Paralegal Glossary

Hi, my name is François, I have been studying Paralegal Technology for 2 years now at Ahuntsic College. However, in my free time, I've picked up a lot of new vocabulary that I would love to share with you in this glossary.

Civil Code of Quebec

noun

The civil code in force in the Province of Quebec, Canada, which came into effect on January 1, 1994.

Example: Quebec is the only province who uses the Civil Code of Quebec, the rest of Canada uses the common law.

fr: Code civil du Québec

court

noun

A court is a place where legal matters are decided by a judge and jury or by a magistrate.

Example: You're going to court.

fr: tribunal

criminal record

noun

A history of being convicted for crime.

Example: He's afraid that his criminal record will be held against him when he applies for jobs.

fr: dossier criminel

defendant

noun

An individual, company, or institution sued or accused in a court of law.

Example: His speech for the defence contributed much to the verdict for the defendant.

fr: défenderesse

felony

noun

A serious crime, usually punishable by at least one year in prison.

Example: The associate pleaded guilty to the felony crime of failing to stop at the scene of an accident.

fr: crime

hearing

noun

An opportunity to state one's case.

Example: Members of the public will be able to attend the hearings at Manchester Town Hall.

fr: audience

incarceration

noun

The state of being confined in prison; imprisonment.

Example: This sentence, after a month's incarceration, was also commuted.

fr: emprisonnement

jurisprudential

adjective

Relating to the science or philosophy of law or a system of laws.

Example: The jurisprudential basis of the stain witness system is probed.

fr: jurisprudentiel

jurist

noun

An expert in or writer on law.

Example: He is a jurist, who has written several books on civil law.

fr: juriste

lawsuit

noun

A case in a court of law involving a claim, complaint, etc.

Example: When a group of people sue a collector, this is a class action lawsuit.

fr: procès

lawyer

noun

A person who practices or studies law; an attorney or a counselor.

Example: I'll have to talk to my lawyer about this.

fr: avocat

notary

noun

A person authorized to perform certain legal formalities, esp. To draw up or certify contracts, deeds, and other documents for use in other jurisdictions.

Example: All contracts are drawn up in front of a public notary, where the buyer's lawyer must be present.

fr: notaire

oath

noun

A solemn, formal declaration or promise to fulfill a pledge, often calling on god, a god, or a sacred object as witness.

Example: You are under oath.

fr: serment

pleading

verb or noun

A formal statement of the cause of an action or defense.

Example: He was pleading for his life in court.

fr: plaidoirie

pledge

noun

A solemn promise or agreement to do or refrain from doing something.

Example: He asked her to pledge the house as security for a loan.

fr: engagement

probation

noun

The release of an offender from detention, subject to a period of good behaviour under supervision.

Example: The prisoner was put on probation.

fr: période d'essai

prosecutor

noun

A person, esp. A public official, who institutes legal proceedings against someone.

Example: The local prosecutor is investigating the case of document forgery.

fr: procureur

sentence

noun

The punishment assigned to a defendant found guilty by a court, or fixed by law for a particular offense.

Example: He was sentenced to death.

fr: peine

testimony

noun

A solemn declaration usually made orally by a witness under oath in response to interrogation by a lawyer or authorized public official.

Example: The photographs were their testimony.

fr: témoignage

verdict

noun

A decision on a disputed issue in a civil or criminal case or an inquest.

Example: The jury managed to reach a verdict.

fr: verdict

This glossary was made with the Virtual Writing Tutor glossary maker and grammar checker.