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






2. A decision is affirmed when the litigants appeal the trial court decision and the higher court agrees with what the lower court has done.






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






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






5. A separable part of a statute that must be satisfied for the statute to apply.






6. The standard of proof used in some civil trials. The evidence presented must be greater than a preponderance of the evidence but less than beyond a reasonable doubt.






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






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






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






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






11. A nonbinding process in which attorneys for both sides present synopses of their cases to a jury - which renders an advisory opinion on the basis of these presentations.






12. A computerized database that contains key information about the content of documents - such as medical records.






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






14. A privately published statutory code that includes editorial features - such as summaries of court opinions that have interpreted the statutes.






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






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






17. A repeat offender; one who continues to commit more crimes.






18. Not factually true - but accepted by the courts as being legally true.






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






20. 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.






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






22. A worldwide network of computer networks.






23. 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.






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






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






26. The failure to act reasonably under the circumstances.






27. In logic - an argument is considered to be valid or sound if the assumption underlying the argument are true.






28. The party in a case against whom an appeal has been filed.






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






30. A temporary transfer of personal property to someone other than the owner for a specified purpose.






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






32. 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.






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






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






35. A defendant's plea meaning that the defendant neither admits nor denies the charges.






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






44. A claim by the defendant against the plaintiff.






45. A request that the court order that certain information not be mentioned in the presence of the jury.






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






47. A person who initiates a lawsuit.






48. '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.






49. 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.






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