Dictionary of Law
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defense attorney :: legal definition


Defense attorney - n. 1) the attorney representing the defendant in a lawsuit or criminal prosecution. 2) a lawyer who regularly represents defendants who have insurance and who is chosen by the insurance company. 3) a lawyer who regularly represents criminal defendants. Attorneys who regularly represent clients in actions for damages are often called "plaintiff's attorneys."

See also: defendant plaintiff's attorney and Related Law Terms ↓


Related Law Terms

adjuster :: n. an employee (usually a non-lawyer) of an insura ... e company in approving settlements.
appearance :: n. the act of a party or an attorney showing up in ... neral appearance special appearance
attachment :: n. the seizing of money or property prior to getti ... bond. See also: writ of attachment
attempt :: v. and n. to actually try to commit a crime and ha ... felt he tried but did not succeed.
attorney of record :: n. the attorney who has appeared in court and/or s ... eve have long since been completed.
attorney's advertising :: n. the commercials which appear on television or c ... es to handle high volume practices.
bail bond :: n. a bond provided by an insurance company through ... urned. See also: bail bail bondsman
bill of particulars :: n. a written itemization of claims which a defenda ... the factual bases for the charges.
burden of proof :: n. the requirement that the plaintiff (the party b ... ence prima facie weight of evidence
challenge :: n. the right of each attorney in a jury trial to r ... ess. See also: peremptory challenge
clean hands doctrine :: n. a rule of law that a person coming to court wit ... ices. See also: affirmative defense
closing argument :: n. the final argument by an attorney on behalf of ... . See also: opening statement trial
complaint :: n. the first document filed with the court (actual ... g prayer service of process summons
confess :: v. in criminal law, to voluntarily state that one ... Miranda warning self-incrimination
counsel :: 1) n. a lawyer, attorney, attorney-at-law, counsel ... self is a crime. See also: attorney
counterclaim :: n. a retaliatory claim by a defendant against a pl ... d. See also: answer cross-complaint
criminal attorney :: n. a popular term for an attorney who specializes ... . See also: crime felon misdemeanor
criminal calendar :: n. the list of criminal cases to be called in cour ... e plea preliminary hearing sentence
cross-complaint :: n. after a complaint has been filed against a defe ... g prayer service of process summons
cumis counsel :: n. an attorney employed by a defendant in a lawsui ... fendant be approved by the company.
default judgment :: n. if a defendant in a lawsuit fails to respond to ... See also: complaint default summons
diversion :: n. in criminal procedure, a system for giving a ch ... second offense. See also: probation
examination :: n. 1) the questioning of a witness by an attorney. ... irect examination testimony witness
excusable neglect :: n. a legitimate excuse for the failure of a party ... See also: default default judgment
forum non conveniens :: (for-uhm nahn cahn-vee-nee-ehns) n. Latin for a fo ... most convenient location for trial.
insanity :: n. mental illness of such a severe nature that a p ... M'Naughten rule temporary insanity
insurance :: n. a contract (insurance policy) in which the insu ... t clause Workers' Compensation Acts
joint and several :: adj. referring to a debt or a judgment for neglige ... ution contributory negligence joint
jump bail :: v. to fail to appear for a court appearance after ... also: bail bail bond bail bondsman
jury :: n. one of the remarkable innovations of the Englis ... hallenge sequester venire voir dire
last clear chance :: n. a rule of law in determining responsibility for ... contributory negligence negligence
liability :: n. one of the most significant words in the field ... bility joint tortfeasors negligence
motion for dismissal :: (non-suit) n. application by a defendant in a laws ... otion for nonsuit. See also: motion
no contest :: n. in criminal law, a defendant's plea in court th ... : nolo contendere plea plea bargain
objection :: n. a lawyer's protest about the legal propriety of ... ng question object overrule sustain
party :: n. 1) one of the participants in a lawsuit or othe ... y real party in interest respondent
plaintiff's attorney :: n. the attorney who represents a plaintiff (the su ... ee also: defense attorney plaintiff
plea :: n. 1) in criminal law, the response by an accused ... raignment plead preliminary hearing
plea bargain :: n. in criminal procedure, a negotiation between th ... the ban. See also: cop a plea plea
proof :: n. confirmation of a fact by evidence. In a trial, ... doubt preponderance of the evidence
prosecute :: v. 1) in criminal law, to charge a person with a c ... rney General prosecution prosecutor
prosecutor :: n. generic term for the government's attorney in a ... ee also: Attorney General prosecute
proximate cause :: n. a happening which results in an event, particul ... also: intervening cause negligence
public defender :: n. an elected or appointed public official (usuall ... to convicted indigents for appeals.
recoupment :: n. the right of a defendant in a lawsuit to demand ... ter, including outside the lawsuit.
release on one's own recognizance :: v. for a judge to allow a criminal defendant pre-t ... ourtroom slang. See also: bail O.R.
retainer :: n. the advance payment to an attorney for services ... e stuck with extensive unpaid fees.
setoff :: (offset) n. a claim by a defendant in a lawsuit th ... ee also: affirmative defense offset
settlement :: n. the resolution of a lawsuit (or of a legal disp ... ult in settlement. See also: settle
speaking demurrer :: n. an attempt to introduce evidence during a heari ... the operation." See also: demurrer
summons :: n. a document issued by the court at the time a la ... use service service of process writ
trial :: n. the examination of facts and law presided over ... at a hearing held at a later time.
unclean hands :: n. a legal doctrine which is a defense to a compla ... ough. See also: affirmative defense
venue :: n. 1) the proper or most convenient location for t ... ion. See also: forum non conveniens
vexatious litigation :: n. filing a lawsuit with the knowledge that it has ... lous malicious prosecution sanction

Popular Law Searches

legal definition ministerial act :: n. an act, particularly of a governmental employee ... exercising any individual judgment.
chancery legal definition :: n. a court that can order acts performed. Today ch ... ts in most states. See also: equity
testamentary disposition legal definition :: n. how the terms of a will divide the testator's ( ... named beneficiaries. See also: will
contract of sufferance :: n. a "hold-over" tenancy after a lease has expired ... y tenancy at will unlawful detainer
forthwith legal definition :: adv. a term found in contracts, court orders and s ... mediacy, with no excuses for delay.
forthwith definition legal :: adv. a term found in contracts, court orders and s ... mediacy, with no excuses for delay.
what is to wit in a legal contract :: prep. that is to say. Example: "the passengers in ... tty Bumgartner and Sherry Younger."
mirror wills legal definition :: n. the wills of a husband and wife which are ident ... d each names the other as executor.
clean hands doctrine latin :: n. a rule of law that a person coming to court wit ... ices. See also: affirmative defense
sine qua non only relates to contract law :: (see-nay kwah nahn) prep. Latin for "without which ... qua non of the injury to Playmate.

Other Law Terms - D

D.A. :: n. slang for District Attorney. ... n. slang for District Attorney.
d.b.a. :: n. short for "doing business as," when a person or ... that is registered with the state.
D.U.I. :: n. short for driving under the influence of alcoho ... ing under the influence of alcohol.
D.W.I. :: n. 1) short for driving while intoxicated. 2) abbr ... for dying without issue (children).
damages :: n. the amount of money which a plaintiff (the pers ... liquidated damages special damages
dangerous :: adj. unsafe, hazardous, fraught with risk. It can ... eapon's range. See also: negligence
dangerous weapon :: n. any gun, knife, sword, crossbow, slingshot or o ... igence and possibly win a judgment.
date rape :: n. forcible sexual intercourse by a male acquainta ... physical resistance. See also: rape
day in court :: n. popular term for everyone's opportunity to brin ... rt to protest his speeding ticket."
de facto :: adj. Latin for "in fact." Often used in place of " ... ave not been met. See also: de jure
de facto corporation :: n. a company which operates as if it were a corpor ... also: de facto de jure ultra vires
de jure :: adj. Latin for "lawful," as distinguished from de ... also: de facto de jure corporation
de jure corporation :: n. a corporation in good standing under the law, a ... also: de facto corporation de jure
de minimis :: adj. (dee-minnie-miss) Latin for "of minimum impor ... deal, a $10 mistake is de minimis.
de novo :: adj. Latin for "anew," which means starting over, ... n, de novo. See also: trial de novo
deadly weapon :: n. any weapon which can kill. This includes not on ... See also: assault dangerous weapon
dealer :: n. anyone who buys goods or property for the purpo ... ins taxes by buying other property.
death penalty :: n. the sentence of execution for murder and some o ... rder and some other capital crimes.
death row :: n. nickname for that portion of a prison in which ... o: capital punishment death penalty
debenture :: n. a form of bond certificate issued by a corporat ... n shares of stock or general bonds.