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About This Quiz
Are you a lawyer in real life … or do you just play one on TV? Are you a struggling law student, or are you just a habitual offender looking for an edge at your next felony hearing? The legal world is a labyrinth of Latin and old-school language. Do you think you really know your laws from your sanctions? Take our law terms quiz now and find out!
The justice system is less of a science and more of an art – those who know the lingo and the craft are much more likely to succeed in court than those who struggle to master fundamental legal concepts. If you have a grasp on terms like “natural law” and “common law,” perhaps you’re much more likely to win that court case – or better yet – avoid legal entanglements altogether. Do you know the difference between various categories of law in the United States?
Some terms are quite literally in another language. Unless you’re adept in Latin or experienced in law, it’s unlikely that you’ll know what “prima facie” or “mens rea” mean during a tense court hearing. But if you want to graduate from law school, you’re definitely going to need at least a few Latin terms in your vocabulary.
It’s time for you to file a motion in our online legal quiz. Maybe your due diligence will help you fake your way through law school. Or perhaps you’ll be indicted as a legal fraud of the worst kind. Take our legal terms quiz now!
What's a term that describes an agreement between two parties?
racketeering
contract
A contract is an agreement between two parties in which both sides agree to do (or not do) something. But of course, people break contracts all the time, often with severe repercussions.
bribe
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A judge should be _____ during a court hearing.
prejudiced
impartial
Impartiality is imperative to fair legal proceedings. Judges who have prejudices may make terrible decisions that harm innocent peoples' lives.
drunk
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Which phrase best describes "cross examination"?
when lawyers question witnesses from the opposing side
Witnesses are fair game for both sides during a trial. When the opposing attorney performs a cross examination, he or she is questioning a witness from the opposing side.
when a lawyer stops to pray during a trial
when a bloody, sharp cross is introduced as evidence during a murder trial
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If you ask a higher court to reconsider the decision of a lower court, what do you file?
a soliloquy
an appeal
Often, one party is unsatisfied with a judge's ruling. They may file an appeal in hopes of a higher court overturning that decision. In some situations the appeals process may drag on for years.
a contract
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What is "natural justice"?
In a legal situation, everyone should be treated fairly.
Natural justice refers to the idea that everyone should be treated fairly during a legal case. Sadly, that concept doesn't always play out in the real world.
In a court case, hungry lions should punish offenders.
Defendants and accusers face each other in a boxing ring, that way Darwin's rules dictate who wins.
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What's a term that describes a legal guideline that was established by previous decisions?
precedent
A "precedent" is established by previous court cases. Some unique situations are unprecedented, meaning the judge and jury are in uncharted waters and hoping to find a fair resolution.
constitution
textbook
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What word refers to someone who files a lawsuit?
whiner
plaintiff
The plaintiff is the party that files a lawsuit. Well-organized plaintiffs create clear and concise cases that make it easy for a judge to rule in their favor.
money-grabber
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If you offer sworn statements during a _____, you'd better make sure that your words are true.
interrogation
deposition
In a deposition, lawyers record sworn statements from a plaintiff or defendant. Those statements may then be used during a subsequent trial.
inquisition
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What's a term for a serious crime?
felony
Felonies are the most serious crimes in America. Convicted felons often wind up in prison and have some of their rights stripped.
misdemeanor
public urination
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What's a word for a person accused of wrongdoing?
defendant
A defendant is someone who's accused of wrongdoing. In America, defendants are innocent until provent guilty, unless they're poor, in which case they're simply guilty.
opponent
prosecutor
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Why would a lawyer write a "brief"?
to insult his opponent
to make his case with the court
A brief is the document that a lawyer writes to make his argument to the court. Some lawyers write low-quality briefs, and their cases suffer as a result.
because a "long" was too lengthy
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What are "laws"?
a way to imprison the less fortunate
a series of rules for a community
Laws are sets of rules that apply to communities large and small. Without laws, people run around tripping each other, and then pointing and laughing, for no particular reason.
a type of knock-knock joke
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What's a word that describes written law?
statute
A statute is a written law. Statutes guide all sorts of regulations and law enforcement standards.
tort
diligence
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What is a printed statement made under oath?
constitution
jurisdiction
affidavit
An affidavit is a written statement made under oath. If you lie on an affidavit, you're really asking for trouble.
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What does "malfeasance" mean?
You did something wrong.
If you so something wrong from a legal or moral perspective, you're guilty of malfeasance. Depending on the situation, your malfeasance may result in serious penalties.
A judge gave you a sentence.
A prosecutor lost the case.
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What is a judgment of guilt against a defendant?
hanging
belief
conviction
A conviction is a judgment of guilt against a defendant. Following a conviction, defendants face penalties or sentencing.
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What's the term that describes all non-criminal law?
unnatural law
civil law
Civil law deals with all of the issues that criminal law doesn't cover. In many situations, cases that fail in the realm of criminal law wind up as civil cases, where plaintiffs have new hope of finding justice.
uncivil law
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What's the purpose of a "title"?
to prove ownership
A title proves ownership of a particular object, such as a car or boat. If you take a loan out for a car, the bank holds the title until you finish paying the full amount.
to prove importance
to prove marriage
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The "rule of law" is meant to apply to whom?
everyone
In America, the rule of law is supposed to apply to everyone. In other words, no one is above the law. Unless you're rich or politically connected, then the rules change.
the rich
minorities
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What's a "tort"?
a prison term
damages to another party
A tort refers to damages -- intentional or accidental -- caused to another party. Tort law is a major field of law in the United States.
a type of tasty pastry
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Which procedure do lawyers use to gather evidence before trial?
discovery
In the discovery phase of a trial, lawyers poke through piles of evidence. It's the information that they use to build their cases.
navigation
interrogation
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A restraining order is a type of ________.
house arrest
provisional remedy
A provisional remedy is a temporary court order meant to stop a further damage to a plaintiff as legal proceedings continue. A restraining order, then, is meant to safeguard a person until an arrangement is created to stop an offender who annoys or threatens someone.
joke
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What sparks a lawsuit?
adjective law
cause of action
A cause of action is any wrongdoing that causes a plaintiff to file a lawsuit. A breach of contract is one example of cause of action.
mens rea
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"Chapter 13" refers to which concept?
bribery
battery
bankruptcy
There are multiple types of bankruptcy, and Chapter 13 is one such category. It's often called the "wage-earner" bankruptcy plan.
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What's a defining trait of a "prima facie case"?
It involves a primadonna.
A judge refuses to review the case.
The facts seem to immediately prove the case.
In a prima facie case, the facts seem startlingly clear -- so clear that they immediately prove the case. But in some situations, a prima facie case may ultimately be more complicated than at first glance.
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What does an "injunction" do?
creates a new corporation
sentences defendants to prison
stops a party from taking some action
Injunctions are meant to stop one party from taking some action. A temporary injuction, for example, may stop one party from further harming another until a permanent injuction is in place.
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True or false, is a misdemeanor less serious than a felony?
true
In general, misdemeanor crimes are less serious than felonies, and their penalties are less serious, too. But that's only if you get caught! So, go right ahead, no one will ever find out.
false
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What does a "docket" describe?
the history of a court case
A case docket describes the history of a case, briefly summarizing (in chronological order) all court proceedings.
the criminal record of the plaintiff
the cost of filing a lawsuit
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In a demurrer, what does a defendant ask of the judge?
to dismiss the lawsuit
Defendants often file demurrers with a judge in hopes of having the lawsuit dismissed. A demurrer essentially states that there's no real basis for a lawsuit.
to imprison the plaintiff
to consider the death sentence
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What's the word for a judge's decision?
service of process
verdict
At the end of a court case, a judge or jury will deliver a verdict. The verdict may absolve a defendant … or perhaps put her in prison for life.
warrant
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You Got:
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