Legal Systems & Concepts 1-24
24 entries in the Legal Systems & Concepts compendium.
Accessory (legal term)A person who assists a crime without directly committing it.AcquittalAcquittal frees the accused from a criminal charge.Actus reusLatin for 'guilty act,' a core element of criminal liability.Age of criminal responsibilityAge below which a child cannot be criminally liable.Alternative dispute resolutionA range of third-party-assisted processes for settling disputes outside litigation.AppealLegal process for reviewing decisions by a higher authority.ArrestLegal procedure of taking a person into custody.Arrest warrantJudicial authorization for arrest and detention.ArsonIllegal act of willfully and deliberately setting fire to property.AttemptA crime of intent and substantial step toward completion.BailBail secures release while ensuring court appearance.Bar (law)The bar denotes the legal profession and courtroom division.Bar councilProfessional body regulating barristers in split legal profession jurisdictions.BarristerA specialist advocate in common law court systems.Bench (law)Legal term for judge's seat and judiciary collectively.Bill (law)A proposal for a new law or alteration of an existing law.BlackmailCriminal coercion using threats, often for personal gain.Breach of contractLegal wrong when a binding agreement is not honored.BriberyBribery is the corrupt exchange of favors for official action.BurglaryProperty crime of illegal entry with intent to commit a further offence.Canon lawInternal legal system governing Christian churches and their members.Capital punishmentState-sanctioned killing as punishment for misconduct.Chief justicePresiding judge of a supreme court in common law systems.Civil procedureBody of law governing civil lawsuit rules and court procedures.
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