Congratulations, you've decided to become a paralegal. According to the National Federation of Paralegal Associations, "a paralegal is a person qualified through education, training, or work experience to perform substantive legal work that requires knowledge of legal concepts and is customarily, but not exclusively, performed by a lawyer." There will be some similarities and some differences in your duties depending upon which type of legal office (tax, criminal, real estate, personal injury, etc.) that you choose to accept a position with. Here are 10 of the most common terms that every paralegal should know:
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Pro se: When a person, company, or entity presents their case or cause without being represented by a lawyer.
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Probable cause: Evidence that would lead a reasonable person, after careful consideration of all facts, to believe that a defendant should be found guilty.
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Recidivist: A person who repeatedly breaks the law.
- Relevant: Something that validates or invalidates a controversial point is deemed relevant and admissible to be used in determining the outcome of a case.
- Res gestae: When circumstances are presented that causes the judge to allow hearsay testimony in a case.
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Restitution: When a defendant is ordered to reinstate property or rights that have been wrongfully taken away from a victim.
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Rule on witness: The removing of a witness from the courtroom until it is time for them to appear in order to prevent their testimony from being influenced by hearing the statements of previous witnesses.
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Sentence: The sanction (prison time, community service, fines, probation, etc.) that is lobbied upon the defendant after the court has found them guilty.
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Settlement: When the opposing parties in a civil action come to an agreement, prior to appearing in court, so as to avoid a trial.
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Statute of limitations: The amount of time a litigant has to press charges pertaining to an alleged criminal or civil infraction. The deadlines are set by law, and after that time has lapsed, no charges can be brought against the perpetrator for that particular act.
