Understanding Legal and Academic Terms: A Comprehensive Guide

PhD

Abbreviation for doctor of philosophy: the highest college or university degree, or someone who has a thesis. Also called doctorate. The highest degree awarded by a graduate school, usually to a person who has completed at least three years of graduate study and a dissertation approved by a board of professors.

Secondary School

A school for young people, usually between the ages of 11 and 18. A high school or a school of corresponding grade, ranking between a primary school and a college or university.

Thesis

A long piece of writing on a particular subject, especially one that is done for a higher college or university degree. A dissertation on a particular subject in which one has done original research, as one presented by a candidate for a diploma or degree.

Subject

A topic or an area of knowledge that is studied by someone.

Bar

The place in a court of law where the accused stands during his trial.

Corporate

Corporate lawyers serve one client in which they are employed. Their primary objective is to serve the interests of the corporation, not the owners of the business or the officers who run it. In addition to legal counsel, they may also be called upon to provide business advice.

Barrister

The professional body of pleaders before the High Courts in England.

Defendant

A person against whom an action or claim is brought in a court of law.

Plaintiff

A person who brings a civil action in a court of law.

Dispute

To express disagreement over something or someone.

Arson

The crime of intentionally and illegally setting fire to a building or other structure.

Assassination

To murder (a prominent person) by surprise attack, as for political reasons.

Assault

A violent physical attack, as with blows.

Bigamy

The criminal offense of marrying one person while still legally married to another.

Blackmail

Extortion of money or something else of value from a person by the threat of exposing a criminal act or discreditable information.

Bribery

The act or practice of offering, giving, or taking money or some other benefit given to a person in power, especially a public official, in an effort to cause the person to take a particular action.

Burglary

The act of entering another's premises without authorization in order to commit a crime, such as theft.

Embezzlement

To take (money one has been entrusted with) for personal use.

Espionage

The practice of spying or of using spies to obtain secret information, especially regarding a government or business.

Extortion

Illegal use of one's official position or powers to obtain property, funds, or patronage.

Forgery

The act of forging something, especially the unlawful act of counterfeiting a document or object for the purposes of fraud or deception.