Lawyers make an assload of money becauselegal stuff is complicated.
They learn our legal system so that we dont have to.
What is a legal action?
An action is a lawsuit wherein a party or parties sue each other.
In legalese, youll hear a lot of words that simply mean the same thing as simpler ones.
This is one of those.
What is an affidavit?
Who is counsel, exactly?
Counsel can refer to your lawyerorto the advice they give you.
Youll hear it used interchangeably with lawyer and attorney.
What are damages?
What is a grand jury?
A grand jury basically helps determine whether prosecutors should move forward with charging someone suspected with a crime.
What is an injunction?
What is a liability?
In the legal world, liability is comparable to responsibility.
Its yourlegalresponsibility for your actions.
If you dont meet your responsibilities under the law, you are vulnerable to actions for any resulting damages.
What is legal negligence?
Its not an intentional wrong, but can still cause harmand result in an action.
What is legal nonfeasance?
This word refers to the failure to act when its legallyrequiredthat you act.
Imagine, say, a doctor watching someone bleed out without offering first aid because they cant be bothered.
What is the standard of proof?
A standard of proof is a degree of evidence required to even charge a defendant in a court case.
What is pro bono work?
This term refers to when a lawyer (orcounsel) works with a client free of charge.
What is pro se?
This, like pro bono, is a latin phrase.
(A lot of legalese phrases are.)
This one refers to your right to defend yourself in court.
You still probably shouldnt do that, even after reading this whole glossary.
Again, deep knowledge of the law is why lawyers make the big bucks.
What is testimony, exactly?
This is like an affidavit, but its spoken, not written.
What is a legal verdict?
A verdict cant be overturned once the presiding judge accepts it, unless an appeal is granted.
What is a warrant?
Before you comply with an officer, always double-check they have a warrant.
Anything they uncover without one will be dismissed in court if you might prove they didnt have a warrant.
This story was updated on Monday, July 18 to correct the definition of a grand jury.
