LCJS 1580 THE LEGAL SYSTEM UNIT 1 VOCAB | COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE, PRACTICE
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026/2027
jurisprudence - ANS ✔✔the science or philosophy of law
natural law - ANS ✔✔innate; given to us at birth; built-in sense of right & wrong
utilitarian law - ANS ✔✔focuses on social usefulness of legislation; maximize pleasure &
minimize pain
Positivism - ANS ✔✔law is a self-sufficient system of legal rules that work top-down
Equity Courts - ANS ✔✔A court that is based on fairness when deciding cases.
writ of subpoena - ANS ✔✔speed up hearings
writ of summons - ANS ✔✔official order requiring someone to attend court
complaint - ANS ✔✔a formal notice that a lawsuit is being brought
answer - ANS ✔✔Procedurally, a defendant's response to the plaintiff's complaint.
discovery - ANS ✔✔A phase in the litigation process during which the opposing parties may
obtain information from each other and from third parties prior to trial.
judgment - ANS ✔✔the judicial decision in a court case
, motion for summary judgment - ANS ✔✔asks the court to grant a judgment in that party's favor
without a trial
alternative dispute resolution (ADR) - ANS ✔✔Umbrella term for the various approaches and
techniques, other than litigation, that can be used to resolve a dispute.
Plaintiff - ANS ✔✔One who begins a lawsuit
Defendant - ANS ✔✔an individual, company, or institution sued or accused in a court of law.
Appellant - ANS ✔✔The party who takes an appeal from one court to another.
Appellee - ANS ✔✔The party opposing an appeal from a lower court to an appellate court.
Petitioner - ANS ✔✔the party bringing a lawsuit
respondent - ANS ✔✔In equity practice, the party who answers a bill or other proceeding.
writ of certiorari - ANS ✔✔An order by a higher court directing a lower court to send up a case
for review
petition for allocatur - ANS ✔✔petition to an appellate court for permission to be allowed to file
an appeal
opinion - ANS ✔✔primarily refers to a judicial opinion, which is a court's written statement
explaining the court's decision for the case
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026/2027
jurisprudence - ANS ✔✔the science or philosophy of law
natural law - ANS ✔✔innate; given to us at birth; built-in sense of right & wrong
utilitarian law - ANS ✔✔focuses on social usefulness of legislation; maximize pleasure &
minimize pain
Positivism - ANS ✔✔law is a self-sufficient system of legal rules that work top-down
Equity Courts - ANS ✔✔A court that is based on fairness when deciding cases.
writ of subpoena - ANS ✔✔speed up hearings
writ of summons - ANS ✔✔official order requiring someone to attend court
complaint - ANS ✔✔a formal notice that a lawsuit is being brought
answer - ANS ✔✔Procedurally, a defendant's response to the plaintiff's complaint.
discovery - ANS ✔✔A phase in the litigation process during which the opposing parties may
obtain information from each other and from third parties prior to trial.
judgment - ANS ✔✔the judicial decision in a court case
, motion for summary judgment - ANS ✔✔asks the court to grant a judgment in that party's favor
without a trial
alternative dispute resolution (ADR) - ANS ✔✔Umbrella term for the various approaches and
techniques, other than litigation, that can be used to resolve a dispute.
Plaintiff - ANS ✔✔One who begins a lawsuit
Defendant - ANS ✔✔an individual, company, or institution sued or accused in a court of law.
Appellant - ANS ✔✔The party who takes an appeal from one court to another.
Appellee - ANS ✔✔The party opposing an appeal from a lower court to an appellate court.
Petitioner - ANS ✔✔the party bringing a lawsuit
respondent - ANS ✔✔In equity practice, the party who answers a bill or other proceeding.
writ of certiorari - ANS ✔✔An order by a higher court directing a lower court to send up a case
for review
petition for allocatur - ANS ✔✔petition to an appellate court for permission to be allowed to file
an appeal
opinion - ANS ✔✔primarily refers to a judicial opinion, which is a court's written statement
explaining the court's decision for the case
