法律英语复习重点

Why

What

Tools

How

Additional advice & course description

Arrangement of the textbook

Home

What to learn?

To learn and refine your own English（扎实的基本功，法律语言句式复杂，长句多）

Acquire the language of law

Acquire knowledge of the basic legal concepts

Some features of legal language

common words with special meaning

Old and Middle English words

Latin words and phrases

French words

Use of argot

Long sentence

WORDS LEGAL MEANING

action 诉讼

Consideration补偿/对价/约因

Counterpart副本

executed签名使契据生效

Hand签字

Instrument文件

eg. Legal instrument: legal document

(1) common words with special meaning

WORDS LEGAL MEANING

Letters 许可证

Party 诉讼方、合同缔结方、当事人

Prayer诉讼请求

Presents本文件this legal document

Said上述的mentioned before

Eg. the said witness 该证人

Serve送达

Specialty盖印合同sealed contract

Provide for 规定

Remedy补救办法

(2) Old and Middle English words

If any of the terms or provisions of this Contract shall be declared illegal or unenforceable by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the parties hereto agree to do all things and cooperate in all ways open to them to obtain substantially the same result or as much thereof as may be possible, including the amendment or alteration of these presents

若主管法庭宣布本合同任何条款或规定非法或无效，双方同意将尽最大努力采取一切可行措施，包括修改或更换合同，以取得大体相同或尽可能多的效益

here words: hereafter（此后、将来）, hereby（籍此）, herein（此中、此处）, hereinafter（在下文）, hereof, hereto there words: thereby, thereof（因此）, therein（在那里）, thereon, thereto, theretofore, thereupon, therewith aforesaid如前所述

said (used as an adjective)

Such上述的

forthwith立刻

thence从那时起, thenceforth从那时起/其后

Where words: whereby（由是、因此）, whereof（关于它）

witness (used in the sense of testimony by signature, oath, etc. as “In witness whereof, I have set my hand, ...”签字盖章,特此为证

witnesseth鉴于(meaning to provide formal evidence of something, the Old English present indicative, third person singular verb form.)

(3) Latin words and phrases

alias别名, 化名

Alibi不在犯罪现场的证明/不在犯罪现场一种辩护形式

bona fide善意/真诚的

versus

(4) French words

Action 诉讼

Agreement 协议

Appeal 上诉

arrest

arson 纵火

assault 袭击

attorneys 律师

battery 殴打罪

bill 法案、议案

claim 索取

Condition 条款

contract

evidence 契约法、合同法

execution 执行

guarantee担保物/抵押品

infant未成年人

judges

judgment 审判

jurors 陪审员

justice

(5) Use of argot

The language of the law, sometimes even a particular word, has a dual aspect. Lawyers use language that is intended to speak to lawyers and laymen, as in contracts, jury instructions, notices, and even laws. Lawyers also use language that is intended to speak primarily to each other, as in pleadings, opinions, argument and in the day-to-day negotiation and discussion that is the lawyer's life. In this aspect, a portion of the language of the law is ARGOT, a 'professional language'. E.g.:

alleged有嫌疑的

case

cause of action 原告的起诉原由

damages 损害赔偿

due care 应有注意

inferior court 下级法院

issue of fact关于事实的争论点

issue of law关于引用法律的争论点

pursuant to stipulation

reversed and remanded发回重审

superior court 高级法院

Any person who, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, while having dealings of any kind with any other public body, offers any advantage to any public servant employed by that public body, shall be guilty of an offence. 任何人与其它公共机构进行任何事务往来时,无合法权限或合理理由而向受雇于该公共机构的公职人员提供任何利益﹐即属犯罪。

●statute n.

制定法，联邦、州、市或县的立法机关均可制定，专指以立法形式创设的法律。

●legislation

立法；立法活动；制定法（总称）

●code：法典n.

e.g.《美国统一商法典》（Uniform Commercial Code,简称UCC）

●civil law：罗马法；罗马法系；大陆法系；民法法系

●common law：普通法；普通法系；判例法系

After-class assignment 1: