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






2. A grand jury's written accusation that a given individual has committed a crime.






3. A system developed to shield an attorney or a paralegal from a case that otherwise would create a conflict of interest.






4. A decision is overruled when a court in a later case changes the law so that its prior decision is no longer good law.






5. A claim by the defendant against the plaintiff.






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






7. When a judge formally recognizes something as being a fact without requiring the attorneys prove it through the introduction of other evidence.






8. In a lawsuit the person who is sued; in a criminal case the person who is being charged with a crime.






9. A compilation of federal or state statutes in which the statutes are organized by subject matter rather than by year of enactment.






10. A defense requiring proof that force or a threat of force was used to cause a person to commit a criminal act.






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






12. Questions relating to the interpretation or application of the law.






13. Simultaneously representing adverse clients.






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






15. When an appellate court sends a case back to the trial court for a new trial or other action.






16. Something of value exchanged to form the basis of a contract.






17. Consists of the description of events that a witness testifies to under oath in a legal proceeding.






18. Evidence that suggests the defendant's innocence.






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






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






21. The failure to act reasonably under the circumstances.






22. The division of governmental power among the legislative - executive - and judicial branches.






23. Ownership by two or more persons who have equal rights in the use of the property. When a joint tenant dies - that person's share passes to the other joint tenant(s).






24. 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.






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






26. When the defendant does not have sufficient money or other assets to pay the judgment.






27. An intentional act that creates a reasonable apprehension of an immediate harmful or offensive physical contact.






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






29. A person who initiates an appeal.






30. A group of people - usually 23 - whose function is to determine if probable cause exists to believe that a crime has been committed and that the defendant committed it.






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






32. The right of the police to detain an individual for a brief period of time and to search the outside of the person's clothing if the police have a reasonable suspicion that the individual has committed or is about to commit crime.






33. 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.






34. A defense requiring proof that the defendant would not have committed the crime but for police trickery.






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






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






37. An approach whereby the courts give a statute a broad interpretation.






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






39. A claim that based on the law and the facts is sufficient to support a lawsuit. If the plaintiff does not state a valid cause of action in the complaint - the court will dismiss it.






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






41. The process of organizing statutes by subject matter.






42. All property that is not real property.






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






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






45. A trial court error that is not sufficient to warrant reversing the decision.






46. The general jurisdiction trial courts in the federal system.






47. A request made to the court.






48. A rule that states that evidence obtained in violation of an individual's constitutional rights cannot be used against that individual in a criminal trial.






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






50. An intentional act that creates a harmful or offensive physical contact.