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. The failure to act reasonably under the circumstances.






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






3. Law dealing with ownership.






4. A statute enacted to correct a defect in prior law or to provide a remedy where none existed.






5. A set of standardized jury instructions.






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






7. The questioning of an opposing witness.






8. The pleading that begins a lawsuit.






9. An ADR mechanism whereby the parties submit their disagreement to a third party - whose decision is binding.






10. The process of finding the law.






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






12. The process of signaling that you are really listening - accomplished by using verbal and nonverbal clues - paraphrasing - and reflecting the client's feelings.






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






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






15. A trial ended by the judge because of a major problem - such as a prejudicial statement by one of the attorneys.






16. A national paralegal association.






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






18. The questioning of your own witness.






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






20. A summary of a court opinion that appears at the beginning of the case.






21. Information that can be presented in a court of law as proof of some fact.






22. A person who permits or directs another person to act on the principal's behalf.






23. A defense whereby the defendant offers new evidence to avoid judgment.






24. A person who assists an attorney and - working under the attorney's supervision - does tasks that - absent the paralegal - the attorney would do. A paralegal cannot give advice or appear in court.






25. The status of having received a certificate documenting that the person has successfully completed an educational program.






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






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. An opinion that disagrees with the majority's decision and its reasoning.






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






30. 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.






31. A decision is reversed when an appellate court overturns or negates the decision of a lower court.






32. Generally - an emergency situation that allows a search to proceed without a warrant.






33. A computer program that allows the user to retrieve web documents that match the key words entered by the searcher.






34. A trial conducted without a jury.






35. A term used to describe two cases that are almost identical - with similar facts and legal issues.






36. Law that deals with harm to an individual.






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






38. A transfer of real property rights that occurs after someone other than the owner has had actual - open - adverse - and exclusive use of the property for a statutorily determined number of years.






39. A means of gaining appellate review; in the U.S. Supreme Court the writ is discretionary and will be issued to another court to review a federal question if four of the nine justices vote to hear the case.






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






41. The failure of an attorney to act reasonably.






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






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






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






45. Rules of conduct promulgated and enforced by the government.






46. The educated ability to apply law to specific facts.






47. Examples of legal writing include case briefs - law office memoranda - and documents filed with the court.






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






49. When the law is applied to the client's facts and the result is not obvious - an issue is created.






50. A rule of evidence that prevents an attorney or a paralegal from being compelled to testify about confidential client information.