Dictionary of Legal terms (Paperback)

by Steven H. Gifis (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
This updated edition of a popular quick reference source presents more than 2,000 legal terms defined and explained clearly and concisely in plain English. The author, an experienced lawyer and former law professor, cuts through legalese jargon allowing readers to understand documents important to them. Terms are arranged alphabetically, and the Appendix serves as a consumer's guide to law and lawyers.

From the Inside Flap
Updated with new terms such as “civil union” and citing recent changes in laws and judicial interpretations, this handy dictionary cuts through the complexities of legal jargon and gives you definitions and explanations that you can understand. Here’s a handy guide to “legalese” for consumers, business proprietors, legal beneficiaries, investors, property owners, litigants, and all others who have dealings with the law. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 300 pages
• Publisher: Barron's Educational Series; 3 edition (January 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764102869
• ISBN-13: 978-0764102868
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #60,275 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #3 in	Books > Nonfiction > Law > Perspectives on Law > Legal Systems
  #12 in	Books > Nonfiction > Law > Dictionaries & Terminology
  #12 in	Books > Professional & Technical > Law > Dictionaries & Terminology

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

49 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Legal Terms, April 30, 2000

By A Customer

This book is a must for those with no legal background, but don't want to be intimidated by legal "jargon." I found it an easy reference guide to common and not so common legal words used every day. I work in a courtroom, and found the book helpful in understanding the judicial process.

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Legal Terms Defined in Everyday Language, September 2, 2001

By	MaryJosephineHart "MaryJosephineHart" (Fresno, CA) - See all my reviews

This book defines legal terms in easily understood English. In some cases, it gives an example of a situation to which the legal term might apply in order to help illustrate the meaning. It would be a very useful addition to anyone's reference library.

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good enough for me, January 21, 2006

By	J. Stoner "Plants and Books" (Parkville, MO United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Barron's "Dictionary of Legal Terms" is a solid text. When I asked a law friend of mine which law dictionary I should purchase he told me that "Black's" was the best law dictionary out there. However, it is rather expensive at eighty or so dollars. Even the pocket version of the text is at least twenty dollars. So I sprang for this law dictionary at about eight dollars.

I was quite impressed and quite educated by the Barron's work. It was informative and complete, yet simple enough for a non-law student to understand. At my local bookstore I compared the Barron's dictionary with some others and found this one more to my liking because it provides examples for certain definitions; something the other texts did not.

The only reason that I did not give this 5 stars is that it is not as complete as some of the other books that I looked at. This version has "more than 2500 legal terms" and the other books were all about 3000. However, I have not yet come across a word or jargon that I was unable to find in this book so I am not sure what the other 500+ words or phrases are.

Solid book. Highly recommended.