📚 Year 7 WJEC Law: Vocabulary & Terminology Quick Memorisation Guide | 七年级 WJEC 法律：词汇术语速记指南
Starting your law journey in Year 7 can feel like learning a brand-new language. Words such as ‘statute’, ‘defendant’ or ‘precedent’ may look intimidating at first, but once you have simple tricks to remember them, they become your toolkit for understanding how society works. This guide will give you clear English definitions, show you what each term means in the context of WJEC Key Stage 3 law, and most importantly equip you with quick memory hooks that use stories, word roots and visual pictures. Whether you are preparing for a classroom quiz or simply want to sound like a future solicitor, these vocabulary shortcuts are here to help you learn faster and enjoy the process.
从七年级开始学习法律，就像在学习一门全新的语言。’statute’（成文法）、’defendant’（被告）或 ‘precedent’（先例）这些词乍一看可能让人望而生畏，可一旦掌握了简单的记忆窍门，它们就能变成你理解社会运作方式的工具箱。这份指南将为你提供清晰的英文定义，告诉你每个术语在 WJEC 第三学段法律背景下的含义，最重要的是，它会用故事、词根和画面联想给你一套快速记忆的钩子。不管你是为了课堂测验做准备，还是单纯想让自己听起来像未来的事务律师，这些词汇捷径都能帮你学得更快、过程更有趣。
1. What Is Law? | 法律是什么？
A law is a rule made by the state that everyone in a country must follow. Unlike school rules, breaking a law can lead to serious consequences such as fines, community service or even prison. In legal language, we sometimes call a law a ‘statute’ or ‘legislation’ when it has been passed by Parliament.
法律是由国家制定的、一个国家的所有人都必须遵守的规则。与校规不同，违法可能会带来严重后果，比如罚款、社区服务甚至监禁。在法律语言中，当一项规则由议会通过后，我们有时会称它为 ‘statute’（成文法）或 ‘legislation’（立法）。
Memory tip: Think of law as the ‘rules of the game’ for a whole country. Just as a footballer cannot pick up the ball, a citizen cannot steal. The word ‘statute’ sounds like ‘statue’ – picture a giant stone statue holding a book of rules that no one can ignore.
记忆窍门：把法律想象成整个国家的”游戏规则”。就像足球运动员不能用手抱球一样，公民也不能偷窃。’statute’（成文法）听起来像 ‘statue’（雕像）——想象一尊巨大的石像，手里捧着一本没人能忽视的规则书。
2. Types of Law: Criminal vs Civil | 法律类型：刑事与民事
Criminal law deals with actions that harm society as a whole, such as theft, assault or murder. The state brings the case against the person accused, who is called the defendant. If found guilty, the punishment is usually a fine, a community sentence or imprisonment.
刑事法处理的是危害整个社会的行为，例如盗窃、袭击或谋杀。由国家代表社会对被告（defendant）提起诉讼。如果被判有罪，惩罚通常是罚款、社区刑罚或监禁。
Civil law, on the other hand, resolves disputes between individuals or organisations. Examples include arguments over a broken contract, a divorce settlement or a personal injury claim. The person who brings the case is the claimant, and the remedy is usually compensation, not punishment.
另一方面，民事法解决的是个人或组织之间的纠纷。例子包括因违反合同、离婚财产分割或人身伤害索赔引发的争议。提起诉讼的一方称为原告（claimant），补救措施通常是赔偿，而不是惩罚。
Memory tip: Link criminal to ‘crime’ – think of the police car sirens and a prison cell. Civil reminds you of ‘civilian’ – ordinary people sorting out their disagreements. For an easy visual: criminal law = a police badge; civil law = a banknote or a handshake gone wrong.
记忆窍门：把 criminal（刑事的）和 ‘crime’（犯罪）联想起来——想想警车鸣笛和监牢。Civil（民事的）让你想起 ‘civilian’（平民）——普通人解决矛盾。简易画面联想：刑事法 = 一枚警徽；民事法 = 一张钞票或一次出了问题的握手。
3. Legislation: Acts of Parliament | 立法：议会法案
When Parliament agrees on a new law, it becomes an Act of Parliament. An Act starts life as a Bill, which is a proposal for a new law. Once a Bill is debated and voted through both the House of Commons and the House of Lords, and receives Royal Assent from the monarch, it becomes an Act. In law books, you will see Acts written with a short title and a year, for example the Theft Act 1968.
当议会就一项新法律达成一致时，它就成为了议会法案（Act of Parliament）。一项法案最初是以议案（Bill）的形式出现的，这是对新法律的提议。议案经下议院和上议院辩论并投票通过，再获得君主的御准（Royal Assent）后，就正式成为法案。在法律书籍中，你会看到法案用简短标题和年份来书写，比如《1968年盗窃法》（Theft Act 1968）。
Memory tip: Picture a Bill as a ‘restaurant bill’ – it is only a piece of paper with a proposal, not yet paid or finalised. When the bill is fully paid (approved through all stages), it becomes an Act – a concrete action. Royal Assent is like the gold stamp the Queen or King puts on the document to say ‘done’.
记忆窍门：把 Bill（议案）想象成一张”餐厅账单”——它只是一张写有提议的纸，还没有付款或最终确定。当这张账单完全付清（经过所有阶段批准），它就变成了 Act（法案）——一项具体行动。Royal Assent（御准）就像国王或女王在文件上盖的黄金印章，表示”同意”。
4. The Courts: Magistrates, Crown, and More | 法院：治安法院、刑事法院及其他
The two main criminal courts in England and Wales are the Magistrates’ Court and the Crown Court. Less serious offences, called summary offences, are tried in the Magistrates’ Court by either a district judge or a panel of lay magistrates (volunteer members of the community). More serious crimes, such as robbery or murder, go to the Crown Court where a judge and a jury decide the case.
英格兰和威尔士的两个主要刑事法院是治安法院（Magistrates’ Court）和刑事法院（Crown Court）。较轻微的罪行，称为简易程序罪行（summary offences），在治安法院由地区法官或一个不具法律背景的治安法官小组（lay magistrates，来自社区的志愿者）审理。更严重的犯罪，比如抢劫或谋杀，则交由刑事法院，由一名法官和一个陪审团裁决案件。
For civil cases, the County Court deals with most moderate claims, while the High Court handles larger and more complex disputes. An appeal court, such as the Court of Appeal, reviews decisions from lower courts when one side believes a legal mistake was made.
在民事案件中，郡法院（County Court）处理大多数中等索赔，而高等法院（High Court）处理更大更复杂的纠纷。当事方认为下级法院存在法律错误时，上诉法院（Court of Appeal）等上诉法院会复核其判决。
Memory tip: Imagine a ladder. Magistrates’ Court is the first rung – small, local, quick. Crown Court is a higher rung – more formal, with a jury. The word ‘magistrate’ sounds like ‘magic state’, but I prefer to link it to ‘majesty’ – the majesty of local justice. Crown reminds you of a crown, symbolising serious royal authority.
记忆窍门：想象一把梯子。治安法院是第一级阶梯——小型、本地化、快速。刑事法院是更高一级——更正式，并设有陪审团。’magistrate’（治安法官）这个词听起来像 ‘magic state’，但我更喜欢把它与 ‘majesty’（威严）联系起来——地方司法的威严。Crown（王冠）让你想到皇冠，象征着严肃的皇家权威。
5. Key People in Court | 法庭上的关键人物
The judge is the person in charge of the courtroom, making sure the trial is fair and deciding on the sentence if the defendant is found guilty. In the Crown Court, judges wear wigs and robes. The jury is a group of 12 ordinary citizens who listen to the evidence and decide whether the defendant is guilty or not guilty – this decision is called the verdict.
法官（judge）是法庭的主管者，确保审判公正，并在被告被判有罪时决定刑罚。在刑事法院，法官会身穿法袍、佩戴假发。陪审团（jury）是由12名普通公民组成的团体，他们听取证据并决定被告有罪还是无罪——这个决定称为裁决（verdict）。
The prosecution is the legal team that tries to prove the defendant’s guilt, usually working for the Crown Prosecution Service. The defence represents the defendant, arguing for their innocence or for a lighter sentence. Witnesses give evidence (their story of what happened) after taking an oath to tell the truth.
控方（prosecution）是设法证明被告有罪的法律团队，通常为皇家检控署工作。辩方（defence）代表被告，为他们的清白或较轻的刑罚而辩护。证人（witness）在宣誓说出真相后提供证据（他们关于事件经过的陈述）。
Memory tip: Use the courtroom as a theatre. Judge = director; jury = audience voting; prosecution = the attacking team; defence = the defending shield. Witness sounds like ‘wise nest’ – a nest full of wise birds who saw what happened.
记忆窍门：把法庭想象成剧院。法官 = 导演；陪审团 = 投票的观众；控方 = 进攻方；辩方 = 防御的盾牌。Witness（证人）听起来像 ‘wise nest’（智慧的巢穴）——一个满是看见了一切智慧鸟儿的巢穴。
6. From Crime to Verdict | 从犯罪到裁决
When a crime is reported, the police investigate and may arrest a suspect. After questioning, the Crown Prosecution Service decides whether to charge the suspect with a specific offence. The accused is then a defendant. At trial, both sides present evidence: physical objects like a weapon, and oral testimony from witnesses. The standard of proof in a criminal case is ‘beyond reasonable doubt’ – meaning the jury must be almost certain of guilt.
当有犯罪报案时，警方会展开调查并可能逮捕嫌疑人。讯问之后，皇家检控署会决定是否以特定罪名起诉该嫌疑人。这时被指控的人就成了被告。在审判中，双方都会提交证据：实物证据，比如一件凶器，以及证人的口头证言。刑事案件的证明标准是”排除合理怀疑”（beyond reasonable doubt）——这意味着陪审团必须几乎确定被告有罪。
Memory tip: Think of a puzzle. The prosecution must show the puzzle is complete enough to see the whole picture. If one key piece is missing, that is ‘reasonable doubt’ – the puzzle is not certain. The phrase ‘beyond reasonable doubt’ is like a safety lock, protecting innocent people from being wrongly convicted.
记忆窍门：把它想象成一幅拼图。控方必须展示拼图已经完整到能看清整幅画面。如果缺失了一块关键拼图，那就是”合理怀疑”——拼图并不确定。 “排除合理怀疑”这个短语就像一把安全锁，保护无辜者不被错误定罪。
7. The Jury and Its Role | 陪审团及其作用
A jury is randomly selected from the electoral register. In criminal cases, the 12 jurors listen to all the evidence and retire to a private room to discuss the case. They must try to reach a unanimous verdict – all 12 agreeing – though sometimes a majority verdict (11-1 or 10-2) is accepted by the judge. The jury does not decide the sentence; that is the judge’s job. The idea behind the jury system is that a person should be judged by their fellow citizens, not just by the state.
陪审团从选民名册中随机挑选。在刑事案件中，12名陪审员听完所有证据后，会退到一间密室讨论案情。他们必须努力达成一致裁决（unanimous verdict）——所有12人都同意——但法官有时也会接受多数裁决（majority verdict，即11比1或10比2）。陪审团不决定量刑，那是法官的职责。陪审团制度的理念在于，一个人应当由他的同胞公民来审判，而不仅仅由国家审判。
Memory tip: Picture 12 locks on a door. To open the door to a guilty verdict, every lock (juror) must be unlocked. Majority verdict means at least 10 locks are open. ‘Unanimous’ sounds like ‘you are anonymous’ – each juror is a private citizen speaking with one voice. The jury room is like a secret clubhouse where impartial decisions are made.
记忆窍门：想象一扇门上有12把锁。要打开通往有罪裁决的大门，每一把锁（每位陪审员）都必须被打开。多数裁决意味着至少有10把锁是打开的。’Unanimous’（一致的）听起来像 ‘you are anonymous’（你是匿名的）——每个陪审员都是独立发声的普通公民。陪审团评议室就像一个秘密俱乐部，在那里做出公正的决定。
8. Legal Consequences: Sentences and Remedies | 法律后果：刑罚与补救措施
If a defendant is found guilty of a crime, the judge hands down a sentence. Typical sentences include a fine (a sum of money paid to the court), a community order (unpaid work in the community, like cleaning graffiti), a suspended sentence (a prison sentence that will only be served if the offender commits another crime) or immediate custody (prison). In civil law, the usual remedies are damages (financial compensation), an injunction (a court order to stop doing something) or specific performance (forcing a party to carry out their promise).
如果被告被判有罪，法官会宣布刑罚（sentence）。典型的刑罚包括：罚款（fine，向法院支付一笔钱）、社区令（community order，在社区提供无偿劳动，比如清理涂鸦）、缓刑（suspended sentence，只有再次犯罪才须服刑的监禁刑罚）或立即监禁（immediate custody）。在民事法中，常见的补救措施（remedies）包括损害赔偿金（damages，金钱赔偿）、禁制令（injunction，法院发出的停止某种行为的命令）或强制履行（specific performance，迫使一方履行其承诺）。
Memory tip: For sentences, think of the letter P: Pay (fine), Paint (community service cleaning), Promise broken = Prison. For civil remedies, remember the three R’s: Reimburse (damages), Restrict (injunction), Require (specific performance). An injunction is like a giant red stop sign from the court.
记忆窍门：对于刑罚，联想字母 P：Pay（付罚款）、Paint（刷油漆——社区服务）、Promise broken = Prison（违背承诺就进监牢）。对于民事补救措施，记住三个 R：Reimburse（赔偿——损害赔偿金）、Restrict（限制——禁制令）、Require（要求——强制履行）。禁制令就如同法院竖起的一个巨大的红色停止标志。
9. Key Legal Documents | 重要法律文件
Several documents are essential in the legal process. An indictment is the formal written accusation of a serious crime, used in the Crown Court. A witness statement is a written account of what a witness saw or knows, which they will confirm in court. A contract is a legally binding agreement between two or more parties, forming the backbone of many civil law cases. A statute book is simply a collection of Acts of Parliament.
在法律程序中，有几类文件非常关键。起诉书（indictment）是对严重罪行的正式书面指控，用于刑事法院。证人陈述书（witness statement）是证人所见所知的书面陈述，他们将在法庭上确认其内容。合同（contract）是双方或多方之间具有法律约束力的协议，构成了许多民事案件的基础。成文法汇编（statute book）则只是议会法案的集合。
Memory tip: An indictment can be remembered by breaking it into ‘in-dict-ment’. Imagine a dictator pointing a finger at you and saying ‘You are charged!’ A contract is like a rope – it ties two people to their promises. Witness statement = a story written down and signed, almost like a diary entry of the event.
记忆窍门：记忆 indictment（起诉书）可以把它拆成 ‘in-dict-ment’。想象一个独裁者（dictator）用手指着你说”你被起诉了！” Contract（合同）就像一根绳子（rope）——把两个人绑在他们的诺言上。Witness statement（证人陈述书）= 写下来并签名的故事，几乎像一则关于事件的日记。
10. Legal Principles: Precedent and Statute | 法律原则：先例与成文法
English law has two major sources: statute law and common law. Statute law is made by Parliament in the form of Acts. Common law is a system where judges create law through their decisions in cases. When a higher court makes a ruling on a point of law, lower courts must follow that decision in future similar cases. This principle is called judicial precedent, or ‘stare decisis’ (Latin for ‘stand by things decided’).
英国法律有两个主要渊源：成文法（statute law）和普通法（common law）。成文法由议会以法案的形式制定。普通法则是一个法官通过案件判决来创造法律的体系。当上级法院就某个法律要点作出裁定时，下级法院在日后类似案件中必须遵循该裁定。这一原则被称为司法先例（judicial precedent），或 ‘stare decisis’（拉丁语，意为”遵照已决定之事”）。
Memory tip: Think of a ladder of courts. The Supreme Court is at the very top. Whatever the top court says becomes a precedent – a path that lower courts must follow, like following footsteps in the snow. ‘Stare decisis’ sounds like ‘starry decision’ – picture the top court’s decision as a bright star that guides all the courts below.
记忆窍门：想象一个法院阶梯。最高法院位于最顶端。顶层法院所说的任何话都会成为先例（precedent）——一条下级法院必须遵循的路径，就像在雪地里沿着脚印走一样。’Stare decisis’ 听起来像 ‘starry decision’（星光决定）——把上级法院的裁决想象成一颗引导所有下级法院的明亮星星。
11. Word Roots and Memory Tricks | 词根与记忆技巧
Many legal terms come from Latin or old French. Learning the roots can unlock dozens of words. For example, ‘judex’ (Latin for judge) gives us judicial, judiciary, adjudicate – all relating to judging. ‘Lex’ (law) gives us legal, legislation, legitimate. ‘Jury’ comes from the old French ‘jurer’, meaning ‘to swear an oath’. Once you recognise these patterns, reading law starts to feel like cracking a code.
许多法律术语源自拉丁语或古法语。学习词根可以帮你掌握许多词汇。例如，’judex’（拉丁语的”法官”）衍生出 judicial（司法的）、judiciary（司法机构）、adjudicate（裁决）——都与裁决有关。’Lex’（法律）衍生出 legal（法律的）、legislation（立法）、legitimate（合法的）。’Jury’（陪审团）来自古法语 ‘jurer’，意为”宣誓”。一旦你熟悉了这些模式，阅读法律就像是在破解密码一样。
Quick reference table:
| Latin/French Root | Meaning | Modern Legal Word |
| judex | judge | judicial, judge, adjudicate |
| lex, legis | law | legislation, legal, legitimate |
| jus, juris | right, law | justice, jurisdiction, jury |
| testis | witness | testify, testimony, testament |
| causa | case, reason | cause of action, causation |
Use these roots like building blocks. Whenever you meet a new term, take a moment to guess which root it comes from – your brain will hold onto it much better than by rote repetition.
把这些词根当作积木。每当遇到新术语，花点时间猜猜它来自哪个词根——你的大脑会远比死记硬背记得更牢。
12. Recap and Final Tips | 总结与最终建议
By now you have covered the essentials: what law is, the criminal–civil split, how legislation is born, who does what in court, and how a case reaches a verdict and sentence. The secret to memorising legal vocabulary is to create strong mental images, connect words to their roots, and tell little stories around each term. Instead of reading a dry list, visualise the ‘statue of statute’ or the ‘judge-director’ in the courtroom theatre. The more vivid and personal your image, the quicker the word will stick.
现在你已经掌握了基础知识：法律是什么、刑事与民事的区分、立法如何诞生、法庭上各方做什么，以及案件如何走向裁决与刑罚。记忆法律词汇的秘诀在于创建强烈的心理图像，把词汇和词根联系起来，并围绕每个术语编个小故事。与其读一份干巴巴的清单，不如想象那尊”成文法雕像”或法庭剧院里的”法官导演”。你的图像越生动、越个人化，那个词就会粘得越牢。
Final top tips:
1. Use flashcards: write the term on one side and your personal image story on the other.
2. Quiz a friend: explaining terms out loud cements your understanding.
3. Watch courtroom dramas with subtitles and note how legal language is used.
4. Keep this guide handy and review one section per week to turn the vocabulary into your second nature.
最终建议：
1. 使用抽认卡：一面写术语，另一面写你个性化的图像故事。
2. 和朋友互相测验：大声解释术语能巩固你的理解。
3. 观看带字幕的法庭剧，注意法律语言如何被使用。
4. 把这份指南放在手边，每周复习一个小节，让词汇成为你的第二本能。
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