Secondary Sources – Legal Dictionaries & Books of Words and Phrases
As you may have already noticed, the common law has a vocabulary all of its own.
- Often referred to as "legalese” this vocabulary consists of an assortment of latin maxims, terms of art, and legal jargon.
- Without the proper resources you may well find yourself overwhelmed by this terminology.
Luckily, there are resources that will help you grasp and understand the legal language.
- Legal Dictionaries
- Provide you with definitions for a full range of legal terminology.
- Always consult a legal dictionary if you are unsure of the meaning of a particular term.
- Books of Words and Phrases
- Provide judicial definitions of words or phrases that have been interpreted or considered in a case.
- These are exceptional tools for researching the meaning behind a seemingly ambiguous section in a statute or regulation.
- Also commonly referred to as "Words and Phrases Judicially Considered".
