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. Affiliated with the federal government's Legal Services Corporation - these offices serve those who would otherwise be unable to afford legal assistance.






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






3. How subsequent cases have affected the case you are Shepardizing. It is sometimes indicated by a one-letter abbreviation before the Shepard's citation.






4. A compilation of federal administrative regulations arranged by agency.






5. A defense requiring proof that the defendant was not mentally responsible.






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






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






8. Land and objects permanently attached to land.






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






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






11. A form of logical reasoning based on a major premise - a minor premise - and a conclusion.






12. The background documents created during the process of a bill becoming a statute. These documents can include alternative versions of the legislation - proceedings of committee hearings and reports - and transcripts of floor debates.






13. The requirement in a legal malpractice case that the plaintiff-client prove that but for the attorney's negligence - the client would have won.






14. The law that sets the length of time from when something happens to when a lawsuit must be filed before the right to bring it is lost.






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






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






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






18. The judge informs the jurors of the law they need to know to make their decision.






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






20. A claim that based on the law and the facts is sufficient to support a lawsuit. If the plaintiff does not state a valid cause of action in the complaint - the court will dismiss it.






21. Law that deals with harm to society as a whole.






22. The number of hours - or parts of an hour - that can be charged to a specific client.






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






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






25. The division of governmental power among the legislative - executive - and judicial branches.






26. Courts that determine whether lower courts have made errors of law.






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






28. The power of a court to hear a particular type of case.






29. The rules whereby all members of a law firm are treated as though they had represented the former client.






30. A reason for invalidating a statute where a reasonable person could not determine a statute's meaning.






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 form in which statutes are published; they are printed individually at the time they are first enacted.






33. A person appointed by the court to manage the affairs or property of a person who is incompetent due to age or some other reason.






34. A motion brought before the beginning of a trial either to eliminate the necessity for a trial or to limit the information that can be heard at the trial.






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






36. A computer search that identifies every place in which the search term appears in the actual text of the document being searched.






37. The highest federal appellate court - consisting of nine appointed members.






38. Federal and state rules that govern the admissibility of evidence in court.






39. A trial conducted without a jury.






40. Ownership by two or more people. Ownership shares do not have to be equal - but each has an undivided interest in the property. When a tenant in common dies - that person's share passes either by will or by intestate statute.






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






42. Cases that involve similar facts and rules of law.






43. A national paralegal association.






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






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






46. The failure to act reasonably under the circumstances.






47. A claim by the defendant against the plaintiff.






48. Disregarding a substantial and unjustifiable risk that harm will result.






49. In a complaint - one cause of action.






50. Bad intent.