Essential Legal English Vocabulary and Terminology

Posted on Jun 20, 2026 in Law

Legal Professions

  • Attorney: Lawyer qualified in the USA. (Abogado en EE.UU.)
  • Barrister: Lawyer who represents clients in higher courts. (Abogado litigante)
  • Lawyer: General legal professional. (Abogado)
  • Solicitor: Lawyer who advises clients and prepares legal documents. (Abogado asesor)
  • Acting for: Representing a client. (Representar)
  • Advocacy: Speaking on behalf of a client. (Defensa jurídica)
  • Appear: Act in court. (Comparecer)
  • Judge: Person who decides cases. (Juez)
  • Litigation: Court proceedings. (Litigio)
  • Qualified: Officially certified. (Titulado)
  • Specialize: Focus on one area of law. (Especializarse)
  • Right of Audience: Permission to appear in court. (Derecho de audiencia)
  • Practice: Professional legal work. (Práctica)
  • Training Contract: Practical legal training agreement. (Contrato de prácticas)
  • Pleading a Case: Presenting legal arguments. (Alegar un caso)
  • Represent: Act on behalf of another. (Representar)

Civil Procedure

  • Civil Law: Law governing private rights and obligations. (Derecho civil)
  • Matter: Legal issue. (Asunto)
  • Claim Form: Document used to start a lawsuit. (Escrito de demanda)
  • Claim: Legal demand. (Demanda)
  • Pleadings: Initial court documents. (Escritos iniciales)
  • Prosecute: Bring criminal proceedings. (Ejercer acción penal)
  • Claimant / Plaintiff: Person bringing a claim. (Demandante)
  • Defendant: Person sued or accused. (Demandado)
  • Bailiff: Court officer. (Actuario)
  • Hear a Case: Consider a dispute. (Conocer un caso)
  • Give Judgment: Deliver a decision. (Dictar sentencia)
  • Issue a Claim: File a lawsuit. (Presentar demanda)
  • Make an Order: Issue a court order. (Emitir orden judicial)
  • Serve a Claim: Deliver legal notice. (Emplazar)
  • Respond to a Claim: Answer a lawsuit. (Contestar demanda)
  • Pay a Fee: Pay a required charge. (Pagar cuota)
  • Find in Favor of Someone: Decide for a party. (Dar la razón)

Tort Law

  • Law of Tort: Law of civil liability. (Responsabilidad civil)
  • Duty of Care: Obligation to avoid causing harm. (Deber de cuidado)
  • Breach: Failure to comply with a duty. (Incumplimiento)
  • Tort: Civil wrong causing harm. (Agravio)
  • Damages: Monetary compensation. (Daños y perjuicios)
  • Sue: Bring a civil action. (Demandar)
  • Allegation: Formal accusation. (Acusación)
  • Grounds: Legal reasons for a claim. (Fundamentos)
  • Committed: Performed or carried out. (Cometido)
  • No-Win, No-Fee: No payment if the case is lost. (No gana, no paga)
  • Carelessness: Lack of caution. (Descuido)

Legal Areas

  • Contract Law: Law of agreements. (Derecho contractual)
  • Company Law: Law of corporations. (Derecho corporativo)
  • Land Law: Law of property and land. (Derecho inmobiliario)
  • Intellectual Property Law: Protection of creations and inventions. (Propiedad intelectual)
  • Immigration Law: Law regulating migration. (Derecho migratorio)

Banking

  • Overdraft: Spending beyond available funds. (Sobregiro)
  • Current Account: Everyday bank account. (Cuenta corriente)
  • Issue: Make available officially. (Emitir)
  • Fees: Professional charges. (Honorarios)
  • Withdraw: Take money out. (Retirar)
  • Deposit: Put money in. (Depositar)
  • Transfer: Move money electronically. (Transferir)
  • Bills: Requests for payment. (Facturas)
  • Charges: Bank commissions. (Comisiones)
  • Statement: Record of account activity. (Estado de cuenta)
  • Balance: Amount of money available. (Saldo)
  • Debit: Money leaving an account. (Débito)
  • Credit: Money entering an account. (Crédito)
  • Income: Money received. (Ingresos)
  • Outgoing: Money spent. (Egresos)
  • Lend: Give money temporarily. (Prestar)
  • Owe: Have a debt. (Deber)
  • Red: Negative balance. (Saldo negativo)
  • Black: Positive balance. (Saldo positivo)
  • Cover Legal Costs: Pay legal expenses. (Cubrir gastos legales)
  • Open a Bank Account: Create a bank account. (Abrir cuenta bancaria)
  • Withdraw Money: Remove money from an account. (Retirar dinero)
  • Consolidate Debts: Combine several debts. (Consolidar deudas)
  • Covered by Insurance: Protected by a policy. (Cubierto por seguro)
  • Loan Application: Request for a loan. (Solicitud de préstamo)
  • Interest Rate: Percentage charged on money. (Tasa de interés)
  • Range of Services: Variety of services offered. (Gama de servicios)
  • Make an Application: Submit a request. (Solicitar)
  • Default: Failure to comply with obligations. (Incumplimiento)
  • Offer: Definite proposal. (Oferta)
  • Acceptance: Unconditional agreement. (Aceptación)

Contract Law

  • Precedent: Earlier decision binding future cases. (Precedente)
  • Case: Legal dispute. (Caso)
  • Contract: Legally binding agreement. (Contrato)
  • Obliged: Required to do something. (Obligado)
  • Parties: People involved in a contract. (Partes)
  • Courts of First Instance: Lowest level courts. (Juzgados de primera instancia)
  • Ratio Decidendi: Legal reasoning of a decision. (Razón de la decisión)
  • Obiter Dictum: Non-binding judicial comment. (Obiter dictum)
  • Pronouncement: Judicial declaration. (Pronunciamiento)
  • Principle of Law: General legal rule. (Principio jurídico)
  • Offeror: Person making an offer. (Oferente)
  • Offeree: Person receiving an offer. (Destinatario de la oferta)
  • Reject: Refuse an offer. (Rechazar)
  • Expiration: End of validity. (Vencimiento)
  • Revoke: Withdraw an offer. (Revocar)
  • Counteroffer: New offer replacing another. (Contraoferta)
  • Term: Contract provision or duration. (Cláusula o plazo)
  • Terms: Conditions of a contract. (Términos y condiciones)
  • Contract Under Seal: Formal authenticated contract. (Contrato solemne)
  • Sum: Amount of money. (Suma)
  • Enforceable: Legally executable. (Exigible)
  • Injured Party: Party suffering damage. (Parte perjudicada)
  • Deed: Formal legal document. (Escritura)
  • Capacity to Contract: Legal ability to contract. (Capacidad para contratar)
  • Party in Breach: Party failing to comply. (Parte incumplidora)
  • Void: Legally invalid. (Nulo)
  • Donation: Transfer without payment. (Donación)
  • Discharged: Released from obligations. (Liberado)
  • Under Duress: Under coercion. (Bajo coacción)
  • Comply With: Fulfill obligations. (Cumplir con)

Legislative Process

  • Draft a Bill: Prepare a proposed law. (Redactar proyecto de ley)
  • Debate a Bill: Discuss a proposed law. (Debatir proyecto de ley)
  • Suggest an Amendment: Propose a change. (Proponer reforma)
  • Make a Decision: Reach a conclusion. (Tomar decisión)
  • Form a New Law: Create legislation. (Crear ley)
  • Hand Down a Judgment: Deliver a court ruling. (Dictar sentencia)
  • Issue a New Precedent: Establish a precedent. (Crear precedente)
  • Decide a Case: Resolve a dispute. (Decidir un caso)
  • Make a Suggestion: Offer a proposal. (Hacer propuesta)

Contract Remedies

  • Contract Provision: Clause within a contract. (Cláusula contractual)
  • Third Party: Person not signing the contract. (Tercero)
  • Enforce a Term: Require compliance. (Exigir cumplimiento)
  • Expressly Confer a Right: Clearly grant a right. (Otorgar un derecho expresamente)
  • Construction of a Contract: Interpretation of a contract. (Interpretación contractual)
  • Enforceable Contract: Contract recognized by courts. (Contrato exigible)
  • Remedy for Breach: Solution for non-compliance. (Remedio por incumplimiento)
  • Injunction: Court order to stop an act. (Mandato judicial)
  • Specific Performance: Court order to fulfill obligations. (Cumplimiento forzoso)

Elements of a Contract

  • Offer: Definite proposal. (Oferta)
  • Consideration: Exchange of value. (Contraprestación)
  • Acceptance: Agreement to the offer. (Aceptación)
  • Intention: Desire to create legal obligations. (Intención jurídica)

Ways to End a Contract

  • Lapse: Expire by time. (Caducar)
  • Counteroffer: New proposal replacing another. (Contraoferta)
  • Reject: Refuse an offer. (Rechazar)
  • Revoke: Withdraw an offer. (Revocar)

Employment Law Language

  • Employer: Person who hires. (Empleador)
  • Employee: Worker. (Empleado)
  • Manager: Person in charge. (Gerente)
  • Invoices: Bills. (Facturas)
  • Suppliers: Providers. (Proveedores)
  • Payroll: List of employees and payments. (Nómina)
  • Remuneration: Payment received for work. (Remuneración)
  • Salary: Fixed payment. (Salario)
  • Wages: Payment for work performed. (Sueldo)
  • Full-time: Full schedule. (Tiempo completo)
  • Part-time: Reduced schedule. (Medio tiempo)
  • Clause: Section of a contract. (Cláusula)
  • Provisions: Terms and conditions. (Disposiciones)
  • Term of the Contract: Duration of the contract. (Plazo contractual)
  • Job Title: Name of a position. (Puesto)
  • Working Hours: Time worked. (Jornada laboral)
  • Holidays: Vacation period. (Vacaciones)
  • Sick Pay: Payment during illness. (Pago por incapacidad)
  • Grievance Procedure: Complaint process. (Procedimiento de quejas)
  • Disciplinary Procedure: Process for misconduct. (Procedimiento disciplinario)
  • Pension: Retirement payment. (Pensión)
  • Confidentiality: Obligation to keep information secret. (Confidencialidad)
  • Non-Competition: Restriction on competing activities. (No competencia)
  • Termination: End of employment. (Terminación)
  • Resignation: Voluntary departure. (Renuncia)
  • Letter of Resignation: Written notice of resignation. (Carta de renuncia)
  • Notice Period: Advance warning period. (Plazo de aviso)
  • Retirement: Leaving work due to age. (Jubilación)
  • Early Retirement: Retirement before usual age. (Jubilación anticipada)
  • State Pension: Government retirement payment. (Pensión estatal)
  • Redundancy: Job eliminated by employer. (Supresión del puesto)
  • Dismissal: Formal termination by employer. (Despido)
  • Being Fired: Informal dismissal. (Despedido)
  • Being Sacked: Informal dismissal. (Despedido)
  • Gross Misconduct: Serious improper behavior. (Falta grave)
  • Fixed-Term Contract: Contract for a specific period. (Contrato por tiempo determinado)

Legal English

  • Hereby: By this document. (Por la presente)
  • Herein: In this document. (En este documento)
  • Hereinafter: Later in this document. (En lo sucesivo)
  • Heretofore: Before now / previously. (Previamente)
  • Hereunder: Under this agreement. (Bajo este documento)
  • Give Notice: Provide formal warning. (Notificar)
  • Expiration: End of validity. (Vencimiento)
  • Procurement: Obtaining something. (Adquisición)
  • Aggregate: Total amount accumulated. (Total acumulado)
  • Undertake: Promise to do something. (Comprometerse)
  • Incur: Become subject to something negative. (Incurrir)
  • Inasmuch As: To the extent that. (Puesto que)
  • Notwithstanding: Despite. (No obstante)
  • Not Less Than: At least. (No menos de)
  • Due to the Fact That: Because. (Debido a que)
  • On the Part Of: By someone. (Por parte de)
  • Until Such Time As: Until. (Hasta que)
  • During Such Time As: While. (Mientras)
  • At the Present Time: Currently. (Actualmente)
  • In the Near Future: Soon. (En un futuro próximo)
  • Compensation: Payment for loss or damage. (Indemnización)
  • Entitled To: Having the right to. (Tener derecho a)
  • Extent: Scope or limit. (Alcance)
  • In the Event Of: If something happens. (En caso de)