Legal English: Grammar and Vocabulary Essentials

Posted on Jun 15, 2026 in English

Unit 3: Tort Law

1. Passive Voice

  • Structure: Subject + verb to be + past participle.
  • Usage: Used when the action is more important than the subject.
  • Example: The contract was drafted by the lawyer.

2. Linking Words

  • Addition: Moreover, furthermore, additionally.
  • Contrast: However, although, despite.
  • Result: Therefore, consequently.
  • Summarizing: In conclusion, to sum up.

Have/Get Something Done

  • Structure: Have/Get + object + past participle.
  • Example: I had my car repaired.
  • Note: Have is more formal; Get is more informal.

Negotiation Vocabulary

  • Let’s get down to business: Vayamos al grano / Empecemos.
  • Would you consider…?: ¿Consideraría usted…?
  • Could you clarify…?: ¿Podría aclarar…?
  • I think we have a deal: Creo que tenemos un acuerdo.
  • I’m afraid…: Me temo que…

Tort Law Vocabulary

  • Tort: Ilícito civil / daño civil.
  • Damages: Indemnización / daños y perjuicios.
  • Negligence: Negligencia.
  • Claimant: Demandante.
  • Defendant: Demandado / acusado.
  • Liability: Responsabilidad.
  • Injunction: Orden judicial.
  • Assault: Agresión.
  • Battery: Agresión física.
  • Strict liability: Responsabilidad objetiva.

Dates and Numbers

  • British English: 7 March 2002.
  • American English: August 3rd, 2008.
  • Rule: 1–10 are usually written in words; 11+ as numerals.

Unit 4: Criminal Law

Conditionals

  • Zero Conditional: If + Present Simple, Present Simple. (Example: If you heat water, it boils.)
  • First Conditional: If + Present Simple, will + verb. (Example: If it rains, I will stay home.)
  • Second Conditional: If + Past Simple, would + verb. (Example: If I were rich, I would travel the world.)
  • Third Conditional: If + Past Perfect, would have + past participle. (Example: If I had studied, I would have passed the exam.)
  • Mixed Conditional: If + Past Perfect, would + verb. (Example: If I had gone to university, I would have a better job now.)

Relative Clauses

  • Relative Pronouns: who (people), which (things/animals), that (people and things), where (places), whose (possession).
  • Defining Relative Clauses: Necessary information. (Example: The student who studies a lot passes exams.)
  • Non-defining Relative Clauses: Extra information. (Example: My brother, who lives in London, is a doctor.)

Reported Speech

  • Say vs Tell: Say + something; Tell + someone.
  • Yes/No questions: Asked if/whether.
  • WH- questions: Asked + question word.
  • Orders: Told + object + to + verb. (Example: The teacher told us to sit down.)

Crime Vocabulary

  • Arson: Incendio provocado.
  • Assault: Agresión.
  • Burglary: Robo en casa.
  • Cybercrime: Ciberdelito.
  • Forgery: Falsificación.
  • Fraud: Fraude.
  • Hijacking: Secuestro de avión/tren.
  • Kidnapping: Secuestro.
  • Murder: Asesinato.
  • Robbery: Robo con violencia.
  • Shoplifting: Robo en tiendas.
  • Smuggling: Contrabando.
  • Terrorism: Terrorismo.
  • Theft: Robo/hurto.
  • Trespassing: Allanamiento.
  • Vandalism: Vandalismo.

Criminals

  • Arsonist: Pirómano.
  • Burglar: Ladrón de casas.
  • Hacker: Hacker.
  • Kidnapper: Secuestrador.
  • Murderer: Asesino.
  • Robber: Atracador.
  • Shoplifter: Ladrón de tiendas.
  • Terrorist: Terrorista.
  • Thief: Ladrón.
  • Vandal: Vándalo.

Unit 5: Company Law

Company Law Vocabulary

  • Shareholder: Accionista.
  • Board of directors: Consejo de administración.
  • Creditor: Acreedor.
  • Company director: Director de empresa.
  • Regulators: Organismos reguladores.
  • Sole proprietor: Propietario único.
  • Legal person: Persona jurídica.

Confusing Words

  • Affect (influir) vs Effect (efecto/resultado).
  • Complementary (complementario) vs Complimentary (gratuito/elogioso).
  • Principal (principal) vs Principle (principio).
  • Sale (venta) vs Sell (vender).
  • Stationary (inmóvil) vs Stationery (material de oficina).

Job vs Work

  • Job: Profesión/empleo (e.g., She has a job as a lawyer).
  • Work: Trabajo/tareas (e.g., I have a lot of work today).

Degree vs Career

  • Degree: Título universitario.
  • Career: Trayectoria profesional.

Expressing Opinions

  • I believe that…
  • In my opinion…
  • As I see it…
  • Personally speaking…
  • I’m convinced that…
  • To be honest…
  • From my point of view…

Remember vs Remind

  • Remember to do: No olvidar hacer algo (e.g., Remember to call me).
  • Remember doing: Tener el recuerdo de algo (e.g., I remember meeting her).
  • Remind: Recordar a otra persona (e.g., Remind me to send the email).

Unit 6: Procedural Law

Vocabulary

  • Claimant: Demandante.
  • Defendant: Acusado/demandado.
  • Witness: Testigo.
  • Judge: Juez.
  • Evidence: Pruebas.
  • Cross-examination: Contrainterrogatorio.
  • Trial: Juicio.

Synonyms

  • Good: Excellent, superior.
  • Bad: Awful, harmful.
  • Explain: Clarify, justify.
  • Show: Demonstrate.
  • Important: Essential, vital.

Question Tags

  • Usage: Used to confirm information.
  • Examples: You are a lawyer, aren’t you? / He works here, doesn’t he?
  • Rule: Positive sentence + negative tag / Negative sentence + positive tag.