Dealing with lawyers can be daunting. Those in the industry use words and phrases that do not necessarily crossover into mainstream language. We have compiled a short glossary of some of the most used technical terms you will come across to assist you to build a better relationship with your lawyer.
Glossary of common legal terms
- Plaintiff: person who starts legal proceedings against someone else in a civil dispute, i.e. a personal injury claim.
- Defendant: person against whom legal action is taken, including civil and criminal charges.
- CTP Insurer: Compulsory Third Party Insurance company for a vehicle, chosen with a person’s vehicle registration renewal (i.e. RACQ, Allianz, Suncorp or QBE).
- Balance of Probabilities: the standard of proof required in civil law cases and for some criminal defences (i.e. it is more likely than not that what was alleged is true).
- Damages: where a person has suffered a loss as a result of a civil wrong (such as negligence) or breach of a contract, a court may order they be compensated financially for the specific type of loss they have suffered.
For more extensive lists of legal terms and their meanings, we recommend you visit the following websites:
To meet our experienced lawyers and request information about our available legal services, or to discuss your personal circumstances, please do not hesitate to contact Turner Freeman Lawyers on 13 43 63.
Our Queensland offices are in Brisbane, Logan, North Lakes, Ipswich, Toowoomba, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast and Cairns.
