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






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






3. The process of legislative enactment of areas of the law previously governed solely by the common law.






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






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






6. A statutory citation is a formalized method for referring to a statute's chapter (or title) and section numbers.






7. Land and objects permanently attached to land.






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






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






10. The opinion of a jury on a question of fact.






11. Usually organized as either a partnership or a professional corporation - law clinics provide low-cost legal services on routine matters by stressing low overhead and high volume.






12. Cases that involve similar facts and rules of law.






13. Fairness; a court's power to do justice. Equity powers allow judges to take action when otherwise the law would limit their decisions to monetary awards. Equity powers include a judge's ability to issue an injunction and to order specific performance






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






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






16. A special type of joint tenancy applicable only to married couples.






17. 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.






18. An approach whereby the courts give a statute a narrow interpretation.






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






20. The failure of an attorney to act reasonably.






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






22. The ethical rule prohibiting attorneys and paralegals from working for opposing sides in a case.






23. A judicial philosophy that supports an active role for the judiciary in changing the law.






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






25. An agreement supported by consideration.






26. A trial conducted without a jury.






27. The law itself - such as statutes and court opinions.






28. 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.






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






30. In a case brief - the general legal principle in existence before the case began.






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






32. A person who initiates an appeal.






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






34. 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.






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






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






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






39. Court decisions from a higher court in the same jurisdiction.






40. Any tangible object - like a bloody glove.






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






42. 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.






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






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






45. A defense requiring proof that the defendant was forced to take an action to avoid a greater harm.






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






47. The papers that begin a lawsuit-generally - the complaint and the answer.






48. 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.






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






50. A warrant that allows the police to enter without announcing their presence in advance.