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. The opinion of a jury on a question of fact.






2. A rule of evidence that prevents an attorney or a paralegal from being compelled to testify about confidential client information.






3. A warrant that allows the police to enter without announcing their presence in advance.






4. Negligence by the plaintiff that contributed to his or her injury. Normally - any finding of contributory negligence acts as a complete bar to a plaintiff's recovery.






5. The power of a court to force a person to appear before it.






6. The rule requiring that the original document be produced at trial.






7. The ethical rule prohibiting attorneys and paralegals from disclosing information regarding a client or a client's case.






8. A business run by two or more persons as co-owners.






9. Written questions sent by one side to the opposing side - answered under oath.






10. A tangible object or a right or ownership interest.






11. An intentional act that creates a reasonable apprehension of an immediate harmful or offensive physical contact.






12. Consists of the description of events that a witness testifies to under oath in a legal proceeding.






13. A statute establishing and setting out the powers of an administrative agency.






14. A determination that an attorney may not practice law for a set period of time.






15. A case listed in Shepard's that cites your case.






16. The law itself - such as statutes and court opinions.






17. Something of value exchanged to form the basis of a contract.






18. Private publication of court opinions-for example - the regional reporters - such as N.E.2d - published by West.






19. A request that the court find the plaintiff has failed to state a valid claim and dismiss the complaint.






20. Evidence that supports previous testimony but that comes in a different form.






21. Generally accepted legal principles.






22. A trial ended by the judge because of a major problem - such as a prejudicial statement by one of the attorneys.






23. Also known as real estate; land and items growing on or permanently attached to that land.






24. Broad questions that put few limits on the freedom of the respondent.






25. A tort committed by one who intends to do the act that creates the harm.






26. When the product was not being used for its intended purpose or was being used in a dangerous manner; it is a defense to a products liability claim so long as the misuse was not foreseeable.






27. 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






28. The status of having received a certificate documenting that the person has successfully completed an educational program.






29. Information that tells the reader the name of the case - where it can be located - the court that decided it - and the year it was decided. The Bluebook gives precise rules as to how case citations are to be written.






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






31. The final paragraph in a written legal analysis that summarizes the writer's conclusions.






32. The court's power to review statutes to decide whether they conform to the Constitution.






33. A person who permits or directs another person to act on the principal's behalf.






34. An advance or down payment that is given to engage the services of an attorney.






35. The power of the federal courts to hear matters of federal law.






36. General principles that guide the courts in their interpretation of statutes.






37. A defense requiring proof that the defendant would not have committed the crime but for police trickery.






38. The application of legal rules to a client's specific factual situation; also known as legal analysis.






39. A paralegal who works as an independent contractor rather than as an employee of a law firm or corporation.






40. The process after arrest that includes taking the defendant's personal information - giving the defendant an opportunity to read and sign a Miranda card - and allowing the defendant the opportunity to use a telephone.






41. To perform.






42. A criminal proceeding at which the court informs the defendant of the charges being brought against him or her and the defendant enters a plea.






43. Money or something else of value that is held by the government to ensure the defendant's appearance in court.






44. A court order requiring a person to appear to testify at a trial or deposition.






45. An affidavit signed by the client indicating that he or she has read the complaint and that its contents are correct.






46. When nonlawyers do things that only lawyers are allowed to do. In most states this is a crime.






47. A statutory citation is a formalized method for referring to a statute's chapter (or title) and section numbers.






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






49. A claim by one defendant against another defendant or by one plaintiff against another plaintiff.






50. A judicial philosophy that supports a limited role for the judiciary in changing the law - including deference to the legislative branch.