Legal Glossary
Plain language for real life problems.
Legal language can be confusing, especially when you are already dealing with a criminal charge, a civil dispute, or a court deadline. Whitehorse Law has compiled this glossary of legal terms explaining some common legal words and phrases in everyday language so you can better understand what is happening and what the next step might be. We’ve tried to focus on the terms you are most likely to see in letters, court papers, police paperwork, and lawyer conversations, without drifting into obscure jargon.
Common criminal defence terms
Accused
The person charged with a criminal offence.
Adjournment / Adjourned
When a court date is moved to another day.
Bail
The process that decides whether you are released from custody while your case is still going on, and what conditions you must follow if you are released.
Beyond a Reasonable Doubt
This refers to the high quality of proof of guilt the Crown must supply in a trial before an Accused person can be found guilty of the charge. An Accused person does not have to prove anything in a criminal case; they need only create a reasonable doubt that they are guilty.
Charge
The offence the RCMP say you committed.
Charter Rights
The legal rights protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, such as the right to silence, the right to a lawyer, and protection from unreasonable search and seizure.
Crown
The prosecutor. This is the lawyer representing the government in a criminal case.
Disclosure
The evidence the Crown must provide the Accused so they can prepare their legal defence. Often include RCMP worn body camera video; RCMP dashcam video, police reports, witness statements, photos, and videos. Every accused person is entitled to a complete copy of the RCMP evidence file, with very limited exceptions.
Driving Prohibition
A court order that stops you from driving for a period of time.
DUI / impaired driving/ driving over the legal limit
A charge involving alcohol, drugs, or another substance affecting your ability to operate a motor vehicle.
Evidence
Information used to prove or disprove a fact. It can come in many forms, such as documents, witness testimony, video, or physical items.
Exclusion of Evidence
When the court decides certain evidence should not be used because it was obtained unfairly or unlawfully by the RCMP.
Guilty Plea
When a person admits the charge. This involves waiving your legal right to be assumed innocent until proven guilty and should never be done lightly.
Impound
When police take and hold a vehicle under suspicion of impaired driving, or to search it for evidence of crime.
Impaired
To be affected by alcohol, drugs, or another substance to the point it negatively affects your driving. Even a slight amount of impairment is enough to be found guilty.
No Contact Order
A court condition that says you cannot contact a certain person directly or indirectly. Breaking any such rule can result in your bail being pulled and having to wait for your trial in jail. If a no contact order is causing you a big problem, you can apply to change it.
Not Guilty / Acquittal
A finding that the Crown did not prove their case against the Accused. The Crown bears the burden of proving the case, and must prove.
Sentence
The penalty imposed on an Accused after a guilty plea or conviction. Criminal offences can be punished by: fines, jail, house arrest, probation, driving suspensions, and other orders.
Trial
A court hearing where the Crown tries to prove that you are guilty. They bring their witness and other evidence to Court, and the Accused does the same. The Judge listens to the witnesses, looks at the evidence, and listens to the lawyers explain why their side of the case should win. The rules and procedures of a trial are complicated and it takes experience to present a powerful defence.
Common civil dispute terms
Agreement
A deal between two or more people or businesses.
Claim
A formal statement saying someone owes money, caused harm, broke an agreement, or otherwise has a legal obligation.
Court Filing
A document officially submitted to the court.
Beyond a Reasonable Doubt
This refers to the high quality of proof of guilt the Crown must supply in a trial before an Accused person can be found guilty of the charge. An Accused person does not have to prove anything in a criminal case; they need only create a reasonable doubt that they are guilty.
Charge
The offence the RCMP say you committed.
Defendent
The person or business being sued in a civil case.
Crown
The prosecutor. This is the lawyer representing the government in a criminal case.
Demand Letter
A letter asking someone to do something, pay money, or stop doing something before a court case starts. It is usually a good idea to send one before starting a court case. There is no single required format, but certain important information should be included.
Dispute
A disagreement between people or businesses.
Injunction
A court order that tells someone to do something or stop doing something.
Liability
Legal responsibility for a loss, injury, debt, or problem.
Mediation
A voluntary or court-directed process where a neutral person helps the parties try to reach an agreement.
Negligence
Carelessness that causes harm or loss.
Plaintiff
The person or business starting a civil lawsuit.
Settlement
An agreement that resolves a dispute without the need for a trial. Settlements have many advantages, including: lower legal fees, certainty of result, faster finish to the case, and no stress from going through the trial process.
Small Claims
A court process for lower-value civil disputes. The Yukon Small Claims Court is designed for non-lawyers to be able to present their case in its best light, with relaxed rules and extra-helpful judges. Other rules are designed to discourage the parties from hiring a lawyer, like very limited ability to recoup hyper lawyer’s legal fees from the losing party.
Statement of Claim
The document that starts a civil lawsuit and explains what the plaintiff says happened, and the plaintiffs demands for compensation for their losses.
Statement of Defence
The defendant’s written response to a Statement of Claim. There are strict time limits and serious consequences if you don’t file your Statement of Defence on time.
Subpeona
A court order requiring someone to attend court or provide records.
Without Prejudice
Usually means a communication made as part of settlement talks and not meant to be treated as an admission that can be used against that party in Court.
court process words
Adjourned
Postponed to another day.
Appearance
A court date when you or your lawyer must attend.
Application
A request asking the Judge to make a Court Order in their favour.
Hearing
A court proceeding where a judge listens to arguments or evidence.
Order
A formal decision made by the court.
Proceeding
The legal process or case itself.
Remedy
What the court can do to fix or address the problem. They can include money damages, and orders to stop doing the behaviourist that gave rise to the lawsuit,
Service
Delivering court documents to another person in the required legal way.
Set Aside
To cancel or undo a court order in some situations.
Important note
This glossary gives plain-language explanations, not legal advice. If a term appears in your own paperwork, the meaning can depend on the exact facts, the court, and the stage of the case.
If you are dealing with a criminal charge or civil dispute, we would highly recommend you consult with an experienced lawyer.
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