Hi dear readers, my name is Jameelah Joseph, and I am in the Paralegal Technology at Ahuntsic College. My dream is to become a lawyer. So, if your dream resembles to mine you should stay tuned and read what comes next. In my glossary, you'll get a new vision of the technique, you'll get an inside vision with the positive and the negative that comes with the Paralegal Technology. There are many words that we don't use in our every day world and that's why I've decided to create this glossary. It'll help you understand the language of those who works in the world of legal technology.
Appeal
Noun
A request to formally review a decision made by a tribunal or court which is generally made to a higher level court.
Example: The offender made an appeal to get out of prison faster
en: Droit d’appel
Attorney
noun
Another commun word use to refer as a lawyer
Example: My attorney is the best in the whole world
en: Avocat
Being sentenced
verb
After a guilty verdict in a criminal trial, the Judge decides what Sentence to order to punish the offender.
Example: Im being sentenced to 5 years because I committed a big crime.
en: Être condamné
Evidence
Noun
Evidence is information or a thing presented by a witness in a legal proceeding to help prove an argument.
Example: The evidence saved me from going to jail.
en: Évidence
Judge
noun
A government-appointed, impartial decision maker who presides over court proceedings.
Example: The judge was fair on his decision.
en: Juge
Judgement
Noun
A decision made by a Judge that describes the final result in the matter presented in court.
Example: The judgement of my sister was given to her yesterday. She will be sentenced to 1 month of jail.
en: Jugement
Law
Noun
The system of rules which a particular country or community recognizes as regulating the actions of its members and which it may enforce by the imposition of penalties.
Example: The law is here to create peace in our society
en: Loi
Lawyer
Noun
A person who practices or studies law; an attorney or a counselor.
Example: My lawyer defended me against my offenders
en: Avocat
Mediator
Noun
An independent person who is chosen by disputing parties to help them resolve their differences through a process called Mediation.
Example: The mediator helped my ex husband and me to clarify who will keep the kids.
en: Médiateur
Offender
Noun
An accused who pleads guilty to a criminal offence or is found guilty of a criminal offence by a court is convicted of committing a crime and called an Offender.
Example: The offender shall receive his punishment today.
en: Délinquant
Plaintiff
noun
The person who initiates a lawsuit
Example: The plaintiff is angry because he didn't win the lawsuit.
en: Demandeur
Prosecution
Noun
Prosecution is when the government tries to prove that the Accused has committed a crime in court.
Example: The prosecution sentenced the killer to 18 years in prison.
en: Prosécution
Punish
Verb
Inflict a penalty or sanction on (someone) as retribution for an offense, especially a transgression of a legal or moral code.
en: People who transgressed the law shall get punished
Testimony
Noun
A kind of evidence which is spoken or written by a witness who has formally promised to tell the truth.
Example: I gave a testimony because I saw the little being kidnapped.
en: Témoignage
The Civil Code of Quebec
A phrase
The Civil Code of Quebec is the main Quebec law governing the civil law of Quebec.
Example: The Civil Code of Quebec helped people who work in law
Trial
Noun
The process of resolving a dispute in court, where evidence is given and sworn (or formally promised) to be true by witnesses, and where the law is argued and applied to the evidence by each party in front of a Judge (sometimes with a Jury).
Example: The trial is going well, both sides are extremely good.
en: Procès
Tribunal
Noun
A decision making body like a court, that hears evidence and makes decisions based on facts and law.
Example: The Tribunal is making his decision right now.
en: Tribunal
Verdict
Noun
The decision in a criminal trial, where the verdict may be guilty, or not guilty.
en: Verdict
Victim
Noun
A person harmed, injured or killed because of a crime.
Example: The victim was harmed pretty badly.
en: Victime
Witness
Noun
A person who has personal knowledge about an event or issue in a legal process is a witness.
Example: The witness saw the crime with their own eyes.