Vocabulary for IELTS Academic (Band 8-9) - Law

Here, you will learn some English words related to Law that are necessary for the Academic IELTS exam.

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equity

[noun]

the quality of being fair and just toward people according to natural law

Ex: Students have the right to plead their case and achieve equity if they feel they have been treated unjustly according to the academic code of conduct .

litigant

[noun]

(law) a person or party involved in a legal case

Ex: The small business owner found himself as a litigant in a contract dispute with a former partner over the terms of their dissolved agreement .

punitive damages

[noun]

an extra financial compensation awarded in a lawsuit to punish the defendant for bad behavior and deter future wrongdoing

Ex: The class-action lawsuit sought punitive damages against the pharmaceutical company for unethical marketing practices .

to co-sign

[Verb]

to sign a document or agreement jointly with another person, taking equal responsibility for fulfilling its terms

Ex: To help his friend secure the car loan, he agreed to co-sign the financing agreement, making him equally liable for the payments.

intestacy

[noun]

the condition of dying without a valid will, leaving the distribution of one's estate to be determined by the laws of intestate succession rather than specific instructions in a will

Ex: The family faced complications in settling the deceased 's affairs due to the absence of a will and the application of intestacy laws .

bar

[noun]

the physical railing or barrier in a courtroom that separates participants from the judge

Ex: The defendant remained behind the bar until called to the stand .

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 .

magistrate

[noun]

a person who acts as a judge in a law court and deals with minor offenses

Ex: Magistrates play a crucial role in the judicial system , handling a wide range of cases from traffic violations to minor criminal offenses .

probable cause

[noun]

the reasonable suspicion that a crime has occurred or will occur

Ex: The court determined that the anonymous tip provided sufficient probable cause for a search warrant .

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 .

injunction

[noun]

a legal order from a court that requires a party to do or refrain from doing a specific action

Ex: The singer was granted an injunction against the paparazzi to protect her privacy .

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 .

deposition

[noun]

a recorded testimony given outside of court by a witness or party involved in a legal case, used as evidence in future proceedings

Ex: The witness 's deposition was admitted as evidence during the trial , influencing the judge and jury .

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 .

bylaw

[noun]

a set of rules or directives made and maintained by an authority, especially in order to regulate conduct

adjournment

[noun]

the temporary suspension or postponement of a legal proceeding or meeting

Ex: The attorney requested an adjournment to better prepare for the cross-examination of the witness .

docket

[noun]

a list of cases scheduled for a court's consideration, including details such as case numbers, parties involved, and hearing dates

Ex: The court administrator distributed copies of the docket to legal professionals attending the trial .

acquittal

[noun]

an official judgment in court of law that declares someone not guilty of the crime they were charged with

Ex: Following the acquittal, the defendant was released from custody and allowed to resume their normal life .

infraction

[noun]

the act of breaking or not obeying a law, agreement, etc.

Ex: The company has a zero-tolerance policy for infractions of its code of conduct , enforcing strict penalties for violations .

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 .

parole

[noun]

(law) the permission for a prisoner to leave prison before the end of their imprisonment sentence, on the condition of good conduct

Ex: Parole offers offenders the opportunity for rehabilitation and reintegration into society under supervision, with the goal of reducing recidivism.

to extradite

[Verb]

to send someone accused of a crime to the place where the crime happened or where they are wanted for legal matters

Ex: The judge ruled that they could not extradite the accused without proper evidence .

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 .

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 annul

[Verb]

to invalidate a legal agreement

Ex: The parties sought to annul the contract after discovering that it had been signed under duress .

subpoena

[noun]

a legal document issued by a court or administrative agency, compelling an individual to appear as a witness, produce certain documents, or provide testimony in a legal proceeding

Ex: The court clerk prepared subpoenas for the employees who could provide essential information in the investigation .

to exempt

[Verb]

to officially excuse someone from a requirement or obligation

Ex: The government may exempt certain charitable organizations from paying income taxes .

to remand

[Verb]

to send a case back to a court of lower authority for additional reconsideration or review

Ex: The judge 's decision to remand the juvenile offender to a rehabilitation facility was aimed at providing appropriate intervention and support .

to abide by

[Verb]

to follow the rules, commands, or wishes of someone, showing compliance to their authority

Ex: During the court trial , witnesses are required to abide by the judge 's directives .

case law

[noun]

the body of law formed by judicial decisions and precedents established in past court cases, used as a basis for deciding similar issues in subsequent legal proceedings

Ex: The court 's decision was influenced by relevant case law that established a precedent in similar situations .

bust

[noun]

a raid or arrest, often resulting from police or law enforcement investigations

to rescind

[Verb]

to officially cancel a law, decision, agreement, etc.

Ex: The company has rescinded the controversial policy after receiving significant backlash from employees .

to annex

[Verb]

to attach a document to another, especially in formal or legal writings

Ex: Please remember to annex the receipts to your expense report for reimbursement .

remit

[noun]

the process of sending a legal case from one court to another for review or resolution, often due to jurisdictional or procedural reasons

Ex: The lawyer argued that a remit was crucial for a fair trial , as the current court lacked the appropriate jurisdiction .

ordinance

[noun]

an official rule or order that is imposed by the law or someone with authority

Ex: Violating an ordinance can result in fines or other penalties imposed by the local government .

Vocabulary for IELTS Academic (Band 8-9)

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Vocabulary for IELTS Academic (Band 8-9) - Law