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Simple English definitions for legal terms

Order of signals

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A quick definition of Order of signals:

Order of signals: The way we organize the sentences that we use to cite sources in formal legal writing. We use different words to introduce each sentence, and we put them in a specific order. The order is: no signal, for example, according to, see, see also, compare with, contrary to, but see, but compare with, and see generally. We put all the sources that have the same introduction word in one sentence, separated by semicolons. We only use each introduction word once, at the beginning of its own sentence.

A more thorough explanation:

Definition: The order in which citation sentences should be arranged when immediately following each other. In formal legal writing, citation sentences should be arranged based on the signals that introduce them, in the following order of precedence:

  1. No signal
  2. E.g.,
  3. Accord
  4. See
  5. See also
  6. Cf.
  7. Compare with
  8. Contra
  9. But see
  10. But cf.
  11. See generally

All sources falling under the same signal should be put in a single citation sentence and separated by semicolons. Thus, each signal should appear only once in a given citation - at the start of its own citation sentence.

Example: In a legal brief, the following citation sentences might be used:

  • The plaintiff argues that the defendant breached the contract. See Smith v. Jones, 123 F.3d 456 (2d Cir. 2010).
  • Accord Johnson v. Smith, 456 F.2d 789 (3d Cir. 2012).
  • But see Brown v. Green, 789 F.2d 123 (4th Cir. 2013) (holding that the defendant did not breach the contract).
  • See generally Restatement (Second) of Contracts § 123 (1981).

In this example, the first citation sentence has no signal, so it comes first. The second citation sentence has the signal "Accord," so it comes next. The third citation sentence has the signal "But see," so it comes after "Accord." The fourth citation sentence has the signal "See generally," so it comes last.

This order of signals helps to organize the citations and make them easier to follow for the reader.

order of examination | order to show cause

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RoaldDahl
16:15
So if it means nothing does that mean something?
HopefullyInLawSchool
16:17
Possibly
RoaldDahl
16:26
Cool
RoaldDahl
16:26
thank you!!!! i hope it means something
pinkandblue
16:31
fart
IrishDinosaur
16:36
Mich R gang lesgooo
Did anyone else get that random get to know nova email?
HopefullyInLawSchool
17:21
Ya it was sent to all YM applicants
starfishies
17:37
Anyone get the NDLS email inviting you to apply for something even though they haven’t made a decision on your app yet
17:38
Better yet I got the email and I was rejected last month
starfishies
17:38
Wtf
starfishies
17:39
and the deadline is in like a week what is this
any cardozo movement?
BatmanBeyond
18:01
Sent a LOCI via portal, but I'm wondering if email would have gotten me a swifter response
BatmanBeyond
18:02
This whole hold/wait-list/reserve system is a headache
loci already?
BatmanBeyond
18:09
If the odds are like 1-2% I don't think it matters much by the numbers
12:11
I got the same NDLS email
OrangeThing
12:18
I think the user profiles are broken
19:29
Any word out of Notre Dame?
19:29
Only the invitation to apply for LSE
19:29
Anyone received a decision from NDLS?
19:50
when did u guys apply that just heard from umich? they havent even glanced at my app yet
0:30
how am i supposed to spy on people when profile links are broken?
Right. Broken links smh
I've been UR since first/second week of Jan, no updates otherwise, is that a bad sign? At or above median LSAT and above 75th gpa.
The profile links are not working for me. anybody else?
13:18
i’m in the same boat mastermonkey but with lower stats. i hope i hear back by mid march
CheeseIsMyLoveLanguage
13:24
@mastermonkey45: Looking at some of the recent decisions in relation to when they went complete, I'd say it's a good sign. It seems many declines were sent within about 5-6 weeks of completion. Given those were applications that were SENT in January, I'd say that means you're still solidly in the running. :)
14:30
Sent an app to OSU in early december and have STILL not heard back
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