British English · C1 · Unit 7
Law and justice
Law and justice
By the end you can
- Discuss a legal case and what it means
- Argue about whether something is fair
- Understand legal language in everyday texts
Words and phrases
| British English | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| the ruling | the official decision of a court | The ruling surprised everyone. |
| set a precedent | be an example for future cases | This case could set a precedent. |
| above the law | not having to obey the law | Nobody should be above the law. |
| a loophole | a gap in a law that lets people avoid it | They used a loophole to avoid paying tax. |
| miscarriage of justice | when an innocent person is punished | It was a terrible miscarriage of justice. |
| the burden of proof | the duty to prove something | The burden of proof is on the prosecution. |
| take legal action | start a case in court | They're threatening to take legal action. |
| in breach of | breaking (a rule or a contract) | The company was in breach of contract. |
| the small print | the details in a contract, often easy to miss | Always read the small print. |
| the letter of the law | the exact words of a law, not its purpose | They kept to the letter of the law, but not its spirit. |
| an appeal | a request to a higher court to change a decision | They've lodged an appeal. |
| the Crown Court | the court for serious crimes in England and Wales | The case went to the Crown Court. |
Then talk it through
Discussing a controversial court decision with a friend who studies law. In the app you have this conversation out loud or typed, with the unit's goals to tick off and corrections at the end.