Legal Jargon

The process of explaining your witness statement to the Court in person at a court hearing. Normally a witness statement will provide the basis for this although your solicitor or barrister may seek to ask some further questions in order to draw our further information and/or context.

The process by which one party can bring an application to the court to make the other party comply with the terms of the order. The court may impose penalties on the non-compliant party and in some situations can change the terms of the order to meet the intentions of the original order.

A person, company or other legal entity defending a court claim that has been commenced against them.

The document served by a Defendant if they do not admit the whole claim against them.

An agreement between solicitors, barristers and clients to defer payment of legal fees until a later date.

A physical or mental impairment that affects an employee’s day-to-day activities, which may be deemed a disability under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

Any expenditure or costs that your solicitor incurs on your behalf and are payable to a third party (for example the Court, Tribunal, Land Registry or independent expert).

The formal process in legal proceedings where parties make available to the other side relevant documents on which their arguments are based, provided they are not protected by privilege, in which case they may not have to be shared.

A sum of money awarded to a party by the Court as compensation as a result of a Court case.

The process where one side’s counsel (barrister) seeks to challenge or test a witness’s evidence by asking them questions in court.