Part l: The Legal System Part 1

Date 09.02.2024

PART 1: THE LEGAL SYSTEM

civil law: 1) legal system developed from Roman codified law, established by a state for its regulation; 2) area
of the law concerned with non-criminal matters, rights and remedies

common law: legal system which is the foundation of the legal systems of most of the English-speaking
countries of the world, based on customs, usage and court decisions (also case law, judge-made law)

criminal law: a area of the law which deals with crimes and their punishments, including fines and/or
imprisonment (also penal law)

CONTRAST BETWEEN CIVIL LAW, COMMON LAW + CRIMINAL LAW

The term ‘civil law’ contrasts with both ‘common law’ and ‘criminal law’. In the first sense of the term, civil law
refers to a body of law based on written legal codes derived from fundamental normative principles. Legal
disputes are settled by reference to this code, which had been arrived at through legislation. Judges are bound by
the written law and its provisions.

In contrast, common law was originally developed through custom, at a time before laws were written down.
Common law is based on precedents created by judicial decisions, which means that past rulings are taken into
consideration when cases are decided. It should be noted that today common law is also codified, i.e. in written
form.

In the second sense of the term, civil law is distinguished from criminal law, and refers to the body of law dealing
with non-criminal matters, such as breach of contract.

TYPES OF LAWS

Directive: is the legal device used by the EU to establish policies at the European level to be incorporated into
the laws of the Member States

Regulations: are rules issued by a government agency to carry out the intent of law; authorised by a statute,
and generally providing more detail on a subject than the statute

Bill: is a draft document before it is made into law

Ordinance: is a law enacted by a town, city or county government

Statute: is a formal written law enacted by a legislative body

EXPLAINING WHAT A LAW SAYS

The law ‘stipulates that’

The law ‘provides that’

The patent law ‘specifies that’

Part l: The Legal System Part 1 1

TYPES OF COURTS

appellate court: this is where a case is reviewed which has already been heard in a lower court.

crown court: this is where serious criminal cases are heard by a judge and a jury in the UK.

high court: this is usually the highest court in a jurisdiction, the court of last resort.

juvenile court: this is where a person under the age of 18 would be tried.

moot court: this is where law students argue hypothetical cases.

low court (or court of first instance): this is the court of primary jurisdiction, where a case is heard for the
first time.

magistrates’ court: this is where small crimes are tried in the UK.

small-claims court: this is where cases involving a limited amount of money are handled.

tribunal: this is where a group of specially chosen people examine legal problems of a particular type, such
as employment disputes.

PERSONS IN COURT

expert witness: person who has specialised knowledge of a particular subject who is called to testify in court

appellant: person who appeals a decision to a higher court

judge: public official who has the authority to hear + decide cases

claimant: person who initiates a civil lawsuit

advocate: person who pleads cases in court plead/argue

clerk: employee who takes records, file papers and issues processes

bailiff: officer of the court whose duties included keeping order and assisting the judge and jurors

reasonably prudent person: hypothetical person who uses good judgment or common sense in handling
practical matters; such a person's action are the guide in determining whether an individual's actions were
reasonable

defendant/respondent: person who is sued in a civil law

DOCUMENTS IN COURT

affidavit: a written statement that somebody makes after the have sworn officially to tell the truth, which
might be used as a proof in court

answer: the principal pleading by the defendant in response to a complaint

brief: a document or set of documents containing the details about court case

complaint: in civil law, the first pleading filed on behalf of a plaintiff, which initiates a lawsuit, setting forth the
facts on which the claim is based

injunction: an official order from a court for a person to stop doing something

motion: an application to a court to obtain an order, ruling or decision

pleading: a formal written statement setting forth the cause of action or defence in a case

Part l: The Legal System Part 1 2

notice: a document providing notification of a fact, claim or proceeding

PHRASING

to draft a document: to produce a piece of writing or a plan that you intend to change later

to issue a document: to produce something official

to file a document with an authority: to officially record something, especially in a court of law

to serve a document on someone (or to serve someone with a document): to deliver a legal document to
someone, demanding that they go to a court of law or that they obey an order

to submit a document to an authority: to deliver a document formally for a decision to be made by others

LEGAL LATIN

ad hoc: for this purpose (often used as an adjective before a noun)

et alii (et al.): and others (usually used to shorten a list of people, often a list of authors, appellants or
defendants)

et cetera (etc.): and other things of the same kind (used shorten a list of a similar items)

exempli gratia (e.g.): for example (used before one or more examples are given)

id est (i.e.): that is ( used to signal an explanation or paraphrase of a word preceding it)

per se: by itself (often used after a noun to indicate the thing itself)

sic: thus (used after a word indicate the original, usually incorrect, spelling or grammar in text)

versus (vs. or v.): against

de facto: in fact

ipso facto: by that very fact itself

inter alia: among other things

per annum: per year

pro forma: as a matter of form

pro rata: proportionally

quorum: number of shareholders or directors who have to be present at a board meeting so that it can be
validly conducted

sui juris: of one's own right; able to exercise one's own legal rights

ultra vires: beyond the legal powers of a person or a body

videlicet (viz.): beyond the legal powers of a person or a body

Part l: The Legal System Part 1 3