Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Here are some of the most common and useful legal English words and phrases for you to know!
Courtroom Vocabulary
Accuse
It’s often used in the passive voice, to describe the state of someone who is accused or was accused of
something.
Advocate
Appeal
Arrest
To take someone who supposedly did something illegal into police custody.
Barrister
Capital punishment
Also known as the “death penalty,” when the guilty person is sentenced to death.
The prosecutor wanted capital punishment for the defendant who had killed three people.
Charge
Civil law
She practices civil law and spends most of her time helping people get divorced.
Convict
Someone who has been found guilty of a crime and is serving a jail sentence.
Courtroom
Criminal law
The law that punishes criminals and people who break the law.
She practices criminal law. Right now she’s working on a robbery case.
Defendant
Defense Attorney
I’m not going to jail. I’ve hired the bestdefense attorney in the city.
Deposition
She gave her deposition last week. We will use it in court today.
Evidence
Fine
An amount of money that you need to pay when you break a small law.
Guilty
Describes the person who committed a crime. After a criminal trial, someone is “found guilty” or “found
innocent” (see below).
Illegal
Innocent
Judge
Jury
The group of citizens in a criminal trial who decide whether a person is guilty or not guilty of the crime
they’re accused of.
Several English-speaking countries have jury trials, but they can look significantly different in different
countries. Some English-speaking countries, such
The jury took only one hour to find the defendant guilty.
Lawyer
My firm has 10 lawyers on staff, including contract lawyers, a criminal lawyer and a couple of civil law
lawyers.
Misdemeanor
Illegal behavior that’s not considered extremely serious. Usually the guilty party is charged a fine.
She had to pay a fine for vandalism, which is a misdemeanor in this city.
Parole
The early release of someone from jail, often for good behavior, before the end of their prison sentence.
He was granted parole three years before his actual prison sentence would have ended.
Plea
The defendant’s response of either “guilty” or “innocent” for a crime they’re accused of.
Prosecutor
Subpoena
I was subpoenaed and will have to go to court next week to give my testimony.
Sue
To start legal procedures against someone in order to get compensation or payment for damages or
wrongdoing.
After he got injured, he decided to sue his boss over the unsafe work environment.
To sit or stand in the courtroom and tell the judge about the crime. Witnesses and defendants can “take
the stand.”
She was nervous, but she took the stand and answered all the prosecutor’s questions.
Testify
Testimony
Verdict
The final decision in the courtroom as to whether or not the defendant is guilty or innocent.
Warrant
You may also often hear the term “search warrant,” which gives the police permission to search
someone’s property for evidence.
Witness
A person who saw the crime taking place and must describe what they saw or heard in the courtroom.
Crimes
DUI or DWI
“Driving under the influence” or “Driving while intoxicated.” Both terms refer to the offense of driving a
vehicle after consuming alcohol.
The slang term for this is drunk driving (U.S.) or drink driving (U.K.).
Forgery
Fraud
She was convicted of fraud. She’d been making replica paintings and selling them as the real thing.
Kidnapping
He was trying to kidnap the child but the police stopped him as he was driving away.
Murder
Negligence
He drove his car onto the sidewalk. No one was hurt, so he was charged with negligence.
Perjury
He committed perjury in the courtroom and will have to face the consequences.
Rob
A man robbed the house next door last month and now every house in the neighborhood has a security
system.
Shoplifting
Trespass
She was charged with vandalism for spray painting the side of the office building.
Property
Landlord
My landlord is very helpful. When the washing machine broke, he bought a new one for the apartment
by the end of the week.
Lease
A formal contract letting someone other than the owner use a property for a certain amount of time and
for a certain amount of money.
I signed a two-year lease for the apartment! I can’t wait to move in.
Loan
Money borrowed from a bank or private institution that must be paid back with interest.
Mortgage
A legal agreement from the bank that lends you money to buy a house.
Proprietor
Rental Agreement
I signed my rental agreement today, but I’m not sure how long I’ll be here—maybe just a few months.
Security Deposit
A payment you make when you rent a property to cover any possible damages that might occur.
I had to pay first month’s rent, last month’s rent and asecurity deposit, but now I have the keys to my
new apartment!
Tenant
Contracts
Agreement
We’ve finally come to an agreement. Please make the changes in the contract and we’ll sign it
tomorrow.
Article
A section in a contract.
In Article 7, it says that you have to notify the company two weeks before you intend to quit.
Default
Failure to make payments on a loan or mortgage. Often used in the past tense.
He lost his job and defaulted on his mortgage payments. He may lose his house.
Fulfill
By signing this contract, you agree tofulfill all of the conditions listed.
Hereinafter
Bob’s Computers will be referred to as Company A and Joe’s Electronics will be referred to as Company
Bhereinafter.
Liable
Our company is liable if something goes wrong with the new model.
Null and void
Cancelled or invalid.
This contract is null and void the moment you step out of my office!
On behalf of
Party
The two parties need to come to an agreement by the end of the day.