| Bachelor of Laws (LLB) |
The degree in law from a law school, indicating that an individual has successfully completed three years of law studies, as well as at least three undergraduate years on any subject.
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| Bad Faith |
Bad faith indicates an intentionally dishonest act where legal or contractual obligations are not fulfilled. It is done with the purpose of deceiving and misleading someone into an agreement.
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| Bailiff |
A court official who ensures there is order in the courtroom and handles various errands for the judge and clerk.
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| Bargain |
While "bargain" in layman's terms connotes "a good deal," legally, a bargain refers to a mutual, voluntary agreement between two parties, regarding money, goods or services.
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| Battery |
This means intentionally striking of someone, intending to harm them.
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| Belief |
This means that an individual is convinced of the truth of a statement or allegation.
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| Bench |
While this is a general term for all judges, it also refers to the long high desk upon which judges sit in a courtroom.
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| Bench Trial or Non-jury Trial |
Trial before a judge, but without a jury. In a bench trial, the judge decides questions of law and questions of fact.
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| Benefit |
Within worker's compensation cases, "benefit" refers to the insurance payment resulting from a fatal accident on the job; it differs from "compensation," which refers to payment provided for injury without death.
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| Best Evidence Rule |
This is the legal rule that states an original piece of evidence, particularly a document, is better than a copy; this means that if the original is available, a copy will not be accepted as evidence in the trial.
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| Bias |
This refers to an unfair tendency of an individual making a judicial decision or having influence over the outcome of a case, to choose for or against one of the parties in a case for reasons separate from the actual case facts. These could be due to race, class, sex or a variety of other factors.
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| Binding Authority |
This is the law that determines a case's outcome. Higher court rulings have binding authority over rulings in the lower court of the same state.
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| Breach of Contract |
This is means failing to perform any term of a contract, written or oral, without a legitimate legal excuse.
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| Brief |
This attorney-written document is submitted to the court to summarize facts relevant to the case and laws dealing with the case. It also contains an argument that demonstrates how those relevant laws support the party.
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| Burden of Proof |
This requires the individual who initiates a civil lawsuit show enough evidence to demonstrate that all the necessary facts are presented to win a judgment and, that those facts are probably true.
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| Bystander |
In products liability law, a person who neither buys nor uses a product, but who nevertheless is injured by the product and may have a cause of action.
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