Caveat emptor Latin for ‘buyer beware’, this principle gives the buyer full responsibility for determining the quality of the goods in question.
CPE Common Professional Exam, a conversion course for non-law graduates. More often referred to as the GDL. CPS The Crown Prosecution Service is responsible for prosecuting criminal cases investigated by the police in England and Wales. Employs solicitors and barristers.
Chambers Offices of a group of barristers.
Chinese walls Procedures enforced within firms to restrict access to certain information and so avoid any awkward conflicts of interest. CILEx The Chartered Institute of Legal Executives is the professional body that represents trainee and practising chartered legal executives. See also ‘Legal executive’. Citizens Advice Previously the Citizens Advice Bureau. A charity service offering legal and financial advice to the public. The City The commercial and financial area in the centre of London. Claimant Formerly ‘plaintiff’. The person or body that initiates a lawsuit.
Creditor An individual (or institution) to whom money is owed.
Damages The financial compensation awarded to someone who suffered an injury or was harmed by another’s wrongful act.
Debtor Person who owes money.
Decision The judgment rendered by a court.
Deed A written legal document that describes a property and outlines its boundaries.
Defamation Publication of a statement that injures a person’s reputation. Libel and slander are defamation. Defendant In criminal cases, the person accused of the crime. In civil matters, the person or organisation that is being sued.
Codicil A supplement to a will.
Collateral An asset that a borrower agrees to give up if he or she fails to repay a loan. Common law The law created by judges when deciding individual cases. Also known as ‘case law’.
Devilling Doing paperwork for other members of chambers.
Contentious Legal situation where a dispute has arisen.
Due diligence Investigation carried out to establish an accurate picture of a company’s finances and market position.
Contingency fee A fee arrangement in which the lawyer is paid out of any damages that are awarded. Contract An agreement between two or more parties in which an offer is made and accepted, and each party benefits. Copyright A person’s right to prevent others from copying works that he or she has written, authored or otherwise created. Corporate finance Area of law that involves, among other things, advising clients on mergers and acquisitions, takeovers and stock exchange flotations.
Due process The concept that laws and legal proceedings must be fair.
ECHR The European Convention on Human Rights 1950 protects human rights within the member states of the Council of Europe; the European Court of Human Rights is an international judicial body responsible for upholding the convention.
Encumbrance Any claim or restriction on a property’s title.
Equity partner A partner at a firm who owns a share of the business (and is liable for its failures). Equivalent means Introduced in 2014 by the SRA, this allows anyone to apply to qualify as a solicitor provided that (i) their skills and legal work
Corporation An independent entity created to conduct a business.
Counsel Barrister(s) acting for one of the parties in a legal action.
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