1
Law 1: Basic Vocabulary
Video Vocab 04
Law
Part 1: Basic Legal Terms
Part 2: Court Vocabulary
Part 3: Commercial Law
collocationsWord partnerships or words
that are commonly usedtogether by native speakers.
Word + Word = Collocation
2
wikipediaOnline encyclopedia made upof contributions from many
different people.
lawA system of rules thatpeople are supposed tofollow in a society or country.
The courts and policeenforce this system of rules andpunish people who break thelaw.
lawA legal code is awritten code oflaws that areenforced.
A lawyer is aprofessional whostudies and arguesthe rules of law.
3
law
law +adjective:
civil lawcriminal law
collocationslaw + verb:
break the lawenforce the lawbecome lawpass a law
civil lawPart of the law thatdeals withdisagreementsbetween privateindividuals.
civil lawComes from 2 sources:
1. legislation - laws createdby the government.
2. common law - laws basedon previous legal decisions andtradition.
4
criminal lawCriminal law is a system of lawconcerned with crimes andthe punishment ofcriminals.
Most criminal law is based ongovernment legislation.
contract law
Contract law setsrules on agreementsto buy and sell itemsand services.
property law
Property lawstates the rights andobligations that aperson has whenthey buy, sell or renthomes and buildings.
5
trust law
Trust law setsout the rules formoney that is putinto an investment,such as pensionfunds.
tort law
Tort law helpspeople to makeclaims forcompensation whensomeone hurts themor their property.
constitutional law
Constitutionallaw relates to therunning ofgovernments andcivil rights.
6
administrativelaw
Administrativelaw is used bycitizens when theywant to challengegovernmentdecisions.
international law
Internationallaw is used to setout rules on howcountries interact inareas such as trade,environment or war.
lawyerSomeone who hasstudied law andhas a specialqualification torepresent peoplein court or otherlegal actions.
7
lawyer
USA = Attorney
UK = Solicitor
trial lawyer
USA = Counsel
UK = Barrister
defense lawyer(defence BrE)
The lawyer thatrepresents theperson accusedof a crime.
8
prosecutionlawyer
The lawyerthat representsthegovernmentside.
caseA case is alegal actionthat will bedecided in acourt of law.
case
court case A case that will be heard in court.
criminal caseA case involving a criminal act.
civil caseA case under civil law.
collocations
9
casecollocations
bring a case (against somebody)To file charges against another person.
defend a caseTo try to prove that the accused is innocent.
consider a caseTo hear the defence and prosecutionarguments and reach a decision.
casecollocations
hear a case(Same meaning as to consider a case.)
handle a caseTo be in charge of representing either side.
prosecute a caseWhen the prosecution decides to presscharges and asks a court to hear the case.
casecollocations
dismiss a caseTo end a case without reaching a verdict.
settle a caseTo reach an agreement without finishing thetrial.
drop a caseTo decide not to prosecute a case.
10
Become a Premium Member andaccess study notes and extra
practice podcasts at:
Businessenglishpod.com