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To help you understand some of the legal language, you will find this legal glossary useful. We include English and Latin terms that are in common use in law. Just click on the word or expression to find the definition:
| SERVICE |
| Delivery by post or personal service of the claim, or other court documents |
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| SHERIFF |
| An officer of the Crown whose duties, amongst other things, consist of the enforcement of High Court writs of execution |
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| SILK |
| Queens Counsel, a senior barrister sometimes referred to as a leader or leading counsel |
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| SLANDER |
| Spoken words which have a damaging effect on a person's reputation |
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| SMALL CLAIMS TRACK |
| The path that defended claims of no more than £5000 (and Personal Injury and Housing Disrepair claims of no more than £1000) are allocated to |
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| SOLICITOR |
| Member of the legal profession chiefly concerned with advising clients and preparing their cases and representing them in some Courts. May also act as advocates before certain Courts or tribunals |
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| SPECIFIED CLAIM |
| A type of claim which is issued for a fixed amount of money allegedly owing. Previously known as a liquidated claim |
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| SQUATTER |
| A person occupying land or property without the owners consent |
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| STATEMENT |
| A written account by a witness of the facts of details of a matter |
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| STATUTORY INSTRUMENT |
| A document issued by the delegated authority (usually a Government Minister or committee) named within an act of parliament which affects the workings of the original Act, eg The County Courts Act 1984 confers authority on to the County Court Rule Committee to make rules relating to the operation of the County Courts act |
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| STAY OF EXECUTION |
| An order following which judgment cannot be enforced without leave of the court |
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| STIPENDIARY MAGISTRATE |
| A legally qualified and salaried Magistrate |
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| SUBPOENA |
| A summons issued to a person directing their attendance in Court to give evidence |
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| SUIT |
| Legal proceedings commenced by petition |
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| SUITOR |
| Person bringing a suit before the Courts |
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| SUMMARY ASSESSMENT (OF COSTS) |
| Where the question of costs is dealt with at the conclusion of the hearing |
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| SUMMARY JUDGMENT |
| Judgment obtained by a plaintiff where there is no defence to the case or the defence contains no valid grounds |
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| SUMMARY OFFENCE |
| (see INDICTABLE, EITHER WAY OFFENCE) A criminal offence which is triable only by a Magistrates Court |
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| SUMMING-UP |
| A review of the evidence and directions as to the law by a judge immediately before a jury retires to consider its verdict |
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| SUMMONS |
| Order to appear or to produce evidence to a Court Also the old name for a claim form |
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| SUMMONS (JURY) |
| Order to attend for jury service |
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| SUMMONS (WITNESS) |
| Order to appear as a witness at a hearing |
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| SUPREME COURT OF JUDICATURE |
| Collective name encompassing - High Court of Justice, Crown Court and Court of Appeal |
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| SURETY |
| A person's undertaking to be liable for another's default or non-attendance at Court |
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| SUSPENDED SENTENCE |
| A custodial sentence which will not take effect unless there is a subsequent offence within a specified period |
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