Lawlights- basic legal terms (part-1)

LAWLIGHTS – BASIC LEGAL TERMS (part-1)

The terminology used by the legal professionals is quietly differs with the common term used by others, to understand and differentiate those terms here I’m listing the basic legal terms with its meaning.

1.        DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LAWYER, ADVOCATE, BARRISTER, SOLICITOR, ATTORNEY

a.       Lawyer= person who had obtained degree on legal qualification or having the permit to give a legal advice, and not eligible to stand in the court on behalf of his client

b.       Advocate= advocate is a special type of a lawyer who can stand in favor of a client in a court.

c.       Solicitor= gives legal opinion and also represents clients in the court but directly connects with the client and contracted by them mainly performs legal work outside the work.

d.       Barrister= legal practitioner whose full time work and main function is to practice advocacy in the court.

e.       Attorney= a person typically a lawyer appointed to act for another in business or legal matters.

 

2.      DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PETITIONER, PLAINTIFF, RESPONDENT, DEFENDANT:

a.       Plaintiff=  a person who initiates an action for his cause in a civil cause, for example,

i)   law of torts

ii)  any violation of statute

iii) Violation of any civil rights etc.`      

b.       Petitioner = a person who files a petition in the court to enforce a legal remedy or statutory right. For example,

i)  in case of public interest litigation

ii) Denying right given under constitution of India.

c.       Defendant = on whom the plaintiff raises the case, that is the lawsuit filed against him.

d.       Respondent = in the place responding something towards the litigation process.

e.       Applicant= seeking legal remedy in the court through the application. For example,

i) Determining the disagreement between the parties

ii)  Interpretation of contracts

iii) Question on the ownership or property or land.

f.         Appellant = person who does not satisfied with the decision of lower court, they will go for appeal to the next appeal.

g.       Accused = charged for committed crime, a defendant in criminal proceeding.