Advocate: A lawyer who is allowed to present a client’s case in a court of law.
Beneficiary: Someone who receives something from someone as part of their Will such as money, property, jewellery or another valuable object.
Bequest: Property, money or another gift that is left to someone in a will.
Caution: A warning given by police to someone arrested for a crime. This means that the person will be released without prosecution but any further offences will take into account the first crime.
Charge: When someone is charged with a crime they are formally accused of committing the crime and will be taken to court.
Conveyancing: The area of law that deals with selling or transferring property from one person to another.
Defence: Lawyer/s who set out facts that defend a person from the charges (or civil action) against them.
Defendent: A person in court defending themselves from a crime which they have been accused of or civil action taken against them.
Executor: A person who is responsible for managing a person’s estate (their money, property and other possessions) when they die.
Judge: A person who is in charge of a court of law. They have complete authority over courtroom proceedings and will decide what sentence will be given to someone found guilty of a crime.
Jury: A group of 15 (or sometimes 12) individuals who listen to the evidence in court and decide if the person is guilty or not guilty.
Magistrate: A civilian who applies the law and is the judge for cases involving minor offences. They are not legally qualified however will have had training.
Next of Kin: A person’s next of kin is a close relative such as husband/wife, civil partner, parent or child or a close friend. It is usually the person who is closest to them. This person is contacted in the event of an emergency which is why some people carry a card with their next of kin’s contact details.
Plea: An accused person’s response to the charges in court I.e guilty or not guilty.
Power of Attorney: Someone who has the authority to act on behalf of another person when they die or no longer able make decisions for themselves (not of sound mind). A power of attorney can look after a person’s finances, make decisions about their welfare I.e medical treatment or where they should live.
Prosecution: Lawyer/s who, on behalf of the Crown (or Prosecutor Fiscal in Scotland) who sets out the case against a person in court.
Sheriff: In Scotland, a Sheriff is a judge who presides over a Sheriff Court.
Solicitor: A qualified lawyer who can provide legal advice to their clients, prepare legal documents and conduct other legal matters such as conveyancing or drawing wills.
Will: A document that is written by a person explaining what they wish to happen to their money, any property, valuable items or any other possessions when they die. Most people ask a solicitor to help them write their will however you can write it yourself if you wish.
Writ: An order from the court instructing someone either to do or not to do something.
