LibGuides: Representing Yourself in Court: Definitions & Terminology

Dictionaries

Books in our collection that can help with terminology and definitions.

Black's Law Dictionary by A. Bryan Garner (Editor-In-Chief)
Call Number: Law Library Information Desk KF156 .B53 (older editions in Law Library Stacks)
This is a standard legal dictionary. It also includes an appendix of common Latin legal phrases. Also accessible through Westlaw (password required).
Nolo's Plain-English Law Dictionary by Kathleen Hill & Gerald Hill
Call Number: Law Library Stacks KF156 .N654 2009
Also available online (see other box on this page).
Prince's Dictionary of Legal Abbreviations by Mary Miles Prince
Call Number: Law Library Information Desk KF246 .B46 (older editions in Law Library Stacks)
Legal citations frequently include abbreviations. This source allows you to look up the abbreviation to determine the full title of the source. Focuses on Anglo-American sources.

Legal Abbreviations (Drake Law Library Guide)
This guide lists legal abbreviations for frequently used sources and provides an overview of how to read a legal citation.
Findlaw Legal Dictionary
Free access to over 8,000 definitions of legal terms
Nolo's Free Dictionary of Law Terms and Legal Definitions
Web version of Nolo's Plain-English Law Dictionary. (This source is also available in print - see other box on this page.)
Law.com Dictionary
This online source provides straightforward definitions to legal terms.