Contempt - Answers A ruling that a person is in violation of a court order.
Recuse - Answers To disqualify, such as when a judge moves herself from considering a case or is
removed by another judge.
Disbarment - Answers `A temporary or permanent revocation of an attorney's license to practice law.
`ruling that revokes an attorney license to practice law in the state
`When an attorneys right to practice law is rescinded
Commingling - Answers `Improperly mixing client trust funds with fee payments; a form of theft
`Combining funds from different sources into one; the practice is unethical when the attorney does not
have the right to use the funds entrusted to her keeping
Partners - Answers Attorney- owner of a law firm
Associates - Answers Attorney- employees of a firm
Retainer - Answers `A fee paid to an attorney to secure the attorneys service.
`An upfront fee paid by a client an deposited by an attorney into account from which the attorney draws
his/her legal fees
Probation - Answers The portion of a criminal sentence that is served outside of prison; usually involves
supervision and strict behavioral rules.
Paralegal - Answers Also known as legal assistant; a legal professional who assists attorneys in nearly
every aspect of the practice of law; but is not authorized to give legal advice to clients.
Licensure - Answers Requirement of governmental approval before a person can practice a specific
profession
Certification - Answers Recognition of the attainment of a degree of academic and practical knowledge
by a professional
Legal Document Assistant - Answers Specialized type of paralegal, legally able to provide assistance to
clients in preparing forms.
Evidence - Answers All types of information presented at a trial or other hearing that tends to prove or
disprove a fact
Relevant Evidence - Answers Any evidence that tends to prove or disprove a fact in the contention in the
case
, Admissible - Answers Evidence that is relevant and can be considered by the fact, finder, usually a jury.
Admissions of evidence - Answers Decision by a judge that specific evidence can be referred to during a
trial or other hearing
Testimony - Answers Evidence given by a witness under oath. This evidence is "testimonial" and is
different from demonstrative evidence
Expert Witness - Answers A person who has acquired specialized knowledge because of training,
education or experience
Impeachment - Answers Showing that a witness should not be believed because of lack of personal
knowledge, bias, or conviction of a felony
Hearsay - Answers A statement, repeated by a witness who did not make it, while the witness is
testifying
Direct Evidence - Answers Proof of a fact without resort to other facts
Circumstantial Evidence - Answers Facts that suggest a conclusion about an event
Documentary Evidence - Answers Evidence that is contained on a document
Document - Answers Contract, map, or paper that contains a message
Demonstrative evidence - Answers Charts, diagram, or other displays designed to persuade the jury to a
particular viewpoint
Character Evidence - Answers Any evidence admitted that tends to show a persons traits
Privilege - Answers Right that permits a specific person to refuse to give evidence or testimony
Proof beyond a reasonable doubt - Answers Proof required in a criminal case; not mere conjecture, but
without a doubt that would cause a reasonable person to have some hesitation in reaching a specific
conclusion
Cause of Action - Answers Claim that the law recognizes as actionable
Damages - Answers Monetary payments designed to compensate the plaintiff for an injury
Complaint - Answers Pleading filed by the plaintiff and later served on the defendant; it sets out the
details of the wrong suffered by the plaintiff and the reasons why the defendant is liable for those
wrongs
Plantiff - Answers Party who files suit through a complaint, seeking damages from a person who caused
personal, financial, or emotional injuries
Defendant - Answers Party who is sued in a civil case