomeone who has studied law and has a special qualification to represent people in court or other legal actions.

lawyerUSA = Attorney

UK = Solicitor

trial lawyerUSA = Counsel

UK = Barrister

defense lawyer(defence BrE)The lawyer

that represents the person accused of a crime.

prosecution lawyer

The lawyer that represents the government side.

caseA case is a legal action that will be decided in a court of law.

case

court case A case that will be heard in court.

criminal case A case involving a criminal act.

civil caseA case under civil law.

collocations

casecollocationsbring a case (against

somebody) To file charges against another person.

defend a caseTo try to prove that the accused is innocent.

consider a case To hear the defence and prosecution arguments and reach a decision.

casecollocationshear a case

(Same meaning as to consider a case.)

handle a case To be in charge of representing either side.

prosecute a case When the prosecution decides to press charges and asks a court to hear the case.

casecollocations

dismiss a caseTo end a case without reaching a verdict.

settle a caseTo reach an agreement without finishing the trial.

drop a caseTo decide not to prosecute a case.

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