Top 10 Legal Terms You Need to Know: A Beginner's Guide to Understanding the Law

Summary

In this video, Steve from Single Step English introduces 10 essential legal terms in English, providing clear definitions and examples to help viewers understand key legal concepts. The terms include 'bail', 'plaintiff', 'defendant', 'jury', 'guilty', 'not guilty', 'verdict', 'appeal', 'sentence', and 'lawyer'. This video is designed for anyone looking to expand their legal vocabulary, whether for daily use or for understanding legal terms in movies and TV shows. Steve encourages viewers to engage with the video by liking, sharing, and leaving comments.

Takeaways

• 😀 Bail is money paid to release someone from jail while waiting for trial. The term 'post bail' refers to paying this money.
• 😀 A plaintiff is a person who brings a legal case against someone, while a defendant is the person being charged or sued.
• 😀 A jury is a group of 12 citizens who decide whether a defendant is guilty or not guilty in a trial.
• 😀 'Guilty' means being found responsible for committing a crime, while 'Not guilty' means the person is not responsible.
• 😀 A verdict is the final decision made by a jury or judge in a trial.
• 😀 An appeal is when a defendant requests a higher court to review the decision made in a trial they believe was unfair.
• 😀 A sentence is the punishment given to someone who has been found guilty of a crime, such as time in prison.
• 😀 A lawyer is a professional trained to give legal advice and represent clients in court.
• 😀 Understanding legal terms can help you follow legal TV shows or movies and better understand the legal system in English.
• 😀 Legal terms like 'defendant,' 'verdict,' and 'bail' are common in movies and TV shows, making it useful to know their meanings.
• 😀 If you have any questions about legal terms, you are encouraged to leave them in the comments section of the video.

Q & A

What does the term 'bail' mean in a legal context?

Bail is the money someone must pay to be released from jail while waiting for their trial. It allows the person to stay at home instead of in jail until their trial begins.

What is the difference between a plaintiff and a defendant?

A plaintiff is the person who brings a legal case against someone else, while a defendant is the person being charged or sued in the case.

What role does a jury play in a legal trial?

A jury is a group of 12 people who listen to the evidence in a trial and decide whether the defendant is guilty or not guilty based on the facts presented.

What does 'guilty' mean in a legal setting?

'Guilty' means that someone has been found to have committed a crime, typically after a trial with a jury or judge.

What does 'not guilty' signify in a court case?

'Not guilty' means that the person has been found not to have committed the crime they were charged with, often after a trial.

What is a verdict in a legal case?

A verdict is the final decision made by a jury or a judge at the end of a trial, determining whether the defendant is guilty or not guilty.

What is an appeal in the legal system?

An appeal is when a defendant challenges the decision made by a judge or jury, requesting that a higher court review the case, usually because they believe the decision was unfair.

What does the term 'sentence' mean in a legal context?

A sentence is the punishment given to someone who has been found guilty of committing a crime. It can range from prison time to other penalties.

What is the role of a lawyer?

A lawyer is a professionally trained individual who provides legal advice and represents clients in court, helping them navigate legal issues.

Why is it important to know legal terms in English?

Knowing legal terms in English is important because it helps people understand the legal system, whether in real life or when watching movies or TV shows that involve legal issues.