Legal terms are difficult to understand, so we’ve put together a glossary to help make sense of it all. This glossary provides definitions for common legal terms encountered in England and Wales. It is designed as a straightforward guide for individuals unfamiliar with legal language.
The definitions offer a basic understanding of the terminology you may encounter when dealing with solicitors, reading legal documents, or navigating the court system. The information is for general guidance and does not constitute legal advice.
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ADJOURNMENT – The postponement of a court hearing or legal proceeding to a later date.
ADMINISTRATOR – A person appointed by a court to manage the estate of someone who has died without a valid will.
ADMISSION – A statement made by a party in legal proceedings that is adverse to their own case.
ADVERSE POSSESSION – The process of acquiring legal title to land by possessing it for a specified period without the permission of the legal owner.
ADVOCATE – A legal professional who represents a client’s case in a court or tribunal. This role is performed by barristers and solicitor-advocates.
AFFIDAVIT – A written statement of facts, confirmed by the oath or affirmation of the party making it (the deponent), and signed before a person with the authority to administer oaths, such as a solicitor.
AGENT – A person or entity authorised to act on behalf of another person (the principal). For instance, a solicitor acts as an agent for a client purchasing a property.
AGREEMENT – A mutual understanding between two or more parties about their rights and responsibilities. An agreement can be legally binding if it meets certain criteria, creating a contract. For example, a divorcing couple might formalise a financial settlement agreement.
ALLEGATION – A statement asserting a fact, often made without immediate proof, that someone has committed a wrongdoing or illegal act. An allegation remains unproven until adjudicated by a court or tribunal.
ALTERNATIVE BUSINESS STRUCTURE (ABS) – A type of legal practice that allows non-lawyers to have ownership or management roles. Authorised by the Legal Services Act 2007, an ABS can provide a mix of legal and other professional services.
ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION (ADR) – Methods for resolving disputes outside of the formal court system. Common forms include mediation, arbitration, and conciliation. ADR is often quicker and less expensive than litigation.
ANCILLARY RELIEF – An older term for a financial order sought during divorce, nullity, or judicial separation proceedings. The current term is ‘financial remedy’. It refers to applications for maintenance, lump sums, property adjustments, and pension sharing orders.
APPEAL – A legal process where a party requests a higher court to review and reverse a decision made by a lower court.
APPELLANT – The party who brings an appeal to a higher court.
APPOINTEESHIP – A legal authority granted by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) allowing a person or organisation (the appointee) to manage state benefits on behalf of someone unable to do so themselves.
ARBITRATION – A form of alternative dispute resolution where parties submit their dispute to an impartial arbitrator. The arbitrator’s decision, known as an award, is legally binding and enforceable.
ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION – The document that sets out the internal rules for running a limited company, defining the duties and powers of its directors and the conduct of shareholders’ meetings.
ASSETS – Property of any kind owned by a person, company, or estate that has monetary value. Assets can be tangible (e.g., property, cash) or intangible (e.g., intellectual property, shares).
ASSOCIATE – A solicitor or other lawyer employed by a law firm who holds a position senior to a newly qualified solicitor but is not a partner.
ASSURED SHORTHOLD TENANCY (AST) – The most common type of tenancy agreement in the private rented sector in England and Wales. It typically runs for a fixed term, after which the landlord can regain possession by giving valid notice.
ASSURED TENANCY – A type of tenancy, commonly used by housing associations, that offers tenants long-term security of tenure. A landlord can only evict an assured tenant by obtaining a court order based on specific legal grounds.
ASYLUM – Protection granted by a state to a person who has left their home country as a refugee and is unable or unwilling to return due to a well-founded fear of persecution.
ATTORNEY – In the UK, this term most commonly refers to a person appointed under a power of attorney to make decisions on another person’s behalf. It is not generally used as a synonym for lawyer.
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BAIL – The temporary release of a person awaiting trial, sometimes subject to conditions such as lodging a sum of money as a guarantee.
BALANCE OF PROBABILITIES – The standard of proof required in civil law cases. A court is satisfied that an event occurred if it considers that, on the evidence, the occurrence of the event was more likely than not.
BANKRUPT – The legal status of an individual who is unable to repay their debts. Bankruptcy proceedings can be initiated by the individual (a debtor’s petition) or by a creditor.
BARRISTER – A lawyer, regulated by the Bar Standards Board, who specialises in courtroom advocacy, expert legal opinions, and drafting specialist legal documents. Barristers are typically instructed by solicitors.
BENEFICIARY – A person who is legally entitled to receive property or funds from a will, trust, or life insurance policy.
BEQUEST – A gift of personal property (which includes money, shares, and belongings, but not land or buildings) made in a will. A gift of land or buildings is called a ‘devise’.
BREACH OF CONTRACT – The failure of one party to fulfil their obligations under a contract without a lawful excuse.
BURDEN OF PROOF – The duty placed upon a party in a trial to prove or disprove a disputed fact. In criminal cases, the burden of proof is on the prosecution to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
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CASE LAW – Law established by the outcomes of former cases (judicial precedent), as opposed to law created by Parliament (statute).
CHAMBERS – A set of offices from which self-employed barristers practise. They share administrative staff, known as clerks, and office expenses.
CHARGE – A form of security interest over an asset, such as property, to ensure the repayment of a debt. A mortgage is a common type of charge.
CHATTELS – Items of personal property that are movable, as distinct from land and buildings (real property).
CIVIL LAW – The area of law that deals with disputes between individuals or organisations, typically concerning rights and liabilities. It is distinct from criminal law.
CLAIM FORM – The official court document used to commence legal proceedings in civil courts.
CLAIMANT – The person or party who starts a civil lawsuit. This term replaced ‘plaintiff’ in England and Wales.
CLIENT – An individual, group, or company that uses the services of a legal professional.
CODICIL – A legal document that amends, adds to, or partially revokes an existing will. It must be signed and witnessed with the same formalities as a will.
COHABITATION AGREEMENT – A document for unmarried couples living together that outlines the division of assets and financial arrangements should the relationship end. While not all clauses are guaranteed to be enforced by a court, they can clarify intentions.
COMMON LAW – The body of law derived from judicial decisions and custom, rather than from acts of Parliament (statutes).
COMPANY – A legal entity, incorporated to conduct business, that is legally distinct from its owners (shareholders).
COMPENSATION – A sum of money, often called ‘damages’, awarded by a court to recompense a claimant for loss, injury, or suffering.
CONCILIATION – A form of alternative dispute resolution in which a neutral third party (the conciliator) helps the parties in a dispute to reach a mutually agreeable settlement. The conciliator may meet with the parties together and separately.
CONDITIONAL FEE AGREEMENT (CFA) – An agreement where a solicitor’s fee depends on the outcome of the case, commonly known as ‘no win, no fee’. If the case is successful, the solicitor is paid their standard fee plus a ‘success fee’; if unsuccessful, they typically receive no fee.
CONDITIONS – The specific terms, requirements, or restrictions that form part of a legal agreement or document.
CONSENT ORDER – A legally binding order made by a court that confirms terms that have been agreed upon by all parties to a dispute. It is frequently used in family law for financial settlements on divorce.
CONTEMPT OF COURT – An act of disobedience or disrespect towards a court, which is punishable by a fine or imprisonment.
CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (CPD) – The mandatory annual training that lawyers and other regulated professionals must complete to maintain their professional standards.
CONTRACT – A legally binding agreement between two or more parties that creates mutual obligations. The essential elements are offer, acceptance, consideration, and an intention to create legal relations.
CONVEYANCING – The legal and administrative work involved in transferring the ownership of property from one person to another.
COPYRIGHT – A legal right granting the creator of an original work (such as literary, artistic, or musical work) exclusive control over its use and distribution.
COSTS LAWYER – A specialist lawyer who deals with the legal costs of court cases, such as quantifying and justifying the costs claimed by the winning party.
COUNSEL – A term for a barrister or a team of barristers representing a client in court.
COURT OF PROTECTION – A specialist court that makes decisions on financial or welfare matters for people who lack the mental capacity to make those decisions for themselves.
COVENANT – A formal promise or obligation contained within a deed or legal agreement. For example, a restrictive covenant in a property deed may prohibit certain actions.
CREDITOR – A person, company, or organisation to whom money is owed.
CROWN COURT – A senior court in England and Wales that deals with serious criminal cases (indictable offences). Cases are heard by a judge and jury.
CROWN PROSECUTION SERVICE (CPS) – The principal public agency for conducting criminal prosecutions in England and Wales.
CROWN PROSECUTOR – A lawyer who works for the Crown Prosecution Service.
CULPABLE – Responsible for a fault or wrong; blameworthy.
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DAMAGES – A sum of money awarded by a court as a legal remedy for a civil wrong, such as a breach of contract or negligence. The aim of compensatory damages is to place the injured party in the position they would have been in had the wrong not occurred.
DECREE ABSOLUTE – The former name for the final legal document that ends a marriage. For divorce proceedings started after 6 April 2022 in England and Wales, this is now called a Final Order.
DECREE NISI – The former name for the provisional court order in a divorce, stating that the court sees no reason why the parties cannot divorce. For proceedings started after 6 April 2022, this is now called a Conditional Order.
DEED – A formal legal document that is signed, witnessed, and delivered to create a binding obligation or transfer property. Unlike a simple contract, a deed does not always require consideration (something of value exchanged).
DEFAMATION – The act of damaging a person’s reputation by making a false statement. It includes libel (written or published statements) and slander (spoken statements).
DEFENCE – The defendant’s formal response to the allegations made by a claimant in a civil case or by the prosecution in a criminal case.
DEFENDANT – The person, company, or organisation being sued in a civil case or prosecuted in a criminal case.
DEPUTY – A person appointed by the Court of Protection to make ongoing decisions about the property, finances, or welfare of someone who lacks the mental capacity to do so themselves.
DISBURSEMENT – An expense that a solicitor pays to a third party on a client’s behalf and then reclaims from the client. Common examples include court fees, land registry fees, and local authority search fees.
DISCLOSURE – The stage in legal proceedings where each party is required to reveal the relevant documents they hold to the other parties.
DISCRIMINATION – Unfair treatment of a person based on certain ‘protected characteristics’ under the Equality Act 2010. These include age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.
DIVORCE – The legal process of dissolving a marriage, conducted through the court system.
DOMICILE – The country that a person considers their permanent home, which has important implications for tax and inheritance law. It is distinct from nationality or residence.
DUE DILIGENCE – A comprehensive investigation of a business or person prior to signing a contract, often conducted before a corporate merger or acquisition.
DUTY OF CARE – A legal obligation to take reasonable care to avoid causing harm to others. A breach of this duty is a fundamental element of a negligence claim.
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EASEMENT – A right benefiting one piece of land that is enjoyed over another piece of land owned by someone else. A common example is a right of way.
ENDURING POWER OF ATTORNEY (EPA) – A legal document created before 1 October 2007 that allows an appointed person (an attorney) to manage the property and financial affairs of another person (the donor). Valid EPAs are still functional, but new ones can no longer be created; they have been replaced by Lasting Powers of Attorney.
EQUITY – A body of law developed to provide remedies where the common law was too rigid. It is based on principles of fairness and justice and operates alongside the common law.
ESTATE – All of a person’s assets, including property, investments, and personal belongings, less any debts, at the time of their death. The estate is administered and distributed according to the will or the rules of intestacy.
ESTOPPEL – A legal principle that prevents a person from asserting something that contradicts what they had previously stated or what had been legally established.
EVIDENCE – Information presented to a court or tribunal to prove or disprove a point in question. It may include witness testimony, documents, or physical objects.
EXCHANGE OF CONTRACTS – The stage in a property transaction in England and Wales at which the buyer and seller exchange signed contracts, making their agreement legally binding. The completion date is usually fixed at this point.
EXECUTOR – A person or institution appointed in a will to administer the deceased person’s estate and distribute the assets according to the will’s instructions.
EXEMPT EUROPEAN LAWYER (EEL) – A historical term for a lawyer from an EU member state who was registered to practise in the UK. Following the UK’s departure from the European Union, this registration system has been replaced by new arrangements for foreign lawyers.
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FEE EARNER – A person in a law firm, such as a solicitor, legal executive, or paralegal, whose work is charged directly to clients.
FEE SIMPLE ABSOLUTE IN POSSESSION – The legal term for freehold ownership of land, which is the most complete form of ownership recognised in law.
FIDUCIARY DUTY – A legal duty to act solely in another party’s best interests. This duty of trust and good faith is owed by people in positions of trust, such as a solicitor to their client or a trustee to a beneficiary.
FINAL ORDER – The concluding court order that legally dissolves a marriage or civil partnership. This term replaced ‘Decree Absolute’ for proceedings started in England and Wales after 6 April 2022.
FIXED FEE – A set price agreed upon in advance for legal services, regardless of the time taken to complete the work.
FORENSIC – Relating to the application of scientific methods and techniques to the investigation of legal matters.
FORFEITURE – The loss of property, assets, or a legal right as a penalty for wrongdoing. For example, under the forfeiture rule, a person who unlawfully kills someone cannot inherit from their estate. The term for an estate passing to the Crown when there are no known relatives is ‘Bona Vacantia’.
FRAUD – A criminal offence involving dishonestly making a false representation, failing to disclose information, or abusing a position of trust, with the intent to make a gain or cause a loss.
FREEHOLD – A type of property ownership where the owner possesses the building and the land it stands on outright and indefinitely.
FREEZING INJUNCTION – A court order that prevents a party from disposing of or dealing with their assets. It is also known as a freezing order.
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GENERAL DAMAGES – Compensation awarded by a court for non-monetary losses resulting from a civil wrong, such as pain and suffering. The amount is not precisely calculable and is assessed by the court.
GIFT WITH RESERVATION OF BENEFIT – A gift made during a person’s lifetime where the giver retains some benefit from it (e.g., giving away a house but continuing to live there rent-free). For Inheritance Tax purposes, the asset may still be treated as part of the giver’s estate.
GRANT OF LETTERS OF ADMINISTRATION – The court order that appoints a person (an administrator) to manage the estate of someone who died without a valid will.
GRANT OF PROBATE – The court order that confirms the validity of a will and gives the named executors the legal authority to administer the deceased’s estate.
GRANT OF REPRESENTATION – The umbrella term for a court order authorising one or more people to manage a deceased person’s estate. The two main types are the Grant of Probate and the Grant of Letters of Administration.
GRIEVANCE – A formal complaint raised by an employee against their employer.
GROUNDS – The legal reasons that form the basis of a claim or legal action. For example, an appeal must have specific legal grounds.
GUARANTOR – A person who agrees to be responsible for another person’s debt or obligations if they default.
GUARDIAN – A person legally appointed to take on parental responsibility for a child if the child’s parents die before the child reaches 18. An appointment can be made in a will.
GUILTY – The verdict in a criminal case where the defendant is found to have committed the offence, or the defendant’s own admission of that fact (a guilty plea).
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HEARING – Any proceeding before a court or tribunal where evidence is presented and arguments are made to decide a specific legal issue. A hearing can be a short, procedural matter or a full trial to determine the final outcome of a case.
HEARSAY – A statement made by a person outside of court which is later offered in court to prove the truth of the matter asserted. Hearsay evidence is generally inadmissible, but there are many exceptions to this rule.
HEREDITAMENT – Any item of property, whether tangible (e.g., land and buildings) or intangible (e.g., rights), that can be passed on by inheritance. The term is often used in the context of property law and local authority taxation.
HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE – A senior court in England and Wales that handles the most complex and high-value civil cases. It is divided into three divisions: the King’s Bench Division, the Chancery Division, and the Family Division.
HM LAND REGISTRY – The government department responsible for registering the ownership of land and property in England and Wales.
HM REVENUE & CUSTOMS (HMRC) – The UK’s tax, payments, and customs authority. It is responsible for collecting taxes, administering certain benefits like Child Benefit, and enforcing regulations such as the national minimum wage.
HOLDING COMPANY – A company that owns a controlling interest in one or more other companies, known as subsidiaries.
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INCORPORATION – The legal process of creating a company or other corporate body, which gives it a separate legal identity from its owners.
INDEMNITY – A contractual obligation for one party to compensate another for a specific loss or damage that may occur.
INDEPENDENT LEGAL ADVICE – Advice from a lawyer who has no conflict of interest in the matter, ensuring a party fully understands the transaction they are entering into.
INHERITANCE – The property, money, or assets received from a person’s estate upon their death.
INHERITANCE TAX (IHT) – A tax levied on the value of a person’s estate when they die, and on certain gifts made during their lifetime.
IN-HOUSE LAWYER – A lawyer employed directly by an organisation, such as a company or public body, to provide legal advice and services to that organisation. Also known as in-house counsel.
INJUNCTION – A court order compelling a party to either perform a specific act (a mandatory injunction) or refrain from performing a specific act (a prohibitory injunction).
INSOLVENT – The state of being unable to pay debts as they fall due, or where total liabilities exceed total assets.
INSTRUCT – To formally engage a lawyer to represent you and provide them with details of the work you want them to do.
INTEGRITY – A fundamental professional principle for legal professionals, requiring them to act with honesty and high moral standards.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY (IP) – Intangible creations of the mind protected by law, such as inventions (patents), literary and artistic works (copyright), symbols and names (trademarks), and designs (design rights).
INTEREST – A legal right or claim to property. For example, a beneficial interest is the right to enjoy the benefits of property, even if someone else is the legal owner.
INTERIM ORDER – A temporary court order that stays in effect for a limited period or until a final hearing takes place.
INTERIM PROCEEDINGS – Court hearings that take place between the start of a case and the final trial to deal with procedural matters.
INTERVENTION – A regulatory process where a body, like the Solicitors Regulation Authority, takes control of a law firm’s documents and money to protect clients.
INTESTATE – The legal term for dying without having made a valid will. The estate is then distributed according to the rules of intestacy.
ISSUE – In inheritance law, a person’s direct descendants, such as children and grandchildren. In litigation, it means to formally commence legal proceedings by having the court process the claim form.
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JOINT AND SEVERAL LIABILITY – A legal principle where two or more parties are each individually responsible for the full extent of a debt or obligation, as well as being responsible together. A creditor can claim the full amount from any one of the parties.
JOINT TENANCY – A form of co-ownership of property where the owners hold an equal and undivided share. Upon the death of one joint tenant, their share automatically passes to the surviving joint tenant(s) under the ‘right of survivorship’.
JUDGE – A public official with the authority to hear and decide cases in a court of law. The judge ensures proceedings are conducted fairly and applies the relevant law to the facts.
JUDGMENT – The final decision or ruling of a court in a legal proceeding.
JUDICIAL PRECEDENT – The common law principle that requires a court to follow the decisions of higher courts in previous cases with similar facts. This ensures consistency in the law.
JUDICIAL REVIEW – A type of court proceeding in which a judge reviews the lawfulness of a decision or action made by a public body.
JURY – A body of 12 citizens sworn to hear the evidence in a criminal trial and deliver an impartial verdict of guilty or not guilty. They are the deciders of fact, while the judge is the decider of law.
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KING’S COUNSEL (KC) – A senior barrister or solicitor advocate appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of the Lord Chancellor, recognised for their outstanding skill and expertise in advocacy.
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LANDLORD – The owner of a property who grants a lease or tenancy to another person (the tenant) in exchange for rent.
LASTING POWER OF ATTORNEY (LPA) – A legal document that allows a person (the donor) to appoint one or more people (attorneys) to make decisions on their behalf. There are two types: one for property and financial affairs, and one for health and welfare. An LPA remains valid even if the donor loses mental capacity.
LAW FIRM – An organisation that provides legal services, employing one or more lawyers.
LAW SOCIETY OF ENGLAND AND WALES – The professional body that represents and governs solicitors for the jurisdiction of England and Wales.
LAWYER – A general term for a person who is qualified to give legal advice and representation, such as a solicitor, barrister, or CILEX lawyer.
LEASE – A legal contract that grants a person (the lessee or tenant) the right to use a property for a specified period in return for rent paid to the owner (the lessor or landlord).
LEGACY – A gift of a specific sum of money left to a person or organisation in a will.
LEGAL AID – Government funding to help meet the costs of legal advice for those who are eligible.
LEGAL DISCIPLINARY PRACTICE (LDP) – A historical term for a type of law firm that allowed lawyers and a limited number of non-lawyers to work in partnership. This structure has now been replaced by the Alternative Business Structure (ABS) framework.
LEGAL EXECUTIVE (CILEX LAWYER) – A qualified lawyer who specialises in a particular area of law, regulated by the Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX).
LEGAL OMBUDSMAN – An independent and impartial body that resolves complaints about the service provided by lawyers and law firms in England and Wales.
LEGAL PROFESSIONAL PRIVILEGE (LPP) – The legal principle that protects the confidentiality of communications between a lawyer and their client. Such communications cannot be disclosed in legal proceedings without the client’s consent.
LEGAL SERVICES – Services of a legal or financial nature, such as providing legal advice or representation in court.
LIABLE – Legally responsible for an act, omission, or obligation.
LIABILITY – A legal responsibility, duty, or obligation.
LIBEL – Defamation expressed in a permanent form, such as in writing, printing, or broadcasting.
LICENSED CONVEYANCER – A specialist property lawyer who is regulated by the Council for Licensed Conveyancers.
LIEN – A legal right to hold onto another person’s property until a debt owed by that person is paid.
LIFE INTEREST – The right to receive the income or benefit from a property or asset for the duration of one’s life. The person holding this right is a ‘life tenant’.
LIMITED COMPANY – A business structure that has a separate legal identity from its owners (shareholders). The liability of the shareholders for the company’s debts is limited to the value of their shares.
LIMITED LIABILITY PARTNERSHIP (LLP) – A business structure that combines the features of a partnership with the limited liability of a company. It is a separate legal entity from its members.
LITIGANT – Any party to a lawsuit.
LITIGANT IN PERSON – An individual who represents themselves in court without the assistance of a lawyer.
LITIGATION – The process of resolving a dispute through the civil court system.
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MAGISTRATE – A trained volunteer, also known as a Justice of the Peace (JP), who hears cases in a Magistrates’ Court. They deal with less serious criminal cases and some civil matters.
MANAGER – In the context of a law firm, this term typically refers to a partner in a partnership, a director of a company, or a member of a limited liability partnership.
MAGNA CARTA – A charter of rights agreed to by King John of England in 1215. It is a foundational document in the history of the constitution, establishing the principle that everyone is subject to the law.
MASTER OF THE ROLLS – The second most senior judge in England and Wales, who is the head of the Civil Division of the Court of Appeal.
MATERIAL FACT – A fact that is significant to an issue or matter and which may influence a person’s decision.
MATTER – A case, transaction, or file being handled by a law firm for a client.
MEDIATION – A form of alternative dispute resolution where an impartial third party (a mediator) helps parties in a dispute to negotiate their own settlement. The mediator does not decide the outcome.
MEMBER – A legal owner of a limited liability partnership (LLP).
MEMORANDUM OF ASSOCIATION – A document that states the initial subscribers wish to form a company under the Companies Act. It is a mandatory document for company registration.
MINOR – A person under the age of 18.
MISCONDUCT – A breach of the rules of professional conduct by a regulated person, such as a solicitor.
MISREPRESENTATION – A false statement of fact made by one party to another, which induces the other party to enter into a contract.
MITIGATION – The legal principle that a party who has suffered a loss must take reasonable steps to avoid or minimise that loss.
MONEY LAUNDERING – The process of concealing the origin of illegally obtained money by passing it through a complex sequence of commercial or financial transactions.
MORTGAGE – A legal agreement by which a bank or building society lends money at interest in exchange for taking title of the debtor’s property, with the condition that the conveyance of title becomes void upon the payment of the debt. The loan itself is also known as a mortgage.
MORTGAGEE – The lender in a mortgage agreement, such as a bank.
MORTGAGOR – The borrower in a mortgage agreement.
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NEGLIGENCE – A failure to take reasonable care to avoid causing injury or loss to another person. It is a common type of tort.
NEGOTIATION – A discussion between parties in a dispute aimed at reaching an agreement. It is a form of dispute resolution.
NET ESTATE – The value of a deceased person’s estate after all debts, liabilities, and funeral expenses have been deducted.
NEXT OF KIN – An informal term for a person’s closest living relative. The term has no legal standing in England and Wales; a ‘next of kin’ cannot automatically make decisions for someone else, for which a Lasting Power of Attorney is required.
NO WIN NO FEE – A funding arrangement for a legal case, where a solicitor will not charge for their work if the case is lost. If the case is won, the solicitor is paid their fee, plus a ‘success fee’, by the losing party. The most common type is a Conditional Fee Agreement.
NON-MOLESTATION ORDER – A type of injunction used in cases of domestic abuse that forbids a person from molesting (including harassing, intimidating or pestering) another person.
NOTARY – A specialist lawyer, regulated by the Faculty Office of the Archbishop of Canterbury, who is authorised to formally witness signatures and certify the authenticity of documents for use abroad.
NOTICE – A formal legal communication informing a party of a fact or intention.
NUISANCE – A common law tort that protects a person’s right to the use and enjoyment of their land without unreasonable interference.
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OATH – A solemn promise, often invoking a divine witness, regarding one’s future action or behaviour. In legal proceedings, it refers to a sworn promise to tell the truth.
OBLIGATION – A legal duty to do or refrain from doing something, which can be created by a contract, statute, or court order.
OCCUPATION ORDER – A court order in family law that regulates who can live in, enter, or be excluded from the family home.
OFFER – An expression of willingness to enter into a contract on specified terms. It is a key element for a binding agreement.
OFFICIAL COPY – An official copy of a document held by a public registry, such as an official copy of the title register from HM Land Registry.
OMBUDSMAN – An official appointed to investigate individuals’ complaints against a company or public organisation.
OMISSION – A failure to act where there was a legal duty to do so.
ORDINARY POWER OF ATTORNEY – A legal document where a person (the donor) gives someone they trust (the attorney) the authority to manage their financial affairs. This authority ceases automatically if the donor loses mental capacity.
OUTCOME – The final result or decision in a legal case, hearing, or other matter.
OUT-OF-COURT SETTLEMENT – A binding agreement reached between the parties to a dispute that resolves the issue without the need for a judge to make a final ruling.
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PARALEGAL – A person who performs legal work under the supervision of a solicitor or other regulated lawyer. Many paralegals have a law degree but are not qualified as solicitors.
PARTNER – An owner of a business structured as a partnership. This includes equity partners who share in the profits and liabilities, and salaried partners who are employees but are held out to the public as partners. In an LLP, the equivalent role is a ‘member’.
PARTNERSHIP – A business relationship between two or more people with a view to making a profit, as defined by the Partnership Act 1890. In a traditional partnership, partners typically have unlimited liability for the firm’s debts.
PATENT ATTORNEY – A specialist legal professional who advises on and handles the legal process for obtaining patents for inventions. They are regulated by the Intellectual Property Regulation Board.
PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE (PR) – The person legally entitled to administer the estate of a deceased person. The term includes executors (if there is a will) and administrators (if there is no will).
PLAINTIFF – The former term for a person who starts a civil lawsuit. In England and Wales, the term was replaced by ‘claimant’.
PLEADINGS – The formal written statements of fact and legal arguments filed by the parties in a civil lawsuit.
POWER OF ATTORNEY – A legal document that gives a person (the attorney) the authority to act on behalf of another person (the donor). See also ‘Lasting Power of Attorney’ and ‘Ordinary Power of Attorney’.
PRACTISING CERTIFICATE (PC) – The annual certificate issued by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) that authorises a person to practise as a solicitor in England and Wales.
PRE-ACTION PROTOCOLS – Court-endorsed procedures that parties are expected to follow before starting civil litigation, aimed at encouraging early settlement and efficient case management.
PRIMA FACIE – A Latin term meaning ‘at first sight’. It describes a matter that appears to be true based on the initial evidence.
PRIVATE LIMITED COMPANY (LTD) – A type of incorporated business where the owners’ liability is limited to the value of their shares. Its shares cannot be offered to the general public.
PROBATE – The legal and financial process of dealing with the estate of a deceased person. It generally refers to the court order (a Grant of Representation) that authorises the personal representatives to act.
PRO BONO PUBLICO – A Latin term, usually shortened to ‘pro bono’, for professional work undertaken voluntarily and without payment for the public good.
PROCEEDS OF CRIME – Money or assets gained through criminal activity.
PROMISSORY ESTOPPEL – A legal principle that prevents a person from going back on a promise, even if it is not supported by a formal contract, if the other party has relied on that promise to their detriment.
PROPRIETARY ESTOPPEL – An equitable remedy that may be available if a person has been led to believe they have or will get an interest in property, and have acted to their detriment in reliance on that belief.
PROSECUTION – The legal body, typically the Crown Prosecution Service, that brings criminal proceedings against a person on behalf of the state.
PROTECTED CHARACTERISTIC – A personal attribute protected from discrimination by the Equality Act 2010. These include age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.
PROXY – A person appointed to act or vote on behalf of another at a meeting, such as a company’s general meeting.
PUBLIC INTEREST – The welfare and well-being of the general public. It is a key consideration in certain legal decisions, such as judicial review.
PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY (PLC) – A type of incorporated business whose shares can be offered for sale to the general public.
PURSUANT TO – A phrase meaning ‘in accordance with’ or ‘under the authority of’. For example, actions taken pursuant to a contract are actions taken to carry out its terms.
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QUANTUM – The Latin term for ‘amount’. In a legal context, it refers to the amount of money or damages awarded in a civil claim.
QUORUM – The minimum number of people who must be present at a meeting for its proceedings to be valid.
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REAL PROPERTY – Land and any buildings or structures attached to it. It is distinct from personal property (chattels).
RECEIVER – A person, often an insolvency practitioner, appointed to take control of and manage the assets of a company in financial distress or an individual in bankruptcy.
RECOGNISED BODY / SOLE PRACTITIONER – Historical regulatory terms for law firms. The current framework refers to SRA-regulated bodies, which includes recognised sole practices, law firms, and LLPs authorised by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
REDEMPTION – The act of fully repaying a mortgage or other loan secured on property.
REDUNDANCY – A form of dismissal from a job, which occurs when an employer needs to reduce their workforce.
REGISTERED EUROPEAN LAWYER (REL) – A historical designation for a lawyer from an EU state who was registered to practise in England and Wales. This system has been largely replaced since the UK’s departure from the EU.
REGISTERED FOREIGN LAWYER (RFL) – A lawyer who is qualified in a jurisdiction outside of England and Wales and is registered with the SRA to be a manager or owner of a law firm in England and Wales.
REGISTERED OFFICE – The official address of an incorporated company, to which all official documents and correspondence are sent.
REGULATED INDIVIDUAL – A person who is authorised and regulated by a legal regulator, such as a solicitor regulated by the SRA or a barrister by the Bar Standards Board.
REMEDY – The means by which a court enforces a right, prevents a wrong, or provides compensation for a loss. Examples include damages, injunctions, and specific performance.
REMUNERATE – To pay a person for services rendered or for work done.
RESCISSION – The act of cancelling or setting aside a contract, returning the parties to the position they were in before the contract was made.
RESIDUARY ESTATE – The portion of a deceased person’s estate that remains after all specific gifts have been made and all debts and expenses have been paid.
RESTRICTIVE COVENANT – A clause in a contract or deed that limits what a person can do. Common examples include covenants in an employment contract that restrict a former employee’s business activities, or covenants on property that limit its use.
REVOCATION – The official cancellation or withdrawal of a decision, order, or legal document, such as the revocation of a will.
RIGHT OF SURVIVORSHIP – The legal principle in a joint tenancy whereby a deceased joint tenant’s interest in a property automatically passes to the surviving joint tenant(s), irrespective of the terms of any will.
RIGHTS OF AUDIENCE – The right of a lawyer to appear in court and speak on behalf of a client.
ROLL OF SOLICITORS – The official register of all solicitors who have been admitted to the profession in England and Wales, maintained by the Law Society.
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SCAM – An illegal scheme or fraudulent act designed to cheat people out of money or property.
SCHEDULE – An appendix attached to a legal document that contains detailed information referred to in the main body of the text.
SECURED CREDITOR – A creditor who holds a charge or other form of security over a debtor’s assets, giving them priority for repayment if the debtor becomes insolvent.
SETTLEMENT – The resolution of a dispute, often by agreement between the parties without a full trial.
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT – A legally binding contract, commonly used in an employment context, in which an employee agrees not to pursue certain legal claims against their employer in return for a sum of money.
SETTLOR – The person who creates a trust by transferring assets to a trustee.
SHAREHOLDER – An owner of a share in a limited company.
SLANDER – Defamation in a transient form, such as by spoken words or gestures.
SOLE PRACTITIONER – A solicitor who runs their own law firm alone, without any partners. The firm is known as a ‘recognised sole practice’.
SOLICITOR – A qualified legal professional who provides legal advice and representation to clients. They are admitted to the profession by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
SOLICITORS REGULATION AUTHORITY (SRA) – The regulatory body for solicitors and law firms in England and Wales.
SPECIAL DAMAGES – Compensation awarded in a civil case for specific, quantifiable financial losses incurred by the claimant, such as lost earnings or medical expenses.
SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE – A court-ordered remedy, typically in contract cases, that requires a party to perform the specific obligations set out in the contract.
STANDARD OF PROOF – The level of evidence required to prove a case. In criminal law, it is ‘beyond a reasonable doubt’; in civil law, it is ‘on the balance of probabilities’.
STATEMENT OF CASE – A formal document, such as a claim form or a defence, which sets out the facts and legal arguments of a party’s case in civil litigation.
STATEMENT OF TRUTH – A declaration signed by a party or their lawyer, confirming that the facts stated in a legal document are true to the best of their knowledge and belief.
STATUTE – A written law passed by an Act of Parliament.
STAY OF PROCEEDINGS – An order from the court that temporarily or permanently suspends a legal case.
STRICT LIABILITY – Legal responsibility for damage or injury, even if the person found strictly liable was not at fault or negligent.
STRUCK-OFF – The most serious professional sanction for a solicitor, where their name is removed from the Roll of Solicitors, preventing them from practising.
SUBSIDIARY – A company that is controlled by another company, known as a holding company or parent company.
SUMMARY JUDGMENT – A judgment entered by a court for one party and against another party summarily, without a full trial.
SUPREME COURT – The final court of appeal in the United Kingdom for all civil cases, and for criminal cases from England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
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TENANCY – The legal right to occupy a property for a set period under an agreement with a landlord.
TENANCY IN COMMON – A form of co-ownership of property where each owner holds a distinct, separate share. Unlike a joint tenancy, there is no right of survivorship; the deceased’s share passes according to their will or the rules of intestacy.
TENANT – A person who holds a tenancy or lease for a property.
TERM – A specific clause or provision within a contract.
TESTATOR – A person who has made a will. The female form, testatrix, is now rarely used.
THIRD PARTY – A person or entity who is not one of the two main parties to a contract, legal case, or transaction.
TORT – A civil wrong that causes a claimant to suffer loss or harm, resulting in legal liability for the person who commits the tortious act. Negligence and defamation are examples of torts.
TRADEMARK ATTORNEY – A specialist legal professional who advises on and manages the registration of trademarks. They are regulated by the Intellectual Property Regulation Board.
TRAINEE SOLICITOR – A person undertaking a period of recognised training or ‘qualifying work experience’ at a law firm or other organisation as part of the process of qualifying as a solicitor.
TRANSPARENCY – In a legal context, often refers to the regulatory requirement for law firms to be open and clear about their services and pricing.
TRESPASS – Unlawfully entering onto another person’s land, or wrongfully interfering with their person or property.
TRIBUNAL – A specialist judicial body that hears disputes in a particular area of law, such as the Employment Tribunal or the First-tier Tribunal (Tax).
TRUST – A legal arrangement where one or more people (trustees) hold and manage assets on behalf of others (beneficiaries).
TRUSTEE – The person or institution that administers a trust.
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ULTRA VIRES – A Latin term meaning ‘beyond the powers’. An act that is ultra vires is one undertaken without the legal authority to do so.
UNADMITTED – A term for a member of staff in a law firm, such as a paralegal or trainee, who is not on the Roll of Solicitors.
UNDERTAKING – A binding professional promise given by a solicitor, upon which the recipient is entitled to rely. Breaching an undertaking is a serious matter of professional misconduct.
UNDUE INFLUENCE – A legal principle where one person improperly uses their power or influence over another to persuade them to enter into a transaction.
UNFAIR DISMISSAL – The dismissal of an employee from their job for a reason that is not legally fair, or because the employer failed to follow a fair disciplinary and dismissal process.
UNLAWFUL – Contrary to or forbidden by law.
UNSECURED CREDITOR – A creditor who does not hold any charge or security over the debtor’s assets.
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VALID – Legally binding, effective, or acceptable.
VICARIOUS LIABILITY – A form of secondary liability where one person (such as an employer) is held legally responsible for the wrongful acts of another (such as an employee).
VOID – Having no legal force or effect from the outset. A void contract is treated as if it never existed.
VOIDABLE – A contract that is valid but can be cancelled by one of the parties.
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WARRANT – A legal document issued by a judge or magistrate that authorises the police or another body to make an arrest, search premises, or carry out another action.
WARRANTY – A contractual promise or assurance. A breach of warranty may give rise to a claim for damages.
WILL – A legal document in which a person sets out their wishes for the distribution of their estate after their death.
WITHOUT PREJUDICE – A legal principle that protects communications made in a genuine attempt to settle a dispute from being put before the court as evidence.
WITNESS – A person who gives evidence in legal proceedings, either by a written statement or orally in court.
WITNESS SUMMONS – A court order requiring a person to attend court to give evidence or to produce documents.
