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Legal Terms in English for IELTS and TOEFL

Legal Terms in English

Legal Terms in English

Acquit

In common law jurisdictions, acquitting someone certifies that the accused is free from the charge of an offense, as far as the criminal law is concerned. This is so even where the prosecution is simply abandoned by the prosecution. The finality of an acquittal is dependent on the jurisdiction.

Adjourn

Within a week of the start of trial, counsel for the Plaintiff brought an application to adjourn the trial, based on the uncertain prognosis of the Plaintiff. The Plaintiff alleged to have been suffering from chronic pain and headaches, which affected her ability to work. Counsel for the Plaintiff sought an adjournment so that the Plaintiff could undergo a series of Botox injections in an effort to alleviate her headaches symptoms, with such treatment being recommended by the Plaintiff’s neurologist. The Plaintiff would not be in a position to do this before the commencement of trial.

Defendant

A defendant is a person accused of committing a crime in criminal prosecution or a person against whom some type of civil relief is being sought in a civil case.

District attorney

A lawyer who is elected or chosen by local government officials to represent the state government in criminal cases brought in a designated county or judicial district. A DA’s duties typically include reviewing police arrest reports, deciding whether to bring criminal charges against arrested people, and prosecuting criminal cases in court. The DA may also supervise other attorneys, called Deputy District Attorneys or Assistant District Attorneys. In some states, a District Attorney may be called a Prosecuting Attorney, County Attorney, or State’s Attorney.

Exonerate

Exoneration occurs when the conviction for a crime is reversed, either through demonstration of innocence, a flaw in the conviction, or otherwise. Attempts to exonerate convicts are particularly controversial in death penalty cases, especially where new evidence is put forth after the execution has taken place. The transitive verb, “to exonerate” can also mean to informally absolve one from blame.

Felon

A felon is a person who has committed a felony. Following conviction of a felony in a court of law, a person may be described as a convicted felon.

Law enforcement

Law enforcement is any system by which some members of society act in an organized manner to enforce the law by discovering, deterring, rehabilitating, or punishing people who violate the rules and norms governing that society.

Litigate

The conduct of a lawsuit is called litigation. The plaintiffs and defendants are called litigants and the attorneys representing them are called litigators. The term litigation may also refer to a Criminal procedure.

Plaintiff

The plaintiff is the person bringing a lawsuit to court, by filing a plea or motion. More frequently these days, in civil law cases, a plaintiff is often called a claimant. That is, the plaintiff or claimant is the person bringing a claim against another person.

Prosecute

People involved in disputes, whether accidents and injuries, family-related issues, or financial disputes, often rush to judgment and decide to prosecute others. Disputes often can be solved through communication and compromise, while not every dispute involves a legal cause of action. It’s also important to keep in mind that civil suits involve financial compensation, which may or may not solve the underlying dispute.

About the Author

Dr. Mohammad Hossein Hariri Asl

Dr. Mohammad Hossein Hariri Asl is an English and Persian instructor, educator, researcher, inventor, published author, blogger, SEO expert, website developer, entrepreneur, and the creator of LELB Society. He's got a PhD in TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language).

Number of Posts: 4157

78 thoughts on “Legal Terms in English for IELTS and TOEFL”

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  2. Reply to “felon”

    • After the conviction for homicide, the convicted felon was at sixes and sevens and became flabbergasted and perplexed.

      • The convicted felon was utterly confused and shocked after the homicide conviction.

    • The felon agreed to cooperate with the investigation officer and was promised to receive probation as an exchange.

      • Thank you for your comment. The felon’s decision to cooperate with the investigation officer, in exchange for the promise of probation, highlights the complexity and negotiation often involved in legal proceedings. This cooperation could potentially lead to valuable insights and progress in the investigation.

    • Crimes are divided into three categories in California: Infractions, Misdemeanors and felonies.

      • Thank you for sharing this information. Indeed, California categorizes crimes into three main types: Infractions, Misdemeanors, and Felonies, each with varying levels of severity and corresponding legal consequences.

  3. Reply to “district attorney”

    • The district attorney will hold the inquest into finding the missing boy in the uninhabited island.

      • on the uninhabited island

    • The district attorney advocates that the accused be sent to jail up to one year on felony of drug charge.

      • Thanks for your comment. The district attorney is pushing for up to one year of jail time on a felony drug charge for the accused.

  4. Reply to “adjourn”

    • The acrimonious meeting adjourned until the electricity came back on and it was a chance for participants to take a teatime break.

      • The heated meeting was paused until the power was restored, giving everyone a chance to enjoy a tea break.

    • The trial adjourned until the juries reached at the final verdict.

      • until the jury reached the final verdict

    • the court adjourned hearing for one week.

      • You can also write it this way: The court has postponed the hearing for one week.

  5. Reply to “law enforcement”

    • Law enforcement should be taken seriously in order to deter people from violating legislation, most of whom can be rehabilitated easily.

      • What does “whom” refer to? Legislation?

        • It refers to the people who violate the rules.

          • This part is an adjective clause for “people” with the help of a relative pronoun, and any adjective clause of this ilk should be attached to the noun it modifies. However, in this case, “from violating” is between the noun (people) and the adjective clause, which is wrong and makes the whole sentence ambiguous.

            • Thank you for your correction.

              • You’re very welcome.

    • Law enforcement is an agency which is substantial in order to ensure that the society would adhere to the regulations.

      • Law enforcement agencies play a crucial role in maintaining societal order by ensuring that everyone adheres to regulations and laws. Their presence helps deter crime, provide a sense of security, and uphold justice, ensuring that the community functions smoothly and fairly.

    • The number of law enforcement officers who were killed while on duty, dropped in first 6 months of 2019.

      • In the first six months of 2019, there was a noticeable decrease in the number of law enforcement officers killed while on duty. This decline is a positive trend, highlighting improvements in officer safety measures and potentially more effective strategies to minimize high-risk situations for law enforcement personnel.

  6. Reply to “prosecute”

    • Fortunately, the rape prosecution rate is falling by leaps and bounds in some countries, having more safety.

      • It is better to say;
        Fortunately, the rape prosecution rate is falling by leaps and bounds in some countries, leading to more safety.

        • That’s right.

      • Thanks for performing self-assessment.

    • His evil deed was so reprehensible that you can prosecute him based on it in the court of law and I will file an affidavit which will support your claim against him.

      • prosecute him for that

  7. Reply to “litigate”

    • As he litigated in the court, the jury failed to reach a verdict in spite of the best endeavors.

      • Despite his diligent efforts in presenting his case in court, the jury was unable to reach a verdict. This outcome highlights the complex nature of the legal proceedings and the challenges jurors face in reaching unanimous decisions, even with thorough deliberation.

    • The plaintiff litigates in the court of law against his brother incriminating him of retaining his rightful inheritance.

      • The plaintiff is taking legal action against his brother, alleging that he has unlawfully kept the inheritance that rightfully belongs to him.

  8. Reply to “acquit”

    • Being acquitted of the manslaughter, he decided to set the ball rolling and redo a new life, irrespective of his tarnished reputation.

      • After being acquitted of manslaughter charges, he chose to turn over a new leaf and start a fresh chapter in life, determined to move forward despite the stain on his reputation.

    • You can acquit of the accusation against yourself by avoiding answering the questions in the interrogation.

      • Also:
        by evasion of answering the questions…

        • Thanks for your clarification or explanation.

      • You can be acquitted of

    • If you’re on a trial for a crime and you’re found “non guilty”, then you’re acquitted and you can be free.

      • Being found “not guilty” in a criminal trial means you’ve been acquitted of the charges against you. As a result, you’re free to go, and no legal penalties are imposed on you for the alleged crime. This verdict concludes the trial and lifts any restrictions that were placed on you during the legal process.

  9. Reply to “plaintiff”

    • The judge changed its decision since the plaintiff had brought a lawsuit to the court.

      • Again, it seems weird. A judge should make a decision only when there is a lawsuit. Before any lawsuit, no decision can be made.

    • The plaintiff who indicted his partner for infringement of law, avoided encountering her in the court.

      • The plaintiff, who … ,

    • As the plaintiff, you can not appeal the judge’s decision on your claim. Only the person you sued can appeal the decision.

      • Actually, that’s not entirely correct, according to the legal system in the United States. As the plaintiff, you do have the right to appeal the judge’s decision on your claim if you believe there has been a legal error or unfair judgment. Appeals are available to both plaintiffs and defendants in order to ensure fairness and justice in the legal system.

  10. Reply to “defendant”

    • The defendant was fed up with doing time and having a monotonous lifestyle.

      • Your sentences are getting rather too complicated and artificial. Some of them get badly twisted and difficult to understand. Remember that clarity is more important than redundant sophistication.

        • Thank you for your hints.
          Do Time : to spend a certain period in prison [Just for the sake of clarification]

          • The preposition “with” is misleading, particularly about the latter part, i.e. having a monotonous lifestyle
            It seems “because of, due to, as a result of” are better choices instead of “with”.

    • The defendant is someone who supposed to defend himself/herself in the court in order to protect him/her reputation.

      • who is supposed to
        protect his/her reputation

    • when you fill out and file the small claims case, you must have the exact name of the defendant.

      • That’s absolutely correct. When filing a small claims case, it’s crucial to have the exact name of the defendant. This ensures that the legal documents are accurate and that the case proceeds smoothly without any delays or complications. If there’s any uncertainty about the defendant’s name, it’s advisable to double-check this information before filing the case to avoid any issues.

  11. Reply to “exonerate”

    • The lawyer was flogging a dead horse because the accused was on the fiddle and could not be exonerated from the blame.

      • As far as I know: the + adj + (a plural verb), that is, you cannot refer to a singular person or entity in this way.

        • You know, when I was writing this sentence, I checked Longman dictionary and I found that “the accused” can be both singular and plural. However, I concur with you that “the+adj” refers to a group of people.

          • Yes, you’re right.

    • The accused is offered paying fine for being exonerated.

      • Actually, paying a fine does not necessarily mean the accused is exonerated. In many legal systems, a fine can be part of a settlement or plea deal where the accused may admit guilt to a lesser charge in exchange for a reduced penalty.

    • prosecutors are seeking to exonerate innocent man who served 17 years in prison for rape.

      • It’s heartening to see prosecutors working to exonerate an innocent man who has endured 17 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. This highlights the importance of justice and the need for continuous efforts to rectify wrongful convictions.

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