Let’s face it: law can be an intimidating world for the uninitiated. That’s why having a knowledgeable lawyer by your side is so important. But in addition to that, knowing some basic legal terms goes a long way toward making things a lot more clear and less stressful.
Chambers
The private offices of a judge and his or her personal staff.
Counsel
This term refers to legal advice. For example, it’s common to hear that a lawyer “provides legal counsel.” However, the word “counsel” is also used to refer to attorneys. You may have heard it in movies: “Counsel, please be seated,” “Counsel, please approach the bench.”
Defendant
The person or group against whom a lawsuit is filed. In some cases, the defendant is called respondent.
Dismissal With Prejudice/Without Prejudice
A dismissal with prejudice is a court action that prevents an identical lawsuit from being filed again. In a dismissal without prejudice, on the other hand, the plaintiff is free to bring another suit on the same grounds.
Felony
A serious crime punishable by more than a year in prison or by death. Some examples of felonies include arson, kidnapping, and murder.
Misdemeanor
A crime less serious than a felony, punishable by less than 12 months in prison. Some examples of misdemeanors include petty theft, minor assault, vandalism, or resisting arrest.
Parole
The release of an inmate before they have completed their sentence in federal prison. After being released on parole, a person is subject to the supervision of a U.S. probation officer. Interesting fact: “parole” comes from French and means “word.”
Plaintiff
The individual who files a lawsuit against a person or institution. In short, if you decide to sue someone, you are the plaintiff.
Suit
Any filing or complaint by one person against others in a court of law.
At the Rivas Law Group, We Are Focused on You
At Law Rivas Group, we offer a wide variety of professional and efficient services that go from preliminary legal advice to litigation and civil law for both corporate and private clients.
We are located at 3800 Orange Street Suite 150, Riverside, California. Contact us today by email (info@lawrivasgroup.com), telephone (951-715-4695), or through our online form to learn more about our services. Hablamos español.
