LawPrep Sprint

Legal Maxims Bank

25 Latin maxims with meanings and examples

Showing 25 maxims

Criminal Law
Actus non facit reum nisi mens sit rea
An act does not make a person guilty unless there is a guilty mind
Natural Justice
Audi alteram partem
Hear the other side; no one should be condemned unheard
Natural Justice
Nemo judex in causa sua
No one should be a judge in their own cause
Torts
Res ipsa loquitur
The thing speaks for itself
Torts
Volenti non fit injuria
To one who volunteers, no harm is done
Criminal Law
Ignorantia juris non excusat
Ignorance of law is no excuse
Constitution
Ubi jus ibi remedium
Where there is a right, there is a remedy
Civil Procedure
Res judicata
A matter already judged; prevents re-litigation of decided issues
Torts
Damnum sine injuria
Damage without legal injury; no legal remedy available
Torts
Injuria sine damno
Legal injury without actual damage; remedy available
Contracts
Caveat emptor
Let the buyer beware
Contracts
Ex turpi causa non oritur actio
No action arises from an immoral cause
Torts
Qui facit per alium facit per se
He who acts through another acts himself
Jurisprudence
Dura lex sed lex
The law is harsh, but it is the law
Constitution
Salus populi suprema lex
The welfare of the people is the supreme law
Criminal Law
Nullum crimen sine lege
No crime without law; an act is not criminal unless prohibited by law
Criminal Law
Nulla poena sine lege
No punishment without law
Contracts
Pacta sunt servanda
Agreements must be kept; contracts are binding
Administrative Law
Delegatus non potest delegare
A delegate cannot further delegate
Contracts
Ex nudo pacto non oritur actio
No action arises from a bare promise (without consideration)
Interpretation of Statutes
Expressio unius est exclusio alterius
Expression of one thing excludes another
Interpretation of Statutes
Ejusdem generis
Of the same kind; general words following specific words are limited to same category
Interpretation of Statutes
Noscitur a sociis
A word is known by the company it keeps
Contracts
In pari delicto potior est conditio defendentis
In equal fault, the condition of the defendant is better
Civil Procedure
Locus standi
Right to appear or stand before a court