Law A-Level
Law A-Level glossary
29 key terms for Law A-Level, A to Z, each linked to the topic pages that use it.
29 terms found. Open a term to try a short memory check.
A
- Actionable per se
- A tort where the claimant does not need to prove they suffered any actual damage to bring a claim.Pearson Edexcel
- Actus Reus
- The physical element or 'guilty act' of a crime.Pearson Edexcel
- Appropriation
- Assuming the rights of an owner over property.Pearson Edexcel
B
- Burden of Proof
- The obligation on a party to prove the facts of the case.Pearson Edexcel
C
- Cartel
- An agreement between businesses not to compete with each other, typically involving price-fixing or market sharing.Pearson Edexcel
- Claimant
- The person or organisation who brings a civil claim against a defendant.Pearson Edexcel
- Consideration
- The price for which the promise of the other is bought; a requirement for a legally binding contract in the market.Pearson Edexcel
D
- Dominant Position
- A position of economic strength which enables an undertaking to prevent effective competition being maintained on the relevant market.Pearson Edexcel
E
- Equity
- A system of law developed by the Court of Chancery to provide fairness and new remedies where the common law was too rigid.Pearson Edexcel
- Exclusion Clause
- A term in a contract that seeks to restrict or exclude the liability of one of the parties for breach of contract or negligence.Pearson Edexcel
J
- Just Satisfaction
- The compensation awarded by the European Court of Human Rights to a successful applicant.Pearson Edexcel
L
- Lawful Visitor
- A person who has express or implied permission to enter the occupier's premises.Pearson Edexcel
- Libel
- Defamation in a permanent form (e.g., written, broadcast) which is actionable per se without proof of special damage.Pearson Edexcel
M
- Mens Rea
- The mental element or 'guilty mind' of a crime.Pearson Edexcel
N
- Natural Law
- The legal theory that valid laws must be rooted in morality and justice.Pearson Edexcel
O
- Obiter Dicta
- Things said 'by the way' in a judgment, which are persuasive but not binding.Pearson Edexcel
P
- Parliamentary Sovereignty
- The constitutional principle that Parliament is the supreme law-making body and can enact or repeal any law.Pearson Edexcel
- Positivism
- The legal theory that law and morality are separate, and a law is valid if made by the recognised authority.Pearson Edexcel
- Privity of Contract
- The principle that a contract cannot confer rights or impose obligations on any person who is not a party to it.Pearson Edexcel
- Prosecution
- The party (usually the state/Crown Prosecution Service) bringing a criminal charge against a defendant.Pearson Edexcel
Q
- Qualified Right
- A human right that can be lawfully interfered with by the state if it is necessary and proportionate to do so.Pearson Edexcel
R
- Ratio Decidendi
- The legal reason for a judge's decision, which creates the binding precedent for lower courts.Pearson Edexcel
S
- Slander
- Defamation in a transient form (e.g., spoken words) which generally requires the claimant to prove special damage.Pearson Edexcel
- Standard of Proof
- The level of certainty required to prove a case.Pearson Edexcel
- Stare Decisis
- Latin for 'stand by what has been decided'; the foundation of the doctrine of precedent.Pearson Edexcel
- Strict Liability
- Offences where no mens rea is required to be proven for at least one part of the actus reus.Pearson Edexcel
- Subjective Recklessness
- Where the defendant takes an unjustifiable risk and is actually aware of that risk.Pearson Edexcel
T
- Transferred Malice
- The legal principle where the mens rea intended for one victim is transferred to the actual victim, provided the offence is of the same type.Pearson Edexcel
U
- Ultra Vires
- Latin for 'beyond the powers'; used when a body makes delegated legislation that exceeds the authority granted by the parent Act.Pearson Edexcel
Where these terms come from
Each definition is one we publish on a Law A-Level topic page or study guide. Open a term to see how each exam board words it and which topic it belongs to. For the full course, go to Law revision or the glossary for every subject.
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