Test your basic knowledge |

Paralegal 101

Subject : law
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. A court where a permanent record is kept of the testimony - lawyers' remarks - and judges' rulings.






2. The result reached in a particular case.






3. Specific questions that usually demand very short or yes-no answers.






4. Also known as cause in fact - this is measured by the 'but for' standard: But for the defendant's actions - the plaintiff would not have been injured.






5. Liability without having to prove fault.






6. A national paralegal association.






7. A bank account used to hold money belonging to the client or to a third party.






8. The process by which individuals or organizations have their names placed on an official list kept by some private organization or governmental agency.






9. When more than one court has jurisdiction to hear a case.






10. The delivery of a pleading or other paper in a lawsuit to the opposing party.






11. A request that the court order that certain information not be mentioned in the presence of the jury.






12. Computer codes that - when clicked on with a mouse - connect the user to other web pages with related information






13. When a person must be brought into a lawsuit as either a plaintiff or a defendant.






14. Once actual cause is found - as a policy matter - the court must also find that the act and the resulting harm were so foreseeably related as to justify a finding of liability.






15. Representing someone who is in a position adverse to a prior client.






16. An examination of a prospective juror to see if he or she is fit to serve as a juror on a specific case.






17. The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution.






18. A claim by the defendant against the plaintiff.






19. Body of law that has evolved from judicial decisions in cases that do not involve constitutional - statutory - or administrative regulation interpretation.






20. The doctrine stating that normally once a court has decided one way on a particular issue - it and other courts in the same jurisdiction will decide the same way on that issue in future cases given similar facts unless they can be convinced of the ne






21. An approach whereby the courts give a statute a broad interpretation.






22. Without the need for a warrant - the police may seize objects that are openly visible.






23. A worldwide network of computer networks.






24. Someone in court testifying to what someone said out of court for the purpose of establishing the truth of what was said.






25. An approach whereby the courts give a statute a narrow interpretation.






26. When a higher court agrees with what lower court has done.






27. An online legal database containing court decisions and statutes from the entire country. While its coverage of other legal mateirals is not as extensive as that of Westlaw and Lexis - it is also less expensive.






28. A means of gaining appellate review; in the U.S. Supreme Court the writ is discretionary and will be issued to another court to review a federal question if four of the nine justices vote to hear the case.






29. The decision of the court regarding the claims of each side. It may be based on a jury's verdict.






30. A method for measuring the relative negligence of the plaintiff and the defendant - with a commensurate sharing of the compensation for the injuries.






31. Generally accepted legal principles.






32. A method for excusing a prospective juror based on the juror's inability to serve in an unbiased manner.






33. A system of government in which the authority to govern is split between a single - nationwide central government and several regional governments that control specific geographical areas.






34. The process of legislative enactment of areas of the law previously governed solely by the common law.






35. The publication of false statements that harm a person's reputation.






36. Intangible assets - such as trade secrets - copyrights - patents - and trade or service marks.






37. A person who initiates an appeal.






38. A constitutional protection against being tried twice for the same crime.






39. A question that suggests the answer; generally - leading questions may not be asked during direct examination of a witness.






40. Court decisions from an equal or a lower court from the same jurisidiction or from a higher court in a different jurisdiction; also includes secondary authority.






41. A test that provides that the defendant is not guity due to insanity if - at the time of the killing the defendant could not control his or her actions.






42. Negligence by the plaintiff that contributed to his or her injury. Normally - it is a complete bar to the plaintiff's recovery.






43. A public or private statement that an attorney's conduct violated the code of ethics.






44. A method adopted by the federal rules in which the plaintiff simply informs the defendant of the claim and the general basis for it.






45. Either a subcategory of relevancy or simply another word for relevancy - the requirement that the evidence be more probative than prejudicial.






46. A defense requiring proof that the defendant was forced to take an action to avoid a greater harm.






47. Bad act.






48. A national organization of paralegal programs that promotes high standards for paralegal education.






49. A summary of one legal point in a court opinion; written by the editors at West.






50. Fairness; a court's power to do justice. Equity powers allow judges to take action when otherwise the law would limit their decisions to monetary awards. Equity powers include a judge's ability to issue an injunction and to order specific performance