Legal glossary for court interpreters

L

Lapsed gift

A gift made in a will to a person who has died prior to the will-makers death.

Larceny

Obtaining property by fraud or deceit.

Law

The combination of those rules and principles of conduct promulgated by legislative authority, derived from court decisions and established by local custom.

Law Blank

A printed legal form available for preparing documents.

Law Clerk

In the United States, usually a law school student employed by a law firm to do research and other tasks. In the courts, a lawyer (or law school student) employed to do legal research.

Lawsuit

An action or proceeding in a civil court; term used for a suit or action between two private parties in a court of law.

Leading question

A question that suggests the answer desired of the witness. A party generally may not ask one's own witness leading questions. Leading questions may be asked only of hostile witnesses and on cross-examination.

Legal aid

Professional legal services available usually to persons or organizations unable to afford such services.

Legal process

A formal paper that is legally valid; something issuing from the court, usually a command such as a writ or mandate.

Legal texts

Books that cover specific areas of the law, usually dealing with a single topic.

Legislation

The act of giving or enacting laws; the power to make laws via legislation in contrast to court-made laws.

Legitimate

That which is legal, lawful, recognized by law or according to law.

Leniency

Recommendation for a sentence less than the maximum allowed.

Letters of Administration

Legal document issued by a court that shows an administrator's legal right to take control of assets in the deceased person's name.

Letters Testamentary

Legal document issued by a court that shows an executor's legal right to take control of assets in the deceased person's name.

Liable

Legally responsible.

Libel

Published defamation which tends to injure a person's reputation.

Licensing boards

State agencies created to regulate the issuance of licenses, i.e., to contractors, cosmetologists, realtors, etc.

Lien

An encumbrance or legal burden upon property.

Limine

(See "in limine" in Foreign Words Glossary).