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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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lawyer

USA = Attorney

UK = Solicitor

trial lawyer

USA = Counsel

UK = Barrister

defense lawyer(defence BrE)

The lawyer thatrepresents theperson accusedof a crime.

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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

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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.

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