Foreign legal terms

the act or or acts that constitute the physical elements of a crime

used for saying that something that is true for one case is even more true in another case

a person who is not a party to a legal dispute but who offers helpful information on that case. This Latin phrase literally means 'a friend of the court'.

a posteriori (adjective)

very formal using knowledge, evidence, or experience to make a judgment or decision about something that has already happened

a priori (adjective)

very formal using knowledge or experience that you already have in order to make a judgment or decision

audi alteram partem (noun)

the principle that nobody should be judged by a court without being heard. This Latin phrase means 'listen to the other side'.

autrefois acquit (noun)

the principle that a person cannot be tried again for a crime of which they have previously been acquitted

autrefois convict (noun)

the principle that a person cannot be tried again for a crime of which they have previously been convicted

bona fides (noun)

informal evidence or proof that someone has sincere feelings or is who they claim to be

consensus ad idem (noun)

agreement between the parties of a contract that they understand the meaning of the contract and want to enter into it. This Latin phrase literally means 'agreement to the same thing'.

corpus delicti (noun)

the principle that a crime must be proved to have been committed before someone can be convicted of that crime

de jure (adverb)

very formal legally

de jure (adjective)

very formal legally accepted

de minimis (noun)

the principle that the law does not bother with small and insignificant matters. The full phrase is de minimis non curat lex.

doli capax (adjective)

old enough and having the mental capacity to be legally responsible for committing a crime

doli incapax (adjective)

not old enough or having the mental capacity to be legally responsible for committing a crime

ejusdem generis rule (noun)

a rule used in statutory interpretation that allows judges to interpret a group of words in a law or other text in a way that is less general than their meaning in everyday speech

ex parte (adverb)

without all parties to a case being present in court or aware of the hearing. Ex parte is sometimes referred to as without notice.

ex post facto law (noun)

a law that changes the consequences of actions that occurred before the law existed, for example making illegal an action that was legal at the time it was committed

ex turpi causa non oritor actio (noun)

the principle that a claimant in a legal case cannot be successful if they were acting illegally at the time the event for which they wish to claim took place, for example if they were injured while committing a crime. This Latin phrase means 'no action can arise from a dishonourable cause'.

force majeure (noun)

legal an unexpected event that stops you doing something that you promised to do in a contract

in camera ()

happening in a judge's private rooms, without other people knowing what is said

in personam (adjective)

relating to rights in a person as opposed to rights in an object or property

in rem (adjective)

relating to rights in an object or property as opposed to rights in a person

inter vivos (adjective)

done while alive

intra vires (adjective)

within someone's legal power or authority

locus standi (noun)

the right of a person to be a party in a legal case because it affects them sufficiently

mens rea (noun)

the ability of someone to understand that an act is criminal that constitutes part of the crime

ne bis in idem (noun)

the principle that someone cannot be tried more than once for the same crime

nemo iudex in causa sua (noun)

the principle that judges should not have any personal connection with or interest in the case they are hearing. This Latin phrase means 'nobody shall be judge in his own case'.

nolle prosequi (noun)

a formal statement that a prosecutor, or in a civil case the claimant, has decided to drop a case

novus actus interveniens (noun)

an event that breaks the chain of legal causation and may result in the defendant not being blamed for the consequences of their original action

obiter dictum (noun)

a persuasive but not binding comment or reason given by a judge in his or her decision

the onus probandi (noun)

the onus of proof

parens patriae (noun)

a principle that allows a court to act as the parent of a child or other person who needs protection

per incuriam (adverb)

without due reference to other laws, judgments, or facts that may have been relevant

pro bono (adjective)

done without the usual payment that a lawyer charges

quantum meruit (noun)

a principle in contract law that states that someone who does not entirely fulfil a contract deserves payment for the work they have completed

ratio decidendi (noun)

the main reason or reasons contained in a judge's decision

res ipsa loquitor (noun)

a principle used to demonstrate that the fact of an accident is sufficient proof that negligence has occurred. This Latin phrase means 'the thing speaks for itself'.

res judicata (adjective)

if a legal case is res judicata, a final decision has been made and cannot be appealed against or the case started again

restitutio ad integrum (noun)

the principle that damages paid to a claimant should restore the claimant to the financial position they had before the legal wrong was done

sine die (adverb)

formal without arranging a date for another meeting or court hearing

stare decisis (noun)

a principle of case law by which judges have to follow earlier decisions called precedents in certain situations. This Latin phrase means 'stand by the decisions'.

sub judice (adjective)

a legal case or piece of evidence that is sub judice is being considered by a judge or in a court and some details of it cannot be discussed in public

terra nullius (noun)

in Australia, the legal idea that when the first Europeans arrived in Australia the land was owned by no one and therefore they were free to live there. This idea is not now part of Australian law.

ultra vires (adjective)

beyond or exceeding someone's legal power or authority

virgo intacta (noun)

a woman or girl who has never had sexual intercourse

voetstoots (adjective)

South African at the buyer's risk

volens (noun)

a defence in a legal dispute that means that if a person voluntarily accepted a risk then their claim should not succeed. This is a short form of the phrase volenti non fit injuria.

volens (adjective)

having voluntarily accepted a risk. This is a short form of the phrase volenti non fit injuria.

volenti non fit injuria (noun)

a defence in a legal dispute that means that if a person voluntarily accepted a risk then their claim should not succeed. This term is sometimes shortened to volenti.

Synonyms and antonyms of Foreign legal terms in British Thesaurus