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 approach whereby the courts give a statute a narrow interpretation.






2. A judgment entered against a party who fails to complete a required step - such as answering the complaint.






3. In a complaint - one cause of action.






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






5. A body of principles and rules that are either explicitly stated in - or inferred from - the constitutions of the United States and those of the individual states.






6. General principles that guide the courts in their interpretation of statutes.






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






8. 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.






9. The questioning of an opposing witness.






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






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






12. Summary of one legal point in a court opinion; written by the editors at West.






13. A tort committed by one who intends to do the act that creates the harm.






14. The status of being formally recognized by a nongovernmental organization for having met special criteria - such as fulfilling educational requirements and passing an exam - established by that organization.






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






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






17. A term used to describe a case that is similar to another case.






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






19. Someone who has the power to act in the place of another.






20. The process of using Shepard's citations to check a court citation to see whether there has been any subsequent history or treatment by other court decisions.






21. '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.






22. Money or something else of value that is held by the government to ensure the defendant's appearance in court.






23. A person who initiates a lawsuit.






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






25. In law - a per curium decision (or opinion) is a ruling issued by an appellate court of multiple judges in which the decision rendered is made by the court (or at least a majoirty of the court) acting collectively and anonymously.






26. A set charge for a specific service - such as drafting a simple will.






27. A court order that a person who is not a party to the litigation appear at a trial or deposition and bring requested documents.






28. 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.






29. In a case brief - the court's answer to the issue presented to it; the new legal principle established by a court opinion.






30. Liability without a showing of fault.






31. A worldwide network of computer networks.






32. The standard of proof used in criminal trials. The evidence represented must be so conclusive and complete that all reasonable doubts regarding the facts are removed from the jurors' minds.






33. The failure to act reasonably under the circumstances.






34. The chronological publication of statutes at the end of a legislative session.






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






36. 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.






37. A fee based on how many hours attorneys or paralegals spend on the case. Different hourly rates are often charged for different attorneys and paralegals within the firm - based on their seniority and experience.






38. Generally someone operating within the law - representing persons before administrtive agencies that permit this practice.






39. The first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution.






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






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






42. In logic - a belief that justifies one in arguing a conclusion.






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






44. Law that deals with harm to an individual.






45. Computer codes that - when clicked on with a mouse - connect the user to other web pages with related information






46. Information about the law - such as that contained in encyclopedias and law review articles.






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






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






49. Liability without having to prove fault.






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