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 database containing court decisions and statutes from the entire country. While its coverage of other legal mateirals is not as extensive as that of Westlaw and Lexis - it is also less expensive.






2. 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.






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






4. Negligence by the plaintiff that contributed to his or her injury. Normally - any finding of contributory negligence acts as a complete bar to a plaintiff's recovery.






5. A request that the court find the plaintiff has failed to state a valid claim and dismiss the complaint.






6. Also known as real estate; land and items growing on or permanently attached to that land.






7. A statute establishing and setting out the powers of an administrative agency.






8. A claim by a defendant against someone in addition to the persons the plaintiff has already sued.






9. A worldwide network of computer networks.






10. The questioning of an opposing witness.






11. 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.






12. A request that the court order a rehearing of a lawsuit because irregularities - such as errors of the court or jury misconduct - make it probable that an impartial trial do not occur.






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






14. 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.






15. 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.






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






17. A court order requiring a party to perform a specific act or to cease doing a specific act.






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






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






20. Voluntarily and knowingly subjecting oneself to danger.






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






22. 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.






23. Bad act.






24. When a person must be brought into a lawsuit as either a plaintiff or a defendant.






25. A request that the court grant judgment in favor of the moving party because there is no genuine issue as to any material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. It is similar to a 12(b)(6) motion except that the court a






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






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






28. A criminal proceeding at which the court informs the defendant of the charges being brought against him or her and the defendant enters a plea.






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






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






31. A court order authorizing a sheriff to take property in order to enforce a judgment.






32. Law that regulates how the legal system operates.






33. A court's power to hear only specialized cases.






34. 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.






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






36. Books that contain appellate court decisions. There are both official and unofficial reporters.






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






38. The heading section of a pleading that contains the names of the parties - the name of the court - the title of the action - the docket or file number - and the name of the pleading.






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






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






41. 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.






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






43. The result reached in a particular case.






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






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






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






47. 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.






48. A request that the court prohibit the use of certain evidence at the trial.






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






50. A claim by the defendant against the plaintiff.