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 statement of the court's decision in which the facts are either omitted or given in very general terms so that it will apply to a wider range of cases.






2. In writing - a technique used to help your reader move from one thought to the next and to see the connections between them.






3. A requirement that a party fulfill his or her contractual obligations.






4. Used to describe legislation that changes the common law.






5. In a lawsuit the person who is sued; in a criminal case the person who is being charged with a crime.






6. Voluntarily and knowingly subjecting oneself to danger.






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






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






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






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






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






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






13. A court's power to hear any type of case arising within its geographical area.






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






16. A witness who has not been shown to have any special expertise.






17. An online legal database containing court decisions and statutes from the entire country - as well as secondary authority; a competitor to Westlaw.






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






19. The pretrial oral questioning of a witness under oath.






20. 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






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






22. A court opinion that establishes new law in an important area.






23. A book that contains court opinion headnotes arranged by subject matter.






24. Standard used by appellate courts when reviewing a trial court's findings of fact.






25. The standard of proof most commonly used in civil trials. The evidence presented must prove that it is more likely than not the defendant committed the wrong.






26. Bad act.






27. 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.






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






29. 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.






30. A lawsuit brought by a person as a representative for a group of people who have been similarly injured.






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






32. The ethical rule prohibiting attorneys and paralegals from working for opposing sides in a case.






33. A court order that ends a lawsuit; the suit cannot be refiled by the same parties.






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






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






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






37. An opinion in which a majority of the court joins.






38. A request that the court release the defendant because of the illegality of the incarceration.






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






40. A verdict ordered by a trial judge if the plaintiff fails to present a prima facie case or if the defendant fails to present a necessary defense.






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






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






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






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






45. Monetary compensation - including compensatory - punitive - and nominal damages.






46. 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.






47. Law dealing with ownership.






48. Generally accepted legal principles.






49. A right to use property owned by another for a limited purpose.






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