Basic Legal Vocabulary Flashcards
B (32 cards)
ban (v.)
to state officially that something is forbidden
ban (v.) (e.g.)
Ireland recently banned smoking in all pubs and restaurants.
ban (n.)
an official order that forbids something from being used or done
ban (n.) (e.g.)
The ban on smoking has been surprisingly well observed.
Barrister (n.) UK
In England and Wales, a barrister is a lawyer who represents clients in the higher courts of law. Barristers are specialists in advocacy, presenting cases in court under instruction from a solicitor. A
barrister has rights of audience in higher courts on contentious matters. — see solicitor
(the) Bench (n.)
the judge or magistrate, or the place where they sit, in a court of law the position of being a judge or magistrate in a court of law:
the bench (n.) (e.g.)
He was appointed to the bench last year.
serve/sit/be on the bench (e.g.)
She sat on the bench for 30 years before her retirement last June.
the Queen’s Bench Division (or King’s Bench, when a king is ruling)
a division of the High Court of Justice in England and Wales
a bench trial (adj.) (US)
in the U.S., is one without a jury.
Bill (n.)
a legislative proposal that will be discussed before being voted on — see act
Bill (n.) (e.g.)
- When a bill is passed in Parliament it becomes law.
- The government re-introduced the Hunting Bill to the House of Commons and voted it through in a day.
Bind (v.)
ir. (bound, bound) To make yourself or someone else legally responsible for something
bind (v.) (e.g.)
If you are bound by something (a rule, a decision), you have to act in a certain way. A treaty binds all countries who have signed it.
e.g. The new government does not feel bound by any agreements made before it took power.
binding (adj.)
A binding promise (agreement, contract) is one that has to be kept.
binding (adj.) (e.g.)
- That decision is binding precedent.
- Secretary of State Colin Powell said today that the United States expected to meet Russia’s demand for a “legally binding” agreement on reducing nuclear weapons.
break (a law) (v.)
ir. (broke, broken) to fail to obey, to disobey
break (v.) (e.g.)
- They didn’t know they were breaking the law when they lit their cigarettes in the pub.
- Whether giving advice to corporate executives or senior government officials, lawyers often walk a fine line between counseling their clients on how to follow the law to avoid prosecution and how to break the law in such a way as to frustrate and impede prosecution.
break in (v.)
ir. (broke, broken) to enter into a house or other building by force
break in (v.) (e.g.)
The burglars broke in through the front door.
break in (n.)
an occasion when a building is entered illegally by a criminal or criminals, usually by damaging a window or door, especially in order to steal something
break in (n.) (e.g.)
The number of break-ins in the neighborhood has been increasing every year.
bring an action (v.)
ir. (brought, brought) If you bring an action against someone, you start legal proceedings against them. — see action, to sue
bring an action (v.) (e.g.)
The family of the dead man brought an action against General Motors for making a car that it knew was defective.
