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1st Semester LLB Unitary - LEGAL LANGUAGE AND LEGAL WRITING - Notes, Question Papers and Syllabus

August 10, 2025 ,

 LEGAL LANGUAGE AND LEGAL WRITING

The object of the paper is to give general awareness of basic concepts relating to law learning and to inculcate in students language skills.

Unit I
Law – Definition – Relevance – Significance of Language in learning law
Nature of disputes – Hierarchy of courts (civil & criminal) – Jurisdiction – Tribunals

Unit II
Sources of Law – Legislation – Subordinate and delegated – Precedent – stare decisis – Ratio decidendi – obiter dictum – Custom – Conventional – Secondary sources of law

Unit III
Plaint, written statement, affidavit, interlocutory application – Appeal, Revision, Bail, Memorandum and Articles of Association – Deeds – Conveyancing – General use of legal terms and idioms – Words and phrases

Unit IV
Use of Law Library – Case reading – Comment – Abbreviation – Law journals – Numbering of cases in courts – Legal maxims and its usage – Important Maxims:

  1. Caveat emptor

  2. Actus non facit reum nisi mens rea

  3. Nemo dat quod non habet

  4. Autrefois acquit

  5. Autrefois convict

  6. Causa Proxime, non remota spectata

  7. Damnum sine injuria

  8. Delegatus non potest delegare

  9. De minimis non curat lex

  10. Ex nudo pacto non oritur actio

  11. In turpi causa non oritur actio

  12. Fiat justitia ruat coelum

  13. Falsus in uno falsus in omnibus

  14. Generalia specialibus non derogant

  15. Ignorantia juris non excusat

  16. Necessitas non habet legem

  17. Novus actus interveniens

  18. Qui facit per alium facit per se

  19. Quid pro quo

  20. Ubi jus ibi remedium

  21. Audi alteram partem

  22. Nemo judex in causa sua

  23. Rebus sic stantibus

  24. Res ipsa loquitur

  25. Spes successionis

  26. Ut res magis valeat quam pereat

  27. Expressio unius est exclusio alterius

  28. Obiter dicta

  29. Populi est suprema lex

  30. Volenti non fit injuria

  31. Ultra vires

  32. Ratio decidendi

  33. Lis pendens

  34. Injuria sine damnum

Unit V
Comprehension skills – Complaint and petition drafting – To quasi-judicial authorities and public authorities

Suggested Readings:

  • Glanville Williams – Language and the Law (1961) 61 L.Q.R. 71, 179, 293, 384

  • U.C. Thornton – Legislative Drafting, Butterworth, London, Chapters 1 – 5

  • James A. Holland and Julian S. Webb – Learning Legal Rules, Universal Book Traders, Delhi, Chapter 426

  • Arthur T. Vanderbilt – Studying Law, New York University Press, Washington, Chapters 6, 8

  • Glanville Williams – Learning the Law, Chapters 4, 5, 6, 12

  • Peter Goodrich – Languages of Law

  • Black’s Law Dictionary

  • Dictionary of Legal Terms and Expressions

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