Plain English glossary

Administrative & Public Law

The law governing the way public bodies carry out their statutory duties.

Advocacy

Legal representation in a hearing, usually by a barrister or solicitor.

Agricultural Law

The law governing the farming sector, including tax, trusts and property rights.

Asylum

Non UK residents can apply for asylum as soon as they reach the UK and may need legal help to be recognised as a refugee. This is given under the 1951 United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees. Find out more about seeking asylum.

↑ B

Banking Law

The law governing the banking sector, including anti-money laundering legislation and accounting and financial services regulation.

Bankruptcy

A legal procedure whereby an indebted person is relieved of their debts but loses control of all of their assets and income for a set period.

Barrister

A member of the Bar Council, expert in presenting legal cases in court.

Beneficiary

A person named in a will as entitled to receive a bequest.

↑ C

Chancery

A division of the High Court that deals in the administration of wills, probate and the execution of trusts.

Charity Law

The law governing charities, including how they raise funds, choose projects and account for the money they collect.

Children’s Law

Covers all laws affecting children, including education, family law and asylum.

Clinical Negligence

Unreasonably poor medical treatment which potentially gives rise to a personal injury claim against the medical professional or institution responsible.

Commercial Litigation

The use or threat of court proceedings by one business against another in relation to a dispute.

Commercial Property Law

The law governing premises occupied for business use.

Common Law

Law built upon principles taken from previous cases rather than created by statutes enacted by Parliament.

Computer and IT Law

The law governing the use of computers, including the Computer Misuse Act 1990.

Construction Law

The law governing the building of properties, including health and safety, dispute resolution and construction contracts.

Contract

A written or spoken agreement between two parties whereby each party expects to carry out certain acts in return for the other party carrying out other acts.

Conveyancing

The process of transferring legal ownership of property from one person to another.

Conveyancing Solicitors

The conveyancing solicitor will provide assistance in buying or selling a property and advice throughout the conveyancing process.

Corporate Finance Law

The law governing the ways companies can raise funds to finance their activities.

Criminal Law

The area of the law relating to the treatment of offenses deemed to be illegal by the state.

↑ D

Damages

Compensation paid by the losing party to the winning party in a litigation case.

Debt Law

The law governing the process of the recovery of debts from individuals.

Defamation

The publication of a statement that lowers the estimation of an individual in the eyes of the public.

Disbursements

Legal expenses incurred by the solicitor on your behalf. They can include search fees in home purchases, medical reports in personal injury cases and court fees.

↑ E

Education Law

The law governing the manner in which education is provided and educational establishments operate.

Employment Law

The law governing relationships between employers and employees, including harassment and unfair dismissal.

Employment Law Solicitors

The Employment Law solicitor can explain where the employee stands, prepare an application to the employment tribunal if necessary and represent the employee on the stand.

Entertainment Law

The law governing the film, TV, music, theatre and other entertainment sectors, including intellectual property law, copyright and trademarks.

Environmental Law

The body of law that governs and promotes sustainable development and environmental protection.

European Community Law

The body of law enacted by the European Community.

Executor

A person named in a will who is charged with administering the deceased person’s estate and distributing the assets to beneficiaries.

↑ F

Family Law

The body of law governing family relations, including children, marriage, divorce and domestic violence.

Family Law (Divorce) Solicitors

The family law solicitor ensures you get everything you are entitled to from the final divorce settlement.

Financial & Investment Services

Services often offered by solicitors and Independent Financial Advisers in relation to the investment of a client’s assets, such as following a divorce settlement or a grant of probate.

Fraud

A term used to describe various dishonest acts included in the Theft Acts of 1968 and 1978.

↑ H

Human Rights Law

The body of law created by the Human Rights Act 1998 which gives UK citizens the fundamental rights and freedoms contained in the European Convention on Human Rights.

↑ I

Immigration Law

The law governing the right of non-UK citizens to residence in the UK.

Immigration Solicitors

The immigration solicitor can help with immigration matters such as applications and appeals

Injunction

An order of the court requiring an individual or organisation to do or not do a specified act.

Insolvency

The inability to pay debts when they fall due.

Intellectual Property

Anything created by the intellect that has commercial value, such as music, literary or artistic works.

↑ L

Landlord and Tenant Law

The law governing relations between both landlords and tenants of both residential and business properties.

Landlord and Tenant Law (Property) Solicitors

Solicitors who are experts in landlord and tenant law can help draft your tenancy agreements, explain your obligations to the tenant and help with eviction proceedings if this becomes necessary.

Legal aid/Public funding

Legal advice and representation for people on low incomes which is not paid for at the outset of the case, but which can be deducted out of any compensation they win.

Libel

The act of publishing something about somebody that is not true and causes them damage.

Liquor Licencing and Gaming Law

The law governing the granting of licences to premises where alcohol is to be sold or gaming is to take place.

Litigation

The use or threat of court proceedings.

↑ M

Media Law

The law governing the entertainment, publishing and other media sectors, including intellectual property law, copyright and trademarks.

Mediation

The appointment of a neutral third party to attempt to persuade disputing parties to come to a settlement without court proceedings.

Mental Health Law

The law governing the treatment and classification of mental patients, such as under the Mental Health Act 1983.

Military Law

The system of regulation that governs the armed forces.

Money Laundering

The government has introduced tough anti-money laundering laws in a bid to combat international crime and terrorism. This means that solicitors and other professionals are required to check you are who you say you are when you first instruct them. They may also ask for proof of identity if you have not instructed them for some time.

↑ N

Neighbour Disputes

Legal disputes between neighbours, often related to noise, threats of violence or obstructed access to property.

↑ P

Pensions Law

The law governing the payment and the protection of pensions.

Personal Injury Law

The law governing claims for compensation where one party has caused physical injury to another. Find out more about making a personal injury claim.

Personal Injury Solicitors

The personal injury solicitor will negotiate over how much personal injury compensation you should get.

Planning Law

The law governing the obtaining of planning permission for the erection or change of use of buildings and other developments.

Probate

The obtaining of legal authority to deal with the affairs of someone who has died. Find out more about probate.

Professional Negligence

The area of law covering claims against any professional whose work has not met the standards that can reasonably be expected, often brought against medical professionals, surveyors, architects, accountants or solicitors.

↑ T

Taxation Law

The law governing the payment and evasion of tax due to HM Revenue & Customs.

Trusts Law

The law governing the creation and maintenance of trusts, such as those used to protect family assets through the generations.

↑ W

Welfare Benefits Law

The law governing the payment of welfare benefits to individuals.

Wills & Probate Law

The law governing the interpretation of wills and the distribution of the estate of people who have died. Find out more about writing your will.