Lawyer Lingo – Common Law Jargon Deciphered

Blog Lawyer Lingo – Common Law Jargon Deciphered 2UFebruary 02, 2024Lawyer jargon image from Shutterstock {"adCodes": [{"desktop": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e", "display": true, "mobile": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e", "new_amp": "\u003camp-ad width=336 height=280\n type=\"doubleclick\"\n data-slot=\"/22278042776,22664312254/wit/wit_content\"\n data-multi-size=\"300x250\"\u003e\n\u003c/amp-ad\u003e", "order": 0, "tablet": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e"}, {"desktop": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e", "display": true, "mobile": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e", "new_amp": "\u003camp-ad width=336 height=280\n type=\"doubleclick\"\n data-slot=\"/22278042776,22664312254/wit/wit_content\"\n data-multi-size=\"300x250\"\u003e\n\u003c/amp-ad\u003e", "order": 1, "tablet": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e"}, {"desktop": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e", "display": true, "mobile": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e", "new_amp": "\u003camp-ad width=336 height=280\n type=\"doubleclick\"\n data-slot=\"/22278042776,22664312254/wit/wit_content\"\n data-multi-size=\"300x250\"\u003e\n\u003c/amp-ad\u003e", "order": 2, "tablet": "\u003cdiv class=\u0027rblad-wit_content\u0027\u003e\u003c/div\u003e"}], "adsOrder": [2]}

Over hundreds of years, lawyers and judges seem to have developed a language of their own, rife with Latin terms you can't decipher without those ninth-grade notes you lost after the final. This secret language gives legal professionals a certain dramatic mystique that can be intimidating, sexy, and, as every law student knows, annoying to learn.

What Is Legal Talk Called?

"Legal talk" is called lawyer lingo or jargon. It's also commonly referred to as legalese.

Anyone who has ever watched an episode of Law and Order knows that the words “objection" and “sustained" have to be yelled out before anything really dramatic happens in a courtroom. But what do those words actually mean? Here are a few lawyerly terms translated...

What Words Do Lawyers Use?

Objection

Sustained

Overruled

Withdrawn

Rebuttal

Prima Facie

Plea Bargain

Adjournment

Habeas Corpus

Recess

What Do These Words Mean? 

1. Objection

“Objection" is used to protest when an opposing lawyer asks an inappropriate question of a witness. A lawyer can also object when a witness makes a statement that has nothing to do with the question at hand.

2. Sustained

If a judge “sustains" an objection, he or she is agreeing with it, telling the lawyer who asked the question to drop it and move on.

3. Overruled

When a judge overrules an objection, he is telling the witness to go ahead and answer the question.

4. Withdrawn

A less-embarrassing word for “I take it back!"

5. Rebuttal

A comeback supported by evidence. For instance, if the prosecutor states that a bloody candlestick was found in Professor Plum's study, the defense might offer the rebuttal that the professor had sold the candlestick in question to an antique dealer the previous week.

6. Prima Facie

Prima facie is Latin for “at first look" or “on its face," and in legalese it refers to a situation where someone looks guilty. One of the nice things about our legal system is that even when you look guilty, the system is supposed to look more closely and give you a chance to defend yourself.

For example, in a “prima facie" case, a jury might be presented with the evidence of your handgun found at the scene of your husband's murder, and everyone would expect you to be indicted based on that evidence—at least until the fatal bullet was shown to have been fired from the gun of the policeman who “discovered" the crime!

7. Plea Bargain

This is when the prosecution and the defense work out a deal, with the judge's approval, in which the defendant pleads guilty in exchange for something. For example, if you rob a liquor store and get caught, you might plead guilty in exchange for a short sentence, saving everyone the trouble of going through a trial. The defendant may also give up information about other crimes or criminals in exchange for a lenient sentence.

8. Adjournment

An adjournment is a suspension or delay of the entire trial until a later date. This sometimes happens when new and surprising evidence is introduced that changes the course of the trial.

9. Habeas Corpus

Habeas corpus is Latin for “you have the body," which sounds ominous, but it is actually one of the most fundamental rights of a citizen. When a writ of habeas corpus is presented to a judge, it means that someone who has imprisoned another person has to show the legal basis for that imprisonment.

In other words, the law of habeas corpus is what prevents police and prison officials from locking people up without trying to show they've done anything wrong.

10. Recess

A recess is a short break from a trial (not to be confused with an adjournment, which is a long break from a trial). Unfortunately, most courthouses do not have adjoining playgrounds, so lawyers tend to spend recesses doing whatever they have to do to continue the trial.

This article was written by Melissa Woodson, the community manager for @WashULaw on behalf of CAREEREALISM-Approved Partner, 2tor – an education-technology company that partners with Washington University in St. Louis to offer a premier LLM degree. In her spare time, she enjoys running, cooking, and making half-baked attempts at training her dog.

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Everyone has heard of New Year's resolutions. You know, those promises we make to ourselves about things we'll do better in the year ahead. Sometimes these resolutions work, while other times we end up with gym memberships we never use! But have you ever heard of a career resolution? It's actually the same thing as a New Year's resolution, only career-focused.

However, with something as important as a career, you don't want to break these resolutions. That's why it's important to keep these goals manageable.

Here are four simple career resolutions that are easy to stick to and achieve.

Be Self-Aware Of Where You Stand In Your Career Bigstock

Being honest and self-aware of where you are in your career is the most important step in making strong career resolutions. If your career is going nowhere and you're unhappy, then it may be time to consider a career change, which will take you down a different path entirely.

But if you're happy and in good standing with your career, it's a lot easier to set goals for the year and build out a long-term career plan.

Find A Way To Grow Your Career Bigstock

Career growth is a very broad spectrum that means something different to everyone. It could be something as simple as improving on a weakness or building on a strength. It could also be learning a new skill or taking on additional responsibilities at work.

On a larger level, it could be seeking a promotion or moving into a leadership role.

Whatever the goal is, make sure it includes growing professionally. The worst thing you can do is stay the same! If you're not growing your career, you're dying—and becoming a lot less valuable to your employer. There are always ways to upskill!

Better Serve Your Professional Network

With current colleagues, former colleagues, and other professional acquaintances, you've probably built a solid professional network through the years. A strong professional network can come in handy if you lose your job or are looking to make a career change. However, you shouldn't just rely on your network when you're in need!

It's important to find ways to offer value to your network. This could include checking in with members of your network from time to time. Exchange messages on LinkedIn to see how they're doing or share relevant content of interest. If you can help someone in your network going through a career challenge, you should!

Maintaining a strong professional network is like an investment. If you want it to pay off, you have to put some time into it and be consistent.

Take Care Of Yourself

Bigstock

Working on your career is hard work! It's okay to be selfish sometimes. Whether you're working to grow your career or looking for a new job, it's important to find balance.

Your family and health always come first, so make sure your career goals don't interfere with that. If you want to set aside time during the week to work on your career that's fine, but don't miss important family events or milestones.

Don't let your career goals get in the way of your health goals. Go to the gym, take a walk, or go for a jog. Balance is key to maintaining healthy career and life goals. Sometimes you just need to adjust that balance as you go.

Need help sticking to your career resolutions?

Become a member to learn how to UNLEASH your true potential to get what you want from work!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

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