Legalese
Your guide to Australian legal language.
From the Dictionary
A selection of Australian legal terms, refreshed on every visit.
The authority or legal power of the Court to hear a case in the first instance.
The test used by a jury, judge or magistrate to decide if someone is guilty or not guilty of a criminal offence. It must be proved beyond reasonable doubt that someone committed a …
A court case where a person or organisation sues another for compensation or for some other court order. This is different from a criminal case, where the police bring criminal cha…
A document or object produced in court as evidence.
The punishment imposed by a court on a person found guilty of an offence.
The process by which the prosecution provides the defence with copies of all relevant evidence.
Browse all legal terms
Explore the full A–Z dictionary of Australian legal terms sourced from official government and court websites.