Dictionary of Law
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American Bar Association :: legal definition


American Bar Association - n. the largest organization of American lawyers, which has no official standing, but is prestigious in formulating guidelines for the practice of law, giving direction to legislation, lobbying for the law profession, and evaluating federal judges. Less then one-third of attorneys belong to the A.B.A., and it is often dominated by the larger urban law firms and those who are interested in bar association politics. Nevertheless the A.B.A., its leaders, and its legal opinions are highly respected, and thus it is an important bellwether in legal circles. It publishes the monthly ABA Journal, books, specialized reports, and law office management manuals. The ABA holds a large annual national convention. Annual dues run as high as $225 (for attorneys with 10 years experience). Address: 750 North Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60611; tel.: (312) 988-5522.


Related Law Terms

acceptance of service :: n. agreement by a defendant (or his/her attorney) ... o accept service. See also: service
arrest :: v. 1) to take or hold a suspected criminal with le ... anda warning probable cause warrant
attorney :: n. 1) an agent or someone authorized to act for an ... ialize. See also: court reciprocity
Attorney General :: n. in each state and the federal government the hi ... izenry. See also: Solicitor General
attorney-client privilege :: n. the requirement that an attorney may not reveal ... ivileged communication work product
attorney's fee :: n. the payment for legal services. It can take sev ... ees in the particular type of case.
bankruptcy :: n. a federal system of statutes and courts which p ... y proceedings trustee in bankruptcy
bar :: 1) n. collectively all attorneys, as "the bar," wh ... a room, building, or real property.
bar association :: n. an organization of lawyers. There are two types ... oluntary organization of attorneys.
bar examination :: n. the examination given in each state by either t ... n that district. See also: attorney
benefit of counsel :: n. having the opportunity to have an attorney and ... attorney is the person's own fault.
brief :: 1) n. a written legal argument, usually in a forma ... another person. See also: precedent
civil law :: n. 1) a body of laws and legal concepts which come ... generic term for non-criminal law.
clerk :: n. 1) an official or employee who handles the busi ... stocking shelves, or counter sales.
complaint :: n. the first document filed with the court (actual ... g prayer service of process summons
constitutional rights :: n. rights given or reserved to the people by the U ... e also: Bill of Rights constitution
demurrer :: n. (dee-muhr-ur) a written response to a complaint ... demurrer. See also: motion pleading
due process of law :: n. a fundamental principle of fairness in all lega ... procedural and substantive rights.
estoppel :: n. a bar or impediment (obstruction) which preclud ... pel equitable estoppel estop laches
fraud :: n. the intentional use of deceit, a trick or some ... audulent conveyance intrinsic fraud
judge :: 1) n. an official with the authority and responsib ... ice justice of the peace magistrate
justice :: n. 1) fairness. 2) moral rightness. 3) a scheme or ... e appellate courts. See also: court
law :: n. 1) any system of regulations to govern the cond ... um maritime law natural law statute
law book :: n. any of numerous volumes dealing with law, inclu ... : common law law Shepardize statute
legal advertising :: n. 1) notices of probate sales and other documents ... quality of the lawyers advertising.
legal aid society :: n. an organization formed to assist persons who ha ... bar association. See also: pro bono
marriage :: n. the joining of a male and female in matrimony b ... of time without legal formalities.
minority :: n. 1) in voting, a side with less than half the vo ... See also: legal age majority minor
notice :: n. 1) information, usually in writing in all legal ... Thirty-day notice three-day notice
object :: 1) v. to ask the court not to allow a particular q ... he contract..." See also: objection
of counsel :: adj. reference to an attorney who is not actively ... quiring his/her full-time presence.
procedure :: n. the methods and mechanics of the legal process. ... cases are tried and judgments made.
Restatement of the Law :: n. a series of detailed statements of the basic la ... tracts, property, torts and trusts.
retroactive :: adj. referring to a court's decision or a statute ... ospective." See also: ex post facto
sanction :: n. 1) a financial penalty imposed by a judge on a ... ction." See also: contempt of court
speaking demurrer :: n. an attempt to introduce evidence during a heari ... the operation." See also: demurrer
trial :: n. the examination of facts and law presided over ... at a hearing held at a later time.
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 - A

a fortiori :: (ah-for-she-ory) prep. Latin for "with even strong ... rother Cain certainly is too young.
a priori assumption :: (ah-pree-ory) n. from Latin, an assumption that is ... when the reality is not so certain.
a.k.a. :: prep. abbreviation for "also known as" when someon ... nodgrass, a.k.a. "Snuffy the Snod."
ab initio :: prep. lawyer Latin for "from the start," as "it wa ... tart," as "it was legal ab initio."
abandon :: v. to intentionally and permanently give up, surre ... lso: abandoned property abandonment
abandoned property :: n. property left behind (often by a tenant) intent ... -use. See also: abandon abandonment
abandonment :: n. the act of intentionally and permanently giving ... : abandon abandoned property patent
abate :: v. to do away with a problem, such as a public or ... ty septic tank. See also: abatement
abatement :: n. 1) the removal of a problem which is against pu ... eneficiary in full. See also: abate
abduction :: n. the criminal taking away of a person by persuas ... g of children. See also: kidnapping
abet :: v. to help someone commit a crime, including helpi ... n the crime. See also: aid and abet
abeyance :: 1) n. when the owner- ship of property has not bee ... 2) legal jargon for "undetermined."
able-bodied :: adj. physically capable of working at a job or in ... of paying alimony or child support.
abortion :: n. the termination of pregnancy by various means, ... ed abortion continue in the future.
abrogate :: v. to annul or repeal a law or pass legislation th ... ons of a contract. See also: repeal
abscond :: v. 1) traditionally to leave a jurisdiction (where ... as in "he absconded with the loot."
absolute :: adj. complete, and without condition. ... j. complete, and without condition.
abstention doctrine :: n. when the Supreme Court refuses to exercise its ... being appealed from a state court.
abstract :: n. in general, a summary of a record or document, ... tract of judgment abstract of title
abstract of judgment :: n. a written summary of a judgment which states ho ... aying the debt. See also: levy lien