Legal Vocabulary

Question 1

To declare that someone committed a crime

Answer 1

accuse

Question 2

He was ________ of stealing the woman’s wallet.

Answer 2

He was accused of stealing the woman’s wallet.

Question 3

The law that’s not criminal law

Answer 3

civil law

Question 4

She practices ________ and spends most of her time helping people get divorced.

Answer 4

She practices civil law and spends most of her time helping people get divorced.

Question 5

To apply to a higher court to change a judge’s decision

Answer 5

appeal

Question 6

The judge’s decision is unreasonable. Let’s make an ________.

Answer 6

The judge’s decision is unreasonable. Let’s make an appeal.

Question 7

Let’s ________ this decision.

Answer 7

Let’s appeal this decision.

Question 8

To start legal procedures against someone in order to get compensation or payment for damages or wrongdoing

Answer 8

to sue

Question 9

After he got injured, he decided to ________ his boss over the unsafe work environment.

Answer 9

After he got injured, he decided to sue his boss over the unsafe work environment.

Question 10

A legal proceeding against someone in order to get compensation or payment for damages or wrongdoing

Answer 10

a (law)suit

Question 11

He decided to file a ________ against his boss.

Answer 11

He decided to file a (law)suit against his boss.

Question 12

Illegal behavior that’s not considered extremely serious. Usually the guilty party is charged a fine

Answer 12

misdemeanor

Question 13

She had to pay a fine for vandalism, which is a ________ in this city.

Answer 13

She had to pay a fine for vandalism, which is a misdemeanor in this city.

Question 14

The person who has been sued or accused of a crime

Answer 14

defendant

Question 15

The ________ is accused of stealing this woman’s car.

Answer 15

The defendant is accused of stealing this woman’s car.

Question 16

Someone who practices law

Answer 16

attorney

lawyer

Question 17

My ________ advised me to settle the lawsuit.

Answer 17

My attorney advised me to settle the lawsuit.

Question 18

A formal order to appear in court

Answer 18

subpoena

Question 19

I was ________ and will have to go to court next week to give my testimony.

Answer 19

I was subpoenaed and will have to go to court next week to give my testimony.

Question 20

Sworn evidence, usually written or spoken

Answer 20

deposition

Question 21

She gave her written ________ last week. We will use it in court today.

Answer 21

She gave her written deposition last week. We will use it in court today.

Question 22

A declaration that you are either guilty or innocent

Answer 22

plea

Question 23

He changed his ________ to guilty.

Answer 23

He changed his plea to guilty.

Question 24

To respond either “guilty” or “innocent” for a crime you’re accused of.

Answer 24

to plead

Question 25

I ________ guilty, but I had a speech prepared to explain the situation.

Answer 25

I pled guilty, but I had a speech prepared to explain the situation.

Question 26

A person who sues another person or accuses another person of a crime in a court of law

Answer 26

plaintiff

Question 27

The ________ sued the defendant for breach of contract.

Answer 27

The plaintiff sued the defendant for breach of contract.

Question 28

A request to be present

Answer 28

summons

Question 29

An instance of questioning

Answer 29

interrogation

Question 30

Written declaration made under oath

Answer 30

affidavit

Question 31

A lawsuit brought by a representative member of a large group of people on behalf of all members of the group

Answer 31

class action

Question 32

The final decision in the courtroom as to whether or not the defendant is guilty or innocent

Answer 32

verdict

Question 33

A legal document to effect a transfer of property

Answer 33

deed

Question 34

A separate section of a legal document

Answer 34

clause

Question 35

An authoritative rule

Answer 35

ordinance

Question 36

Failure to act with the prudence of a reasonable person

Answer 36

negligence

Question 37

An act that disregards an agreement or a right

Answer 37

infringement

Question 38

A legal adviser or professional who pleads on behalf of the accused in court

Answer 38

advocate

Question 39

The ________ asked for her immediate release from jail.

Answer 39

The advocate asked for her immediate release from jail.

Question 40

Also known as the “death penalty,” when the guilty person is sentenced to death

Answer 40

capital punishment

Question 41

The prosecutor wanted ________ for the defendant who had killed three people.

Answer 41

The prosecutor wanted capital punishment for the defendant who had killed three people.

Question 42

To formally accuse someone of a crime

Answer 42

charge

Question 43

The police ________ him with murder this morning.

Answer 43

The police charged him with murder this morning.

Question 44

The lawyer who argues for the defendant

Answer 44

defense attorney

Question 45

I’m not going to jail. I’ve hired the best ________ in the city.

Answer 45

I’m not going to jail. I’ve hired the best defense attorney in the city.

Question 46

the obligation to act or a period of acting as a member of a jury in court

Answer 46

jury duty

Question 47

I got called for ________, but they didn’t pick me/ I wasn’t selected. I wanted them to pick me because I wanted to have the experience.

Answer 47

I got called for jury duty, but they didn’t pick me/ I wasn’t selected. I wanted them to pick me because I wanted to have the experience.

Question 48

The early release of someone from jail, often for good behavior, before the end of their prison sentence

Answer 48

parole

Question 49

He was granted ________ three years before his actual prison sentence would have ended.

Answer 49

He was granted parole three years before his actual prison sentence would have ended.

Question 50

The lawyer who is trying to put the defendant in jail.

Answer 50

prosecutor

Question 51

Be prepared. The ________ will ask you many questions.

Answer 51

Be prepared. The ________ will ask you many questions.

Question 52

To sit or stand in the courtroom and tell the judge about the crime

Answer 52

take the stand

Question 53

She was nervous, but she took the stand and answered all the prosecutor’s questions.

Answer 53

She was nervous, but she ________ and answered all the prosecutor’s questions.

Question 54

She read the final ________: innocent!

Answer 54

She read the final verdict: innocent!

Question 55

An official document instructing the police to arrest someone. You may also often hear the term “search ________” which gives the police permission to search someone’s property for evidence.

Answer 55

warrant

Question 56

There’s a ________ out for his arrest.

Answer 56

There’s a warrant out for his arrest.