Breaking Down Common Legal Terms: A Guide for Beginners

Habeas Corpus, Arbitration, Actus Reus and other legal terms can be challenging to decode for the general public and students who intend to make the law their career. In this passage, we will decode that for your quick reference. Refer to it as a ready guide of complex legal terms and writs for a Bachelor of Law LLB from one of the best universities in Rajasthan.

Before moving ahead with the legal lexicon, we suggest exploring Manipal University Jaipur for law programs with a progressive curriculum, renowned faculty, experiential education and exceptional placements.

Legal Lexicon of Common Legal Terms

We will begin alphabetically and share commonly used terms in legal circles. Students studying for a Bachelor of Law LLB can refer to this as a reference.

Accomplice: A person who has supported or helped someone in the commission of a crime.
Accused person: A person or persons with the accusation of committing a crime but haven't tried yet for the same.
Acquaintance Rape: When a rape victim is related or knows the accused.
Actus Reus: A physical and unlawful act with a significant crime element. It must combine with criminal intent or mens rea to prove the commission of a crime.
Admissible Evidence: The trial Judge considered submitted evidence based on the provisions of the Indian Evidence Act.
Affidavit: A document submitted by a party before a notary asserting that the document's contents are made to the best of the signatory's knowledge, information and belief. Pleadings filed in court cases usually need to be supported by affidavits.
Appellant: A person who applies in a superior court for a reconsideration of the lower court's decision.
Arrears: Court cases with unwarranted delays are referred as arrears. The cases which remain pending longer than the average duration for valid reasons.
Bail: It's a temporary release of the accused in a criminal case in which the trial is going on or has not started, and the court has yet to decide.
Anticipatory Bail: It is also known as Pre-arrest Bail, in which a person can apply for bail before being arrested. The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (Section 438) deals with the anticipatory bail provisions in India.
Capital Punishment: It is another name for the death penalty. The court of law gives capital punishment according to the Indian Penal Code for offenders of serious crimes like murder, treason, rape, and crimes against humanity.
Cause of Action: The term denotes a group of facts that can be utilised to arrive at a claim that can be used in a court of law. It is legally recognised with a right to sue.
Charge Sheet: Police officers generate a charge sheet after a detailed investigation of a case according to Section 173 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).
Circumstantial Evidence: It is indirect evidence passively related to direct observation. On the face of it, circumstantial evidence does not establish a fact in issue. However, it can be considered to convict a person if the circumstances taken holistically create a chain so convincing that it does not leave any escape from the conclusion that the concerned crime has been committed according to all human probabilities.
Civil Procedure Code: It is a codified procedural law regarding Indian Civil Law administration.
Commutation: The President of India and the Governor of States have the power to commute sentences. It comprises the power to substitute a severe punishment for a less severe punishment after considering the application and other conditions.
Conviction: It is a court's final adjudication.
Cross-examination: When a lawyer from the opposite party questions a witness, it's known as cross-examination.
Culpable Homicide: The Indian Penal Code (IPC) has defined culpable homicide in Section 299 as the act of killing another person. It includes death to inflict bodily harm or cause death with the knowledge of their actions.

You learn these and many more common and unique legal terminologies when you know law at the best universities of Rajasthan like Manipal University, Jaipur.

Explore this one of the best NAAC-accredited universities in Rajasthan and learn law that places you at the best legal firms and organisations.

Having said that, let us continue with more legal terms you should know while pursuing a Bachelor of Law LLB programme.

Decree: The court of law issues an order to resolve the issues in a case conclusively and assess the parties' rights.
Evidence: Any information presented before a court of law to prove a fact. It could be documents, witness testimony, computers, audio and video recordings, weapons, etc.
Ex-Parte: Trial or hearing conducted in one party's absence.

Other Commonly Used Legal Terms

Juvenile
Lok Adalats
Mandatory Minimum Sentence
Mens Rea
Mitigating Circumstances
Modus Operandi
And many more.

Five Types of Writs Every Bachelor of Law LLB Students Should Know

Mandamus
Habeas Corpus
Prohibition
Certiorari

Bachelor of Law LLB at Manipal University, Jaipur

Bachelor of Law LLB is a three-year program focusing on the study of in-depth analysis of all the relevant laws along with their practical implementation aspect. The program is structured so that the students are trained to understand the law and the critical, analytical, and strategic thinking skills necessary for the field of law.

The program is designed in such a manner that by the end of the course, the student can develop several skills like legal research, communication and presentation.

All the programs at Manipal University Jaipur are designed as a highly flexible learner-centric Choice-based Credit System (CBCS) aligned with UGC and NEP guidelines and in compliance with BCI regulations.

With a vast pool of learned faculty, extensive learning resources, moot court and other experiential activities, MUJ has emerged as one of the best universities of Rajasthan with impeccable placements and entrepreneurial support.

For your reference, here is the Bachelor of Law LLB fees at MUJ.