Quiz 1 Flashcards
What are the five characteristics of a sophisticated client?
KNOWLEDGEABLE, CONFIDENCE in lawyer interaction, ability to RESEARCH, ability to ASSIST the lawyer, ability to UNDERSTAND lawyer
What are the four ways lawyers charge their clients?
- Fixed fee
- Contingency fee
- Hourly rate
- Percentage rate (fixed fee + percentage)
What is a disbursement?
An out of pocket expense the lawyer incurs when handling your case.
What is a retainer?
An amount of money a lawyer will request before commencing work. (unused retainer funds will be returned to client at end of work)
What is the doctrine of precedent?
Past court decisions set a precedent for subsequent decisions.
What is the common law legal system?
A body of law evolved through judicial decisions of the courts. (based on precedent)
What are the three characteristics of a common law legal system?
- Fairness
- Consistency
- Predictability
What is the hierarchy of Canadian courts?
- SCC
- Provincial Court of Appeal (Alta. CA)
- Provincial/Territorial Superior Courts (Queen’s Bench)
- Provincial Courts
- Provincial Administrative Tribunals
What is stare decisis?
The legal principle of determining points in litigation according to precedent.
What is the definition of law?
Law is the body of rules that can be enforced by the courts or other government agencies.
What are the two primary sources of Canadian law? Explain the difference.
- Statue law: A formal, written enactment of a legislative body whether federal, provincial, or municipal.
- Common law: A body of law which derives and develops through judicial decisions.
Name and describe the 4 categories of law.
- Substantive Law: Rules that govern behaviour and sets limit on conduct.
- Procedure Law: How rights and obligations are enforced.
- Public Law: Regulates relationship with government.
- Private Law: Regulates personal, social, and business relationships.
What are the two factors that determine if a law is binding?
- Geography or jurisdiction
- Level of court the precedent comes from
What are the three branches of government and what do they do?
- Legislative - Makes laws
- Executive - Carry out the laws
- Judicial - Uphold the laws
What is parliamentary supremacy?
A doctrine that can override common law. Legislation overrides common law.