Legal Dictionary - L
Law clerk: Commonly a lawyer or law school student employed by a court or law firm to do legal research.
Lawsuit: A dispute between two people or entities that is decided in a court of law. Also called a suit.
Liable: Legally responsible.
Libel: Published material regarding a person that harms the person or their reputation. Libel is a tort.
Lien: An encumbrance or legal burden on property.
Limited jurisdiction: Restricted as to the types of criminal and civil cases that may be heard. Family courts are court of limited jurisdiction. They do not maintain the authority to hear a variety of matters unrelated to family law.
Litigant: A party in a lawsuit.
Litigation: A legal action, lawsuit, and all related proceedings.