Color, in a legal sense, refers to the appearance of a thing, as distinguished from the thing itself.
For example, the color of law refers to the appearance of legal authority or an apparently legal right, and is often used to...legal education and writing
color of office
Color of office refers to a person acting as if they are in an official capacity as an employee of a governmental unit, but taking action that is not authorized. In other words, an office holder acts under the color of office when they take...
compare with
“Compare…with” is a signal used in legal writing that encourages the reader to compare at least two cited sources. Comparing the sources should either support or illuminate the author's preceding statements.
This signal...
comparison signal
A comparison signal, also known as a compare with signal, is a signal used in legal writing that encourages the reader to compare at least two cited sources. Comparing the sources should either support or illuminate the author's preceding...
complainant
Complainant is a party who initiates a lawsuit in a court of law or an administrative proceeding.
In the context of criminal law, “complainant” refers to a person who alleges that another committed a criminal act against him/her. In...consent
Consent means that a person voluntarily and willfully agrees in response to another person's proposition. The person who consents must possess sufficient mental capacity. Consent also requires the absence of coercion, fraud or error. Consent...
constructive
Constructive means something is legally declared, even if not technically true in a given case. Lawmakers and judges can decide to make things constructively true so that the intent of the laws cannot be easily thwarted by a loophole or lack...
contingent
Contingent means that an event may or may not occur in the future, depending on the fulfillment of some condition that is uncertain. This term is often used in contracts where the event will not take effect until the specified condition...
contra
Contra is a Latin term meaning “against” or “contrary to.” Contra is a signal indicating that the cited source directly states the opposite of whatever the author just said.
See also: Negative signal
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contract
A contract is an agreement between parties, creating mutual obligations that are enforceable by law. The basic elements required for the agreement to be a legally enforceable contract are: mutual assent, expressed by a valid offer and...