Explanation of Legal Terms
Below are listed some of the more common legal terms – with a working definition.
Adjournment
Means that a court hearing has been put off to another time or day. If not to a fixed day, the term used is adjourned sine die i.e., Latin for ‘without a set date’.
Affidavit
Is a statement in paragraph form that is sworn by the person who makes the statement. Affidavits sometimes replace the need for spoken evidence. They may also be known as ‘depositions’ and are similar to statutory declarations, which are not necessarily intended to be used in the court process.
Appeal
If you receive an adverse judgment, then you may be able to appeal, which means that a higher judge or a number of judges will review your matter and decide if the first decision was wrong.
If you win your matter, the other side may also appeal against the decision which was made in your favour. An appeal is a limited review and you will not be able to present your evidence in the case again.
Bar
The phrase ‘admitted to the bar’ means that a lawyer has become a barrister (see below).
Barrister
A lawyer who prefers to appear in court. Barristers practice by themselves, but can share premises with other barristers. Those premises are called ‘chambers’. Barristers often provide opinions and advice on a case which has been prepared by a person’s solicitor. Except in very restricted circumstances, barristers cannot be engaged directly by a client, and are retained and instructed on your behalf by your solicitor. Barristers are also called ‘counsel’.
Chamber of Interlocutory Summons
This summons is a document used to bring an existing legal action to court, so that the court can make orders which are needed to get the case ready for hearing. These may also be known as a chamber summons or application and are generally supported by affidavits and not spoken evidence.
Defence or answer
In civil matters, these words describe the document which the defendant provides that answers the claims in the plaintiff’s written pleadings. It is also known as a ‘response’ or ‘set off’. If it makes a claim against the person who began the legal action, it can be called counterclaim or cross demand.
Defendant
Is a person (or entity) against whom legal action has been taken.
Disbursements
Out-of-pocket expenses such as medical reports, photocopying, transcript costs, travel and witness costs which your lawyers will organise on your behalf. The client must provide money to the lawyer to cover these costs associated with their case.
Discovery
Is a process by which categories of documents are made available for inspection by the other side. The documents must be relevant to an issue which is disputed in the case. The court will order that the party gather together relevant documents and make them available for the other party to inspect. The documents thus ‘discovered’ are named or described in a ‘List of Documents’.
Domestic Violence Order (DVO)
A DVO is a protection order made by the NT Local Court to protect you against domestic violence or threats of violence.
You can apply for a domestic violence order (DVO) against another person if you are either: in a domestic relationship with them; or, an adult acting on behalf of another adult or child who is in a domestic relationship with the person.
For further information on DVOs and who can help, please go to the NT Local Court Website.
Evidence
Is used to prove facts in a case. It can be spoken or written, and sometimes includes objects, photos and documents. Sometimes court evidence is taken from witnesses who appear via video link. Not all evidence is allowable – the court can decide that evidence is ‘inadmissible’, which means that you will not be able to say or use it in court. The rules of evidence are complex and it is important to get advice about the evidence you want to use in your case.
Hearing
Is the term for a full court case. Evidence is presented to the court, and the court gets all the information it needs to decide who will win the case. The hearing is the important court date. This term refers to the time when the spoken and/or written evidence is presented to the Court, and can be distinguished from other court dates which are for procedural and preparatory matters, including mentions, directions hearings and interlocutory applications.
Interrogatories
Is a series of written questions that must be answered by a party to a legal matter. They are generally answered before the court case is heard, by way of a sworn affidavit.
Judge/s
Preside over higher courts, such as the Supreme Court, Federal Court or High Court.
Judgment
This is the decision of the court, and the result of a court case. It may also be described as ‘Reasons for Decision’.
Jurisdiction
This term generally refers to a court system. Each state or territory has its own system, and therefore its own jurisdiction. A federal jurisdiction applies across all the states and territories.
Law Society
This is a statutory body that controls the affairs of the legal profession. The Society issues Practising Certificates, regulates conduct rules between lawyers, deals with complaints against lawyers and manages funds designed to compensate people who have lost trust money through the default of a lawyer. If you have any concerns about your lawyer, and are unable to resolve those concerns directly with your lawyer’s firm, then you should contact the Society and ask for assistance.
Magistrate
Presides in local courts and courts of summary jurisdiction. These are often called Magistrates Courts. Most legal matters are dealt with by magistrates. A magistrate does not ever sit with a jury.
Party, plaintiff, defendant
A party is one of the people or entities involved in the legal matter. Legal matters are usually referred to by using the names of the parties i.e., Smith v Jones.
A party who brings a claim is known as a plaintiff (or occasionally, the applicant), and a party against whom a claim is brought is known as a defendant (or respondent). In an appeal, the person who lodges the appeal is called the appellant and the other side is called the respondent.
Practising Certificate
A legal practitioner’s licence to practice law in the Northern Territory, which must be renewed annually.
Personal Violence Restraining Order (PVRO)
A PVRO is a protection order which relates to people outside of a domestic relationship (e.g., neighbour, work colleague, personal/professional association) with you and is governed by the Personal Violence Restraining Order Act.
For more information about PVROs and how to apply for one, please for to the NT Local Court website.
Solicitor
Is a lawyer who gives legal advice and does legal work, and who can also appear in court, but who does not do court appearances as often as a barrister. Some solicitors are also called partners or associates depending on their seniority. In the Client Lawyer Cost Agreement the term lawyer is used instead of solicitor.
Subpoena
This is a document issued by the court which calls a person to give evidence to the court at a certain time. Subpoenas are also called summons to witness, or summons to produce documents.
Unsatisfactory judgment summons
If a decision was made against you in court, and you were ordered to pay money to another person, the court may summons you to come and explain why the money has not been paid. If you are having trouble paying, the court might make orders that allow you to pay the money by installments.
Warrant
This is a document issued by a court, which allows an official, or bailiff, to sell your property to pay a judgment or court order. Warrants are also a court documents that allows the police to arrest you, or to seize property from you.
Writ, writ of summons, statement of claim or application
These words are used to describe the document that starts a legal action. The document which initiates legal proceedings is variously called ‘statement of claim’, ‘originating motion’, notice of motion’ and ‘application’. Usually, it will set out the legal claim being made, and the remedy sought (usually compensation, called ‘damages’), but it will not include facts or evidence.
Further Reading:
- The Northern Territory Law Handbook has been developed by AustLII, the Northern Territory Legal Aid Commission and the Darwin Community Legal Service, with the support of the Law Society Public Purposes Trust, is as an easy-to-read guide to law in the Northern Territory as it affects the ‘ordinary Northern Territorian’. It is an innovative, free-access platform, intended to give general information about the law. View the Northern Territory Law Handbook here.
- The Northern Territory Local Court explains common legal terms here.
- Last Modified: July 24, 2025
- 1:43 pm