Legal Terminology: Definitions and Examples

Posted on Mar 19, 2025 in Spanish

Legal Terminology: Key Definitions

This document provides definitions and examples for common legal terms, in both English and Spanish where applicable.

Basic Legal Concepts

Defamation (Difamación): The act of harming someone’s reputation by making a false statement.
Jurisdiction (Jurisdicción): The authority of a court to hear and decide a case.
Negotiating (Negociación / acuerdo): The process of discussing an issue to reach a settlement or agreement.
Interview (Interrogatorio): A formal meeting in which someone is asked questions.
Jury (Jurado): A group of people sworn to give a verdict in a legal case.
Behalf (En representación de): As a representative of.
Consumer advice (Atención al consumidor): Guidance provided to consumers about their rights.
Law clinic (Despacho de abogado): A law office, often associated with a law school, providing legal services.
Injury (Perjuicio): Harm or damage.
Claimant (Demandante): A person making a claim in a civil court.
Defendant (Acusado): An individual, company, or institution sued or accused in a court of law.
Case (Caso (judicial)): A dispute between opposing parties resolved by a court.
Facts (Hecho): The circumstances of a case.
Procedural history (Historia Procesal): The sequence of events in a legal case.
Legal issue (Problema legal): The point of law in dispute.
Ruling (Sentencia): A court’s decision.
Reasoning (Razonamiento): The principles and arguments used by a court to reach a decision.
Gross negligence (Negligencia grave): A severe departure from the standard of care.
Damages (Daños y perjuicios): Money awarded to a claimant for harm suffered.
Punitive damages (Indemnización por daños y perjuicios): Damages intended to punish the defendant.
Compensatory damages (Resarcimiento por daños y perjuicios): Damages intended to compensate the claimant for their loss.
Out-of-court settlement (Acuerdo judicial): An agreement reached between parties before a court judgment.
Plaintiff (Demandante): A person who brings a case against another in a court of law.
Reports (Informes): Official documents providing information.
Precedent (Antecedente): A previous court decision used as a basis for deciding later cases.
Landmark decision (Jurisprudencia): A court decision that establishes an important legal principle.
Refuse (Rechazar): To decline to accept.
Lawsuit (Demanda / Litigio / Proceso): A claim or dispute brought to a court of law for resolution.
Frivolous lawsuit (Demanda Frívola (superficial)): A lawsuit with little chance of success.
Litigate (Litigar): To engage in legal proceedings.
Litigant (Litigante): A party involved in a lawsuit.
Threat (Amenaza): A statement of an intention to inflict harm.
Court (Corte / Tribunal): A place where legal cases are heard.
Product liability (Responsabilidad civil por productos defectuosos): The legal responsibility of manufacturers for harm caused by their products.
Sue (Demanda): To bring a civil action against someone.
Award (Fallo): A decision made by a court or arbitrator.
Interfere (Interferir): To hinder or obstruct.
Legal Foundations (Fundamentos legales): Basic legal principles.

Additional Vocabulary

Fairly: Justamente.
Savings: Ahorros.
Loan: Préstamo.
Investor: Inversor.
To invest: Invertir.
Recovery: Recuperación.
Investment: Inversión.
Environment: Medio Ambiente.
Poverty: Pobreza.
To rise: Alcanzar.
Life savings: Ahorros de toda la vida.
Insider dealing: Operaciones con información privilegiada.
Market abuse: Abuso de mercado.
The act of trading in securities by people who have confidential information about a company’s finances or operations: El acto de la negociación de valores por personas que tienen información confidencial sobre las finanzas u operaciones de una empresa.
To be tried: Ser juzgado.
Regulatory body: Organismo regulador.
Financial services industry: Industria de servicios financieros.
Appellant: Apelante.
Profit: Beneficio.
Shares: Acciones.
Fine: Multa.
Has upheld: Ha mantenido, confirmado.
Former: Antiguo.
Audit manager: Director / Auditor.
Provisions: Disposiciones, leyes.
To list: Cotizar.
Stock exchange: Bolsa de valores.
Knowledge: Conocimiento.
To become aware of: Tomar conciencia de, darse cuenta de.
Proposed sale: Venta propuesta, venta prevista.
To hand over: Entregar, pasar, ceder.
Throughout: Durante todo.
To lead up to: Llevar, conducir hasta.
Disposal: Venta, traspaso.
Resource planning: Planificación de los recursos.
To be aware of: Ser consciente.
Ongoing: En marcha.
To purchase: Comprar.
To hold: Decidir (tribunal).
Secret / Confidential information: Información confidencial.

Criminal Law

Criminal law: Derecho penal.
Crime: Crimen / Delito (una violación del derecho público que está sujeto a la pena como la prisión o el fuego).
Act: Acto.
Omission: Omisión.
Public law: Derecho público.
Offence: Delito.
Armed robbery: Robo a mano armada.
Arson: Incendio provocado.
Assault: Asalto.
Battery: Agresión.
Bribery: Soborno.
Burglary: Robo.

Business Structures

Sole proprietor: A single person who earns all the profits and is personally liable for all debts.
Partnership: Two or more people agree to do business together, sharing profits and losses.

Legal Proceedings

Attempt: Intento.
Settlement: Acuerdo.
Filing a lawsuit: Presentar una demanda.
Pleadings: Súplicas.
Entering: Iniciar.
Counsel: Abogado.
Judgment: Sentencia.
Enforce: Hacer cumplir una norma/ley.
Discovery phase: Fase de descubrimiento.
Against: Contra.
Defendant: Acusado.
Heard: Escuchado (The judge heard: El juez escuchó a las partes).
Outcome: Resultado.
Reach a settlement: Llegar a un acuerdo.

Corrections and Word Choice

The following sentences have been corrected for grammar and word choice:

She should have been behind bars longer than 3 months for shoplifting.
Students can be seriously penalized for plagiarism in American universities.
My colleagues don’t really like me.
It is shocking that he fooled everyone like that!
He cannot expect to do a prank like this and get away with it.
In the US, it is unlawful to drink alcohol when you are under 21.
The woman was attacked as she was walking home at night and her wallet was stolen: Mugging.
While I was on vacation, they broke into my house and stole all my jewelry: Burglary.
Someone started a fire in the office at night when no one was there: Arson.
They stole Jim’s car with Jim in it: Carjacking.
In Spain, everyone is required by law to wear a seatbelt while driving.
Obey the law; do not smoke in a public place!
If you want to access… –> Log in.
Google is the most frequently used –> Search engine.
If I had wanted to, I could have become a top businessman.
If I were you, I would tell her the truth.
If the plane leaves on time…: I will arrive in Paris at noon.
If…, you would not have got into trouble with the police: You had listened to my advice.
The window was broken. I am certain the burglar did it: The burglar must have broken the window.
It was wrong of them to take the CD without asking me: She couldn’t have taken the CD without asking me.
It’s possible that Jonny forgot where his friend lived: Jonny might have forgotten where his friend lived.
Choose the word that doesn’t fit: THREATEN/FEROCIOUS/WHACK/SNATCH/DISSENT.
Disciplinary…: Procedure.
Trade…: Union.
Employment: Description.
Mitigating: Circumstances.
Diminished: Responsibility.
Parts of Speech: –> A noun form of a verb “to restrict” is…. Restriction // An adjective form of a noun “agreement” is.. Agreeable.

Definitions

Perpetrator: Is a person who commits a crime.
Stand: Is a place for a witness to speak in court.
Prank: Is a practical joke.
Apprehend: Means to arrest.
Plaintiff: Is a person responsible for the conduct of a trial in court. *Incorrect definition. A plaintiff *brings* a case. The judge is responsible for the conduct of the trial.*
“To grant a petition”: Means to be allowed an appeal for a legal review.