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 pamphlet inserted into the back of a book containing information new since the volume was published.






2. A law enacted by a state legislature or by Congress.






3. The heading section of a pleading that contains the names of the parties - the name of the court - the title of the action - the docket or file number - and the name of the pleading.






4. In a complaint - one cause of action.






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






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






7. When a judge formally recognizes something as being a fact without requiring the attorneys prove it through the introduction of other evidence.






8. The party in a lawsuit against whom an appeal has been filed.






9. The papers that begin a lawsuit-generally - the complaint and the answer.






10. 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.






11. 'The thing speaks for itself'; the doctrine that suggest negligence can be presumed if an event happens that would not ordinarily happen unless someone was negligent.






12. Occurs when the police restrain a person's freedom and charge the person with a crime.






13. A statement of the court's decision that contains many of the case's specific facts - thereby limiting its future applicability to a narrow range of cases.






14. The defense's request that the court find the prosecution failed to meet its burden and that it remove the case from the jury by finding the defendant not guilty.






15. A canon of construction meaning 'of the same class.:






16. A trial court error that is not sufficient to warrant reversing the decision.






17. The purpose of the legislature at the time it enacted the statute.






18. The new legal principle established by a court opinion.






19. Being informed of some act done or about to be done.






20. The general jurisdiction trial courts in the federal system.






21. A national association of paralegal associations.






22. A contract that outlines the attorney's duties and the client's obligations regarding payment - on either an hourly or a contingency fee basis - as well as the client's responsibility reagarding costs and expenses.






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






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






25. The person who is being asked questions at a deposition.






26. An authoritative secondary source - written by a group of legal scholars - summarizing the existing common law - as well as suggesting what the law should be.






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






28. A request that the court prohibit the use of certain evidence at the trial.






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






30. A national paralegal association.






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






32. A person who initiates a lawsuit.






33. A system developed to shield an attorney or a paralegal from a case that otherwise would create a conflict of interest.






34. An attorney's written argument presented to an appeals court - setting forth a statement of the law as it should be applied to the client's facts.






35. An intentional tort that covers a variety of situations - including disclosure - intrusion - appropriation - and false light.






36. A method for interpreting statutes in which the ordinary meaning of the statute's language is examined.






37. A defendant's personal promise to appear in court.






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






39. Summary of one legal point in a court opinion; written by the editors at West.






40. Consists of records - contracts - leases - wills - and other written instruments.






41. When an appellate court that normally sits in panels sits as a whole.






42. The power of a court to hear a case.






43. A judicial philosophy that supports an active role for the judiciary in changing the law.






44. A computerized database that contains the full text of documents - such as court opinions or depositions.






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






46. An ADR mechanism whereby a neutral third party assists the parties in reaching a mutually agreeable - voluntary compromise.






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






48. A court order requiring a party to perform a specific act or to cease doing a specific act.






49. A grand jury's written accusation that a given individual has committed a crime.






50. A court where a permanent record is kept of the testimony - lawyers' remarks - and judges' rulings.