A written document sworn on oath before a person with authority to administer it. The

Defence to a criminal charge on the grounds that the accused was somewhere other than

Said to be the case, but not yet proved.

An appeal is when a higher court reviews the decision made by a lower court.

A person who appeals (q.v.) a decision of a court or tribunal.

‘Appellate jurisdiction’ is the authority of a court to deal with appeals that relate to

To take into custody.

Refuge or protection from persecution, usually in another country.

A person who is not a judge or magistrate but who has authority to grant

The standard of proof (q.v.) required in civil law (q.v.) cases, i.e. it is more

A person who is left something in a will, or a person for whose benefit

The standard of proof (q.v.) required in criminal cases.

A pre-existing attitude or opinion that favours one side over another in a dispute.

(1) A deed (q.v.) in which a person undertakes to do or refrain from doing

Former name of local laws (q.v.).

The ability to understand and give legal consent to an action or arrangement.

The law based on decisions made by judges in previous case. See: common law.

Community Based Order (CBO) is a sentencing order, as an alternative to imprisonment, requiring a

Law which is not criminal or church law (usually the former), it may mean law

A set of guidelines for fair practice developed for a specific industry or occupation. May

A sentence that is served partly in prison and partly in the community undergoing supervised

The part of English law traditionally based on common custom and being unwritten. Law which

A defence based on decisions in previous cases.

A court order that a person found guilty of a criminal offence must pay for

A person who begins a prosecution against another in the Magistrates’ Court, a plaintiff.

Process of resolving disputes which involves negotiations between parties, assisted by a conciliator. Conciliation aims

Money which must be provided to a witness subpoenaed (q.v.) to court to cover the

Protection against disclosure to an outside person of information revealed in a professional relationship, e.g.

A situation where a person’s own interests, or a duty towards someone else, may affect

Agreement to an action or arrangement. See also: informed consent.

A preliminary hearing in criminal cases where parties can try to reach agreement on some

To breach, neglect or refuse to comply with a particular requirement or condition.

The rights belonging to the owner or licensee of literary, artistic and dramatic works, films

An agreement creating an obligation contained in a deed (q.v.) or land title. A covenant

The questioning of a witness by the opposing party (q.v.) in a court case.

A sentence of imprisonment.

Control; e.g. when arrested and not free to leave; formerly, care and control of a

A court order for money to be paid as compensation for a loss suffered as

To be treated as.

Publication of false and derogatory statements about another person, without any justification recognised by law.

A formal denial of an alleged fact raised by the plea of not guilty.

A person who has been charged with a criminal offence, or whom a civil action

See: Regulations.

Decision.

Giving particular information to another party as required by a contract or legal process.

A procedure by which documents relevant to a civil (q.v.) action are exchanged between the

Power to choose whether to do or not to do a certain thing, e.g. investigate

A framework, set of rules, procedural steps, or test, often established through precedent (q.v.) in

A lawyer at the court who provides free legal assistance to people appearing in court

The obligation of a person to exercise reasonable care in the conduct of an activity.

To make people obey (a law, the terms of an agreement, etc). Also: enforceability.

The action of recovering land or property from an occupier or tenant by legal proceedings.

Questioning of a witness in court by the party that called that witness, c.f. cross-examination.

Amount of money the insured person has to pay towards the cost of settling a

A document or thing shown to a witness when giving evidence, produced for inspection to

The process used when a person in one state or country has committed a crime

Examination of the body of a person suspected of having committed an offence, or the

The right to belong, or not belong, to a group (e.g.: a trade union).

A person who has the right and duty to protect another person, his or her

To have the body. A prerogative writ (q.v.) directed to a person who holds someone

A police “line up” held so a witness to an offence can try to identify

In place of. So: time in lieu – agreement to allow time off instead of payment for

Not allowed; i.e. not able to be used as evidence in a court action.

A not-for-profit community organisation with a separate legal identity and a structure regulated by legislation.

A serious crime which is generally triable before a judge and jury.

The document that lists the charges against the accused in County or Supreme Court proceedings.

The legal term for a person under 18, used particularly in family law and civil

A person who lays an information, i.e. a criminal charge (q.v.). Usually a police officer.

Agreement given for something to be done, after the procedure has been fully explained so

Notice showing that an offence (usually a driving offence) has been committed and the penalty

A court order which directs someone either to do, or to refrain from doing, a

Unable to pay debts in full.

A non-custodial sent­ence (q.v.) with very strict conditions attached.

The asking of questions. In criminal cases, the questioning of suspects by police. In civil

Court order restraining a person from harmful or annoying conduct.

Review by a court of an adminis­trative act (q.v.) on the basis of fault in

The ‘jurisdiction’ of a court is the authority of that court or tribunal to hear

A panel of people selected from the general public to decide the guilt or innocence

A document of agreement between a landlord and a tenant, for rental of premises.

Legal responsibility, e.g. for breaking a contract, committing a crime. It may be civil (q.v.)

The publication of defamatory material in permanent form. See also: defamation, slander.

Court proceedings in civil matters (q.v.). A litigant is one of the opposing parties (q.v.)

Laws made and enforced by municipal councils within their boundaries. Previously called by-laws.

Having to be strictly complied with. Mandatory reporting: obligation to report, e.g. cases of abuse

Relevant or important; information which may influence a decision.

Form of dispute resolution where an impartial third party helps communication and negotiations between the

In Magistrates Court criminal matters, the first day on which a matter is listed at

Circumstances which go towards reducing the damages or punishment which the court may order against

A transfer of real property (land) or personal property (goods) as security for the repayment

A form of communal title whereby land is not owned but is used by those

The rules and procedures to be followed by a person or body with the power

A tort (q.v.) involving the breach of a duty of care (q.v.) resulting in loss

A person acting as a buyer on behalf of someone else.

A sentence for a criminal offence (q.v.) which does not involve imprisonment.

The minimum term a prisoner must serve before being eligible for parole (q.v.).

A person who commits an offence.

A public official appointed to investigate citizens’ complaints against the administrative agencies of government, or

‘Original jurisdiction’ gives a court authority to hear a case first.  This means that if

Most important.

To free a prisoner on his or her own recognisances (q.v.) after serving a minimum

Person who committed the offence.

The person highest on a designated list who is available and able to make decisions

Person who initiates legal proceedings against another in a civil dispute (c.f. complainant).

Written or printed statements delivered by parties to one another so questions of fact and

The doctrine by which courts are obliged to follow past decisions.

A non-custodial sentencing order (q.v.) that involves good behaviour and supervision by a probation officer

An order to stop decision-making proceedings in a lower court or tribunal.

The party (q.v.) presenting evidence against the person accused of committing a crime.

Person appointed to act on behalf of an incorporated association in any public dealings.

According to, as directed by (an Act or Regulation).

A bond (q.v.) the object of which is to secure the performance of an act

Applying to circumstances existing before the date on which a law came into effect.

In prosecutions for many drug offences, once the prosecution has presented certain matters of proof

A penalty or punishment imposed on someone found guilty of an offence.

Presenting your own case in court without a lawyer being there to assist you.

An indictable offence (q.v.) for which the penalty is imprisonment for five years or more,

In relation to transport injuries, a serious long-term impairment, disfigurement or loss of a body

A conviction for a minor criminal offence, which after a certain time without re-offending, is

The right to take action in court or to be heard or represented in a

The existing situation.

A law made by Parliament (state or Commonwealth).

A written statement of facts which the person making it signs and solemnly declares to

A ground for defence included in a particular law which would prevent a person from

A writ which commands the appearance of a person or the production of specified documents

To take legal action.

A minor offence heard and decided in a Magistrates Court and not sent for trial

A document which is issued by the court requiring the attendance of the person named

A person who binds him or herself to be answerable for another. If there is

A sentence of imprisonment which is only served if the convicted person commits further offences.

Evidence given under oath (q.v.).

The relation between a landlord and a tenant for rented premises. See: lease.

A civil (q.v.) wrong, an act which causes harm, intentionally or otherwise, for which the

In common law, movement from source to end user in the course of trade. Drug

Wrongful entry onto or interference with a property without the permission of the lawful owner

A body set up to hear and decide disputes, usually with less formality and less

To promise, in the course of legal proceedings, to do or refrain from doing an

Legally binding (q.v.) or effective.

Permit that allows either temporary or permanent stay in a country.

Of no legal effect.

A document issued by a court directing/ allowing an officer to do something. For example:

Person who makes a complaint about illegal or inappropriate actions of their employer.

A person who can provide direct information based on their own knowledge about a relevant

A document in the monarch’s name and under the seal of the Crown which commands