Legal Definitions - style

Style has two primary meanings in legal contexts:

1. The formal name or designation of a legal case or proceeding. This refers to the official title by which a lawsuit or legal action is identified, typically listing the primary parties involved.

• When a civil lawsuit is filed, its formal designation, or style, might be Patel v. Global Innovations Inc. This identifies Mr. Patel as the plaintiff (the party bringing the suit) and Global Innovations Inc. as the defendant (the party being sued).

• In a criminal prosecution, the case's style often appears as The People v. Rodriguez or The State v. Thompson, indicating that the government is prosecuting an individual.

2. (In Scots law) A standardized template or form for legal documents. This meaning is specific to the Scottish legal system and refers to a pre-approved format or wording for legal instruments, particularly those related to property or other formal agreements.

• A Scottish solicitor preparing a deed to transfer land ownership would use an established style for the document, ensuring it contains all the legally required clauses and adheres to the correct format for conveyancing in Scotland.

• When drafting a complex trust deed under Scottish law, a legal professional might consult a collection of approved styles to ensure the document is legally sound and effectively achieves the client's objectives.