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 theory holding manufacturers and sellers liable for defective products when the defects make the products unreasonably dangerous.






2. The doctrine stating that normally once a court has decided one way on a particular issue - it and other courts in the same jurisdiction will decide the same way on that issue in future cases given similar facts unless they can be convinced of the ne






3. In a case brief - facts that relate to what happened procedurally in the lower courts or administrative agencies before the case reached the court issuing the opinion.






4. A book that contains court opinion headnotes arranged by subject matter.






5. An examination of a prospective juror to see if he or she is fit to serve as a juror on a specific case.






6. The intermediate appellate courts in the federal system.






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






8. A process whereby the prosecutor and the defendant's attorney agree for the defendant to plead guilty in exchange for the prosecutor's promise to charge him or her with a lesser offense - drop some additional charges - or request a lesser sentence.






9. Bad act.






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






11. The ethical rule prohibiting attorneys and paralegals from disclosing information regarding a client or a client's case.






12. Cases that involve different facts and/or rules of law.






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






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






15. Law that creates rights and duties.






16. Defendant's reply to the complaint. It may contain statements of denial - admission - or lack of knowledge and affirmative defenses.






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






18. A national association of paralegal managers.






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






20. Courts that determine the facts and apply the law to the facts.






21. A method for excusing a prospective juror; no reason need be given.






22. Ownership by two or more people. Ownership shares do not have to be equal - but each has an undivided interest in the property. When a tenant in common dies - that person's share passes either by will or by intestate statute.






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






24. 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.






25. A nonlawyer who provides legal services directly to the public without being under the supervision of an attorney. Absent a statute allowing this activity - it constitutes the unauthorized practice of law.






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






27. An attorney's written argument presented to an appeals court - setting forth a statement of the law as it should be applied to the client's facts.






28. Law that regulates how the legal system operates.






29. Federal and state rules that regulate how criminal proceedings are conducted.






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






31. The result reached in a particular case.






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






33. Powers not stated in the Constitution but that are necessary for Congress to carry out other - expressly granted powers.






34. Evidence that suggests the defendant's innocence.






35. Any tangible object - like a bloody glove.






36. Proof that the evidence is what it is said to be.






37. The process of properly identifying and authenticating evidence so that it can be introduced.






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






39. 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.






40. Establishes a direct link to the event that must be proven.






41. A law promulgated by an administrative agency.






42. A statement of the court's decision that contains many of the case's specific facts - thereby limiting its future applicability to a narrow range of cases.






43. 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.






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






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






46. Information that tells the reader the name of the case - where it can be located - the court that decided it - and the year it was decided. The Bluebook gives precise rules as to how case citations are to be written.






47. A national organization of paralegal programs that promotes high standards for paralegal education.






48. 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.






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






50. A computerized database that contains the full text of documents - such as court opinions or depositions.