Law Firms Flashcards
Deposition
The sworn testimony of a witness taken outside of court and used as evidence in a trial.
Retainer
A fee paid to an attorney in advance of legal services, used to secure their services and often credited against future billings.
Billable Hour
A billing method used by attorneys in which clients are charged based on the number of hours worked on their case.
Contingency Fee
A fee paid to an attorney based on a percentage of the amount recovered in a case, typically used in personal injury cases.
Discovery Phase
The pretrial phase of a lawsuit in which both sides exchange information and evidence.
Settlement
An agreement reached between parties to a lawsuit to resolve the case without a trial.
Trial
A legal proceeding in which evidence is presented and a verdict is reached by a judge or jury.
Judge
A public official who presides over legal proceedings and makes rulings on matters of law.
Jury
A group of citizens who are selected to hear evidence in a trial and render a verdict.
Appellate Court
A court that reviews decisions made by lower courts and can overturn or affirm those decisions.
Law School
A graduate school that offers a program of study in law, leading to a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree.