| A | B |
|---|
| bankruptcy law | A federal court of limited jurisdiction that hears only bankruptcy proceedings. |
| criminal law | The branch of law that governs and defines those actions that are crimes and that subjects persons convicted of crimes to punishment imposed by the government. |
| estate planning | Making arrangements, during a person’s lifetime, for the transfer of that person’s property or obligations to others on the person’s death. |
| independent paralegal | A paralegal who offers services directly to the public, normally for a fee, without attorney supervision. Independent paralegals assist consumers by supplying them with forms and procedural knowledge relating to simple or routine legal procedures. |
| corporate law | Law that governs the formation, financing, merger and acquisition, and termination of corporations, as well as the rights and duties of those who own and run the corporation. |
| environmental law | All state and federal laws or regulations enacted or issued to protect the environment and preserve environmental resources. |
| immigration law | All laws that set forth the requirements that persons must meet if they wish to visit or immigrate to the United States |
| intellectual property | Property resulting from intellectual, creative processes—the products of an individual’s mind, Examples of intellectual property are patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets. |
| litigation paralegal | Paralegals who specialize in assisting attorneys in the litigation process. |
| probate | To prove and validate a will. The process of proving and validating a will and the settling of matters pertaining to the administration of a decedent's estate and similar matters. |
| trust | Arrangements in which property is transferred by one person (the grantor, or settlor) to another (the trustee) for the benefit of a third party (the beneficiary) |
| workers' compensation | State statutes that establish an administrative procedure for compensating workers for injuries that arise out of or in the course of their employment, regardless of fault. |
| civil law | The branch of law dealing with the definition and enforcement of all private or public rights, as opposed to criminal matters. |
| will | A document directing how and to whom the maker’s property and obligations are to be transferred on his or her death. |
| real estate | Land and things permanently attached to the land, such as houses, buildings, and trees and foliage. |
| plaintiff | A party who initiates a lawsuit. |
| legal nurse consultant | A nurse who consults with legal professionals and others about medical aspects of legal claims or issues. |
| legal document preparer | A legal document preparer who offers their services to the public without the benefit of attorney supervision. |
| family law | Law relating to family matters, such as marriage, divorce, child support, and child custody. |
| defendant | A party against whom a lawsuit is brought. |
| elder law | A term used to describe a relatively new legal specialty that involves servicing the needs of older client, such as estate planning and making arrangements for long-term care. |
| bonus | An end-of-the year payment to a salaried employee in appreciation for that employee's overtime work, work quality, diligence, or dedication to the firm. |
| freelance paralegal | A paralegal who operates his or her own business and provides services to attorneys on a contractual basis. A freelance paralegal works under the supervision of an attorney, who assumes responsibility for the paralegal’s work product. |
