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






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






3. A meeting of the attorneys and the judge prior to the beginning of the trial.






4. The principle that courts cannot decide abstract issues or render advisory opinions; rather - they are limited to deciding cases that involve litigants who are personally affected by the court's decision.






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






6. In a case brief - the general legal principle in existence before the case began.






7. Relates to the ability of a witness to testify; generally - the witness must be capable of being understood by the jury; must understand the duty to tell the truth; and if a lay witness - must give testimony based on personal knowledge.






8. Federal and state rules that regulate how criminal proceedings are conducted.






9. A reason for invalidating a statute where it covers both protected and criminal activity.






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






11. 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.






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






13. The party in a case who has initiated an appeal.






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






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






16. A witness who possesses skill and knowledge beyond that of the average person.






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






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






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






20. A law promulgated by an administrative agency.






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






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






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






24. A special type of joint tenancy applicable only to married couples.






25. A court's prior permission for the police to search and seize.






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






27. An opinion that agrees with the majority's result but disagrees with the reasoning.






28. An introductory paragraph listing issues to be discussed in the order they are to be discussed.






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






30. Information about what happened procedurally to the cited case before it was heard by the cited court. Do not include this information in a citation.






31. The requirement that defendants be notified of their rights to remain silent and to have an attorney present prior to being questioned by the police.






32. Courts that determine the facts and apply the law to the facts.






33. A notice informing the defendant of the lawsuit and requiring the defendant to respond or risk losing the suit.






34. When only one court has the power to hear a case.






35. A decision is reversed when the litigants appeal the trial court decision and the higher court disagrees with the decision of a lower court.






36. An act by a landlord that makes the premises unfit or unsuitable for occupancy.






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






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






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






40. Occurs whenever one person - through force or the threat of force - unlawfully detains another person against his or her will.






41. Evidence that suggests the defendant's guilt.






42. Violation of a statute as proof of negligence






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






44. A document that lists statements regarding specific items for the other party to admit or deny.






45. Rules and regulations created by administrative agencies.






46. A fee calculated as a percentage of the settlement or award in the case.






47. Techniques for resolving conflicts that are alternatives to full-scale litigation. The two most common are arbitration and mediation.






48. The authority of a court to hear a case when it is initiated - as opposed to appellate jurisdiction.






49. A situation in which a conflict of interest may arise in the future--for example - representing business partners.






50. A decision is overruled when a court in a later case changes the law that the decision in the earlier case is no longer good law.