Legal Definitions - L.LAT.

L.Lat. stands for Law Latin.

Law Latin refers to the specialized form of Latin historically used in legal documents, statutes, and court proceedings, particularly within the English common law system. It is distinct from classical Latin, often incorporating medieval Latin, French, and English influences, and adapting Latin grammar for specific legal purposes. Many fundamental legal principles and terms still in use today originated from Law Latin.

• Example 1: Legal Maxims in Court Rulings

  Imagine a judge delivering a verdict in a complex case and stating, "The court must adhere to the principle of stare decisis." Here, stare decisis is a Law Latin phrase meaning "to stand by things decided." This example illustrates how Law Latin continues to be used to express foundational legal principles, guiding judicial decisions by requiring courts to follow precedents set in previous cases.

• Example 2: Interpreting Historical Legal Texts

  A legal historian researching property law might encounter a 17th-century English land deed that includes phrases like "habendum et tenendum" (to have and to hold) or "nisi prius" (unless before). These are examples of Law Latin terms that were standard in legal instruments of that era. This demonstrates how Law Latin formed the core vocabulary of historical legal documents, requiring specialized knowledge to understand their original intent and meaning.

• Example 3: Defining Elements of a Crime

  In a criminal law class, students learn that for many crimes, the prosecution must prove both actus reus (the guilty act) and mens rea (the guilty mind). These terms are Law Latin, used to precisely define the two essential components that must typically be present for a person to be held criminally liable. This shows how Law Latin provides concise and specific terminology for articulating complex legal concepts that remain central to modern legal analysis.