Glossary of Legal Terms

Navigating the world of legal jargon can feel like trying to decipher a foreign language. But don't worry, we've got you covered! Our comprehensive glossary of legal terms is here to help you cut through the complexity and understand the language of the law. Whether you're dealing with a personal injury case, workers' compensation, or any other legal matter, our glossary can help you make sense of those tricky terms. So, if you're feeling lost in a sea of legalese, dive into our glossary - it's your lifeline to understanding the legal landscape.

Acquittal: When a court decides that a person is not guilty of the crime they were charged with.

Actus Reus: The action or conduct that is a part of a crime. It's like the guilty act itself.

Adjudicate: When a judge or official makes a formal decision about a problem or dispute.

Affidavit: A written statement that you swear is true, used as evidence in court.

Appeal: When you ask a higher court to review a decision made by a lower court.

Arbitration: A process where an independent person makes a decision to solve a dispute.

Burden of Proof: The responsibility to prove what you're saying in court.

Case Law: Laws that are established by the outcomes of previous cases.

Class Action: A lawsuit where a group of people sue someone. It's like a team legal battle.

Common Law: Laws that come from customs and decisions made by judges, not from government.

Compensation: The money you get to cover any losses or harm caused by someone else's fault.

Contingency Fee: A fee you pay to your lawyer only if you win your case.

Contributory Negligence: When you get hurt partly because of your own actions.

Damages: The money a court gives you for a loss or injury you've suffered.

Defendant: The person who's been accused or sued in court.

Deposition: When you give evidence under oath, but not in a courtroom. It's like a formal interview about what happened.

Discovery: The part before a trial where each side can get evidence from the other side.

Due Process: The fair treatment you should get from the legal system.

Duty of Care: Everyone's responsibility to avoid harming others. It's like an unwritten rule that we all have to look out for each other.

Hearsay: Information you heard from someone else that you can't prove is true.

Injunction: A court order that stops someone from doing something.

Jurisdiction: The area or topic over which a court or official has authority.

Liability: When you're legally responsible for something, like an accident or a mistake.

Litigation: The process of taking legal action. It's like a journey through the legal system.

Medical Negligence: When a doctor or other healthcare professional doesn't do their job properly and it causes harm.

Mens Rea: The intention or knowledge of wrongdoing. It's like the guilty mind behind a crime.

Mediation: A way to solve disputes with the help of a neutral third person, without going to court.

Moot: A point or question that's open to argument or discussion.

Negligence: When someone isn't careful enough and ends up causing harm to others. It's like forgetting to do something important that ends up hurting someone else.

No Win, No Fee: A deal with a lawyer where you only pay them if you win your case. Review our free case review information here.

Personal Injury: When you get hurt - physically, mentally, or emotionally - because of what someone else did or didn't do.

Plaintiff: The person who starts a case against someone else in court.

Pleadings: The written statements that each side files in court, outlining what they claim and defend.

Precedent: An earlier event or action that serves as an example for similar cases in the future.

Prima Facie: Something that seems true at first glance, but may not be when you look deeper.

Pro Bono: When lawyers do legal work for free.

Proximate Cause: An event closely related to a legally recognizable injury that can be held as the cause of that injury.

Public Liability: If you run a business or an event, you have to make sure you don't do anything that could hurt the public.

Res Ipsa Loquitur: A legal principle that means "the thing speaks for itself". It's used when an accident's cause was likely negligence.

Retainer: Money you pay in advance to a lawyer for their services.

Settlement: An agreement reached before a court decision. It's like a compromise where both sides agree on a solution.

Statute of Limitations: The time limit you have to start legal action. It's like a countdown to when you can no longer sue.

Subpoena: A document that orders a person to come to court.

TPD (Total and Permanent Disability): When you can't work anymore because of a severe disability, you can make this type of insurance claim.

Tort: A wrongful act that leads to legal responsibility. It's like a legal wrong that causes harm to someone else.

Verdict: The final decision in a court case.

Vicarious Liability: When one person or group is held responsible for the actions of another person or group.

Witness: A person who tells the court what they saw or know.

Workers' Compensation: If you get hurt while doing your job, this is the money and help you can get.

Work Cover: Is the same thing as workers' compensation, is the name of the insurance scheme (insurer) designed to support employees who've been injured on the job or have fallen ill because of their work. In a nutshell, Worker’s Compensation and WorkCover are two names for the same safety net, there to help injured workers when work leads to health problems.

Wrongful Death: A death caused by the negligence or wrongdoing of another person.