Vocabulary Flashcards
Legal Positivism
A legal theory whose proponents believe that the validity of a law is determined by the process through which it was made rather than by the degree through which it reflects natural law.
Legal Tech.
A non-lawyer who provides legal services directly to the public without being under the supervision of a lawyer.
Can be considered malpractice in certain areas.
Preemption
The power of the federal government to prevent the states from passing conflicting laws and sometimes to prohibit states from passing any laws on a particular subject.
What are a courts options in a case of child abuse
Oversight, removal, and termination of rights
What are the classifications of torts
Negligence
Intentional
Strict Liability
Overrule
When a court in a later case changes the law so that way a prior decision is no longer valid
Cause of Action
A claim that based on the law and the fact is sufficient to support a lawsuit
Associates
Are employees of the firm and receive a set salary and bonuses
Law
Rules of Conduct promulgated and enforced by the government, based on policy decisions that determine legal rights and duties between people or between people and the government
Certification
The states of being formally recognized by a nongovernmental agency for having met special criteria
Law Clerks
title has historically been reserved for law students who has no passed the bar and does legal research
Law Office Memorandum
unbiased analysis of a clients case within the law firm. Evaluates clients likelihood of winning
Contract
An agreement supported by consideration
Natural Law
A legal philosophy theory whose proponents think there are ideal laws that can be discovered through careful thought about humanities innate sense of right and wrong.
Conviction v. liable
The finding in the criminal case if the defendant is guilty
v.
The finding in a civil suit that the defendant is responsible
Enabling Act
A statute establishing and setting out the powers of a administrative agency
Duress
In criminal law a defense requiring proof that force or threat of force was used to cause a person to commit a criminal act. In contract law, pressure is so great as to overwhelm the contracting parties ability to make a free choice
Void (Contracts)
No legal effects
Paralegal
A person who assists an attorney and working under the attorney’s supervision does tasks that the attorney could or would do
Administrative Law
Rules and Regulations created by administrative agencies
Statute
A law enacted by a state legislature or by Congress
Concurring and Dissenting Opinions
An opinion that agrees with the majorities result but disagrees with the reasoning
An opinion that disagrees with the majority’s decision and reasoning
Injunction
A court order requiring a party to perform a specific act or cease doing a specific act
Stare Decisis
The doctrine that normally once a court has decided one way on a particular issue in the past it and other courts in the jurisdiction will decide the same way given a similar set of facts unless they can be convinced of a need for change
Legal Scriveners
individual who prepared standardized legal documents for those who handle their legal matters without a lawyer
Appeal
To ask a higher court to review the answers of a lower court
Confidentiality
The ethical rule prohibiting attorneys and paralegals from disclosing info regarding a client or case
The legal system is…
Stare Decisis and precedent
Executor Contract
A contract that has not been fully performed
What constitutes cruel and unusual punishment
The sentencing of juvenile, mentally retarded, or insane people to death
lesser included charge
when giving a jury the option of convicting for manslaughter or murder, manslaughter would be the lesser included charge.
Battery
An intentional act that creates a harmful or offensive physical contact.
Can form the basis of a tort or criminal action
Registration
the process by which individuals or organizations have their names placed in a professional list by an agency
Licensing
the process by which gov. agencies establish standards and they prohibit those who have not met the standards from working in the field
Voidable (contracts)
A contract that can be dis-affirmed by one of the parties
Exclusionary Rule
A rule that states that evidence obtained in violation of an individual constitutional rights cannot be used against that individual in a criminal trial
Strict liability
Liability without having to prove fault
Collaborative Divorce
A non-adversarial process where by the divorcing couple hires a team of professionals to help them reach an agreement
Judicial Activism
and
Judicial Restraint
A judicial philosophy that supports an active role for the judiciary in changing the law
A judicial philosophy that supports a limited role for the judiciary in changing the law, including deference to the legislative branch