Advanced Vocabulary for TOEFL - The Law

Here you will learn some English words about law, such as "article", "waiver", "acquit", etc. that are needed for the TOEFL exam.

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court of appeals

[noun]

in the US, a court of law that makes decisions regarding cases in which the lower court's judgment is contested

appellant

[noun]

a person who appeals in a higher court against a decision made in a lower court

article

[noun]

a paragraph or clause in a legal agreement or document that is separate from others and deals with something particular

Ex: Article 9 specifies the conditions under which the agreement can be terminated .

subclause

[noun]

an additional part of a legal document

writ

[noun]

a legal document from a court or another legal authority that instructs someone on what to do or not to do

affidavit

[noun]

a written statement affirmed by oath that can be used as evidence in court

Ex: Falsifying information in an affidavit can result in serious legal consequences , including perjury charges .

warrant

[noun]

an order issued by a judge that authorizes the police to take specific actions

Ex: He challenged the validity of the warrant, arguing that it lacked probable cause .

plaintiff

[noun]

a person who brings a lawsuit against someone else in a court

Ex: During the trial , the plaintiff testified about the impact of the defendant 's actions .

litigator

[noun]

a lawyer who specializes in bringing a lawsuit against people or organizations in a court of law

Ex: In the courtroom , the litigator presented persuasive arguments and effectively cross-examined witnesses to support their client 's case .

settlement

[noun]

an official agreement that puts an end to a dispute

Ex: The settlement required the defendant to pay a substantial sum to the plaintiff to settle the legal dispute .

waiver

[noun]

an official statement according to which one gives up their legal right or claim

Ex: Before enrolling in the course , students had to sign a waiver acknowledging the risks .

to nullify

[Verb]

to legally invalidate an agreement, decision, etc.

Ex: The company ’s failure to comply with the terms will nullify the benefits outlined in the agreement .

to sanction

[Verb]

to officially approve of something such as an action, change, practice, etc.

Ex: The government decided to sanction the trade agreement between the two countries , providing official authorization for the deal .

to enforce

[Verb]

to ensure that a law or rule is followed

Ex: Security personnel enforce the venue 's rules to ensure the safety and enjoyment of all attendees .

to issue

[Verb]

to release an official document such as a statement, warrant, etc.

Ex: Can you issue a proclamation for the upcoming event ?

to acquit

[Verb]

to officially decide and declare in a law court that someone is not guilty of a crime

Ex: The exoneration process ultimately led to the court 's decision to acquit the defendant of all charges .

to pardon

[Verb]

to discharge a criminal from the legal consequences of a conviction or violation

Ex: The clemency petition resulted in the decision to pardon the non-violent offenders .

to decree

[Verb]

to make an official judgment, decision, or order

Ex: The council decreed new zoning regulations for the residential area .

prosecution

[noun]

the process of bringing someone to court in an attempt to prove their guilt

Ex: He faced a rigorous prosecution, which included multiple trials .

judiciary

[noun]

the part of a country's government that administers the legal system, including all its judges

Ex: The judiciary operates independently from the executive and legislative branches .

to infringe

[Verb]

to violate someone's rights or property

Ex: The court found the defendant guilty of infringing the patent rights of a competing company .

to overturn

[Verb]

to reverse, abolish, or invalidate something, especially a legal decision

Ex: The athlete's suspension was overturned after a thorough review of the doping test results.

to void

[Verb]

to announce that something is no longer legally valid or binding

Ex: The company voided the warranty when the product was found to be tampered with .

conviction

[noun]

a formal declaration by which someone is found guilty of a crime in a court of law

Ex: She was shocked by his conviction, as he had always maintained his innocence .

indictment

[noun]

a formal accusation of a crime

Ex: Upon receiving the indictment, the defendant was arrested and taken into custody by law enforcement officers .

validation

[noun]

the act of making something legally acceptable and the declaration of it

litigation

[noun]

the formal procedure of resolving disputes through the court system

to outlaw

[Verb]

to officially state that something is illegal

Ex: To address concerns about privacy , the government moved to outlaw certain intrusive surveillance practices .

to legislate

[Verb]

to create or bring laws into effect through a formal process

Ex: The parliament is set to legislate a minimum wage increase in the next session .

notary

[noun]

an official authorized to conduct particular legal formalities, especially to make documents legally acceptable

Ex: The notary confirmed the identity of the signatories and witnessed the signing of the will in accordance with state law .

legality

[noun]

the fact that something is in accordance with the law

to interrogate

[Verb]

to question someone in an aggressive way for a long time in order to get information

Ex: The investigator spent hours interrogating the suspect to unravel the motives behind the incident .

barrister

[noun]

a legal professional qualified and licensed to advocate on behalf of clients in both lower and higher courts

Ex: As a barrister, he is known for his sharp legal mind and eloquent courtroom presentations .

to adjudicate

[Verb]

to make a formal decision or judgment about who is right in an argument or dispute

Ex: Last month , the mediator was persistently adjudicating conflicts between the parties .

Advanced Vocabulary for TOEFL

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