Closing argument is the lawyer’s final opportunity in a trial to tell the judge and/or jury why they should win the case. They do so by explaining how the evidence supports their theory of the case, and by clarifying for the jury any issues...
trial process/advocacy
Code of Professional Responsibility
The Code of Professional Responsibility governs legal ethical conduct and was created by the American Bar Association (ABA) in 1969. The Code comprised three portions: (1) Canons; (2) Ethical Considerations; and (3) Disciplinary Rules. The...
commission
A commission is a fee or remuneration paid in return for services rendered. Commission is often calculated as a percentage of the total transaction; a commission can be separate and in addition to fixed wages, or it can be the sole form of...
competent evidence
Competent evidence is the evidence which is legally admissible. Competent evidence tends to prove the matter in dispute. For example; in a murder trial, competent evidence might include the murder weapon with the defendant's fingerprints on...
competent witness
A competent witness is one who has the sufficient mental capacity to perceive, remember, and narrate the incident they have observed. A competent witness must also be able to understand and appreciate the nature and obligation of an oath. For...
complaint
A complaint is the pleading that starts a case. Essentially, a document that sets forth a jurisdictional basis for the court's power, the plaintiff's cause of action, and a demand for judicial relief.
A plaintiff starts a...
compromise verdict
A compromise verdict is a verdict that occurs when some jurors vote against their true views on certain issues to avoid a deadlock. The compromises often involve issues of liability/guilt or proper monetary compensation.
In...
confidential communication
Confidential communication involves statements (oral, written, or nonverbal) made in confidence between two people who have trust in each other and believe that the communication will be kept in confidence. Examples of this kind of...
confirmation bias
Confirmation bias refers to the tendency to seek out and give undue credibility to information that supports a desired conclusion. Due to confirmation bias, a party may unduly discredit contradictory information to the desired conclusion, or...
conflict of interest
A conflict of interest refers to the ethical problems that may arise between parties with a preexisting relationship. In law, a conflict of interest arises between an attorney and a client if the interests of the attorney, a different client...