Legal Jargon

Employers can use this form to respond to a claim of unlawful treatment made by an employee to an Employment Tribunal. It is often supported by Grounds of Resistance.

The mental health professional in charge of someone’s care and treatment while they are sectioned under the Mental Health Act.

A clause in an employment contract that sets limits on what a former employee can do in the weeks and months after their employment ends. Typically, these will prohibit an employee from working for a direct competitor or setting up in direct competition with their former employer, or contacting their clients / customers and suppliers for a set period of time after leaving the business.

A term used to describe the formal ending of a legal arrangement or order and a return to a previous arrangement.

A scheme designed to help eligible council and housing association tenants in England to buy their home at a discounted price.

This is when an individual is released from police custody while the police continuing to investigate the alleged criminal offence. There are no time limits for the investigation and no conditions to follow, unlike conditional bail. However, despite the lack of conditions, it is still inadvisable for people who have been released under investigation to make contact with the claimant or any witnesses as this could be deemed to be intimidation or perverting the course of justice, both of which offences, if proved, carry prison sentences.

A phrase used to refer to being detained under a section of the Mental Health Act 1983.

A planning obligation entered into by a developer in order to secure permission for a development. These often, but not always, contain affordable housing provision and/or contributions by the developer towards, for example, local infrastructure, education and healthcare provision.

The free help and support health authorities and local social services have a duty to provide when someone has been discharged from section and hospital.

Section under Mental Health Act that allows a police officer to take someone to a place of safety for assessment.

Time spent off the ward. Permission for leave is granted by the Responsible Clinician. The permission can require the patient to be escorted or not, and varies in duration, frequency and venue.

An in depth report undertaken by CAFCASS or the local authority at the direction of the court, dealing with issues such as the children’s wishes and feelings, safeguarding and any welfare concerns raised by a party. A report should make recommendations as to where a child lives, appropriate levels of time with the other parent and set out any other suggestions the CAFCASS officer may have for the improvement of contact for a child.

Where parties to a marriage agree that they are no longer in a relationship and either that they have physically separated i.e. are living apart, or are living under the same roof but separate and apart.

The formal requirement to give or send documents to an interested party in accordance with specific rules.

A payment required by a landlord or managing agent of a leasehold property to cover the cost of insuring and/or maintaining a development or block of which the property forms a part. Most newer freehold properties on an estate are also subject to a service charge payable for amenity areas on the estate.

The process where the parties agree the outcome without the matter progressing to trial.

Where documents are privileged, a party can refuse to disclose these documents as part of the disclosure exercise. The two main examples of privilege are documents created between a solicitor and a client (legal professional privilege) and negotiations between parties with a view to settling litigation (negotiation privilege).

The Court that deals with applications for Grant of Probate and Letters of Administration.

This is a standard questionnaire, also known as a TA6, completed by a seller to provide detailed information about a residential property to a buyer. It covers a wide range of topics including, for example, boundaries and who maintains them, services to the property, parking, environmental issues such as recent flooding, and any disputes with neighbours.

Qualified human rights are rights that can legally be restricted if certain conditions are met, for example, the right to respect for private and family life, home and correspondence.