Before aspiring lawyers can take their places behind the desks of prestigious law firms, they must attend law school and learn the language used by legal professionals. Here are seven terms you should know if you plan to pursue a juris doctor degree.
- American Bar Association
This association accredits law schools. To take the bar exam, former law students in most states are required have graduated from an ABA-accredited school. It is highly recommended to attend an ABA-accredited law school.
- Briefs
There are two types of briefs; the brief of a case is a summary of the relevant details. You'll cover thousands of case briefs in law school. The second kind of brief is the court brief, which details legal positions and the arguments, cases, and statutes supporting them.
- Law review
Law reviews are scholarly legal articles usually written by law professors and law students. Many law professors contribute to law reviews for fear of "publish or perish." It is an honor for a law student to participate in a law review.
- Procedural law
Involves the rules of civil and criminal courts in terms of the necessary steps a case progresses through in those courts. Civil and criminal procedures are entirely different except for the general rules of evidence.
- Substantive law
Substantive law is written "black letter" law, such as statutes prescribing rights and duties. Substantive law can be either civil or criminal.
- Socratic method
A form of teaching used primarily in law schools using questions designed to require the student to answer and reach a conclusion through analysis.
- Statutes
Written black letter law enacted by state and federal legislatures, as opposed to common law derived and evolved from judicial precedent.
