Year 13 SQA Law: Key Legal Vocabulary Memorisation Guide | SQA 法律：词汇术语速记指南

📚 Year 13 SQA Law: Key Legal Vocabulary Memorisation Guide | SQA 法律：词汇术语速记指南

Mastering legal terminology is the foundation of success in Year 13 SQA Law. Whether you’re analysing a criminal case or evaluating a delictual claim, precise vocabulary helps you articulate arguments with clarity and earn high marks. This guide breaks down essential terms from the Scottish legal system, offering memory aids and contextual explanations to make your revision effective and efficient.

掌握法律术语是 Year 13 SQA 法律课程成功的基础。无论你是在分析刑事案件还是评估侵权索赔，精确的词汇都能帮助你清晰地表达论点并获得高分。本指南拆解了苏格兰法律体系中的核心术语，提供记忆辅助和情境解释，让你的复习变得高效且有效。

1. Core Terms of the Scottish Legal System | 苏格兰法律体系核心术语

The Scottish legal system is a mixed system combining elements of civil law and common law. Key procedural terms include ‘pursuer’ (the person bringing a civil case) and ‘defender’ (the person defending a civil action). In criminal proceedings, the ‘accused’ is the person charged, and the case is brought by the ‘procurator fiscal’. Remember that Scotland does not have a Crown Prosecution Service; public prosecutions are handled by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS).

苏格兰法律体系是一个结合了大陆法系和普通法系元素的混合体系。关键的诉讼术语包括 ‘pursuer’（提起民事诉讼的一方）和 ‘defender’（民事案件中的被告）。在刑事诉讼中，被指控者称为 ‘accused’，案件由 ‘procurator fiscal’（地方检察官）提起。请记住，苏格兰没有皇家检察署；公诉由皇家办公室和地方检察官服务处 (COPFS) 处理。

A distinctive feature is the not proven verdict, unique to Scotland, which results in an acquittal but differs from ‘not guilty’ in its perceived stigma. Other civil law influences appear in terms like ‘stare decisis’ (let the decision stand) and the institutional writers such as Stair and Erskine, whose works hold persuasive authority in Scottish courts. For memorisation, link ‘pursuer = pursues a claim’ and ‘defender = defends against it’.

一个独特之处是 ‘not proven’ 裁决，这是苏格兰独有的，会导致无罪释放，但与 ‘not guilty’ 的不同之处在于它带来的社会污名感。其他大陆法系的影响体现在诸如 ‘stare decisis’（遵循先例）等术语，以及如 Stair 和 Erskine 等机构著作家的作品，这些在苏格兰法院具有说服性权威。记忆时，可以将 ‘pursuer’ 联想为 ‘pursues a claim’（追求索赔），’defender’ 联想为 ‘defends against it’（为之辩护）。

Other key terms: ‘solemn procedure’ (trial before a jury for serious crimes) vs ‘summary procedure’ (judge alone for less serious offences); ‘sheriff court’ (the main criminal and civil court) and ‘Court of Session’ (supreme civil court). Mnemonic: SOLemn = Serious Offences Lead to jury.

其他关键术语：’solemn procedure’（严重犯罪时由陪审团审理的正式程序）对比 ‘summary procedure’（较轻微犯罪时由法官单独审理的简易程序）；’sheriff court’（主要刑事和民事法院）和 ‘Court of Session’（最高民事法院）。助记法：SOLemn = Serious Offences Lead to jury（重罪导致陪审团）。

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2. Essential Criminal Law Terminology | 刑法关键术语

Criminal liability in Scots law requires both ‘actus reus’ (the guilty act) and ‘mens rea’ (the guilty mind). The actus reus can be an act, an omission, or a state of affairs, while mens rea encompasses intention, recklessness, and in some statutory offences, knowledge. The term ‘strict liability’ refers to offences where mens rea is not required for at least some elements of the actus reus.

苏格兰刑法中的刑事责任需要同时具备 ‘actus reus’（犯罪行为）和 ‘mens rea’（犯罪意图）。犯罪行为可以是作为、不作为或状态存在，而犯罪意图包含故意、轻率以及在某些法定犯罪中的知情。’strict liability’（严格责任）是指对于犯罪行为中的至少某些要素不要求犯罪意图的情形。

There are three verdicts in Scottish criminal trials: ‘guilty’, ‘not guilty’, and ‘not proven’. The ‘corroboration’ requirement means that for conviction, the prosecution must produce two independent sources of evidence supporting the guilt of the accused. Use the analogy of two pillars holding up a roof—if one pillar is missing, the case collapses, even if the accused’s story is not believed.

苏格兰刑事审判有三种裁决：’guilty’（有罪）、’not guilty’（无罪）和 ‘not proven’（证据不足）。’corroboration’（佐证）要求是指控方必须提供两个独立的证据来源来支持被告有罪，才能定罪。用两根柱子支撑屋顶来比喻——如果缺少一根柱子，即使被告的陈述不被相信，案件也会失败。

Terms for homicide: ‘murder’ requires wicked intent to kill or wicked recklessness, while ‘culpable homicide’ (equivalent to manslaughter) is an unlawful killing without the required mens rea for murder. ‘Diminished responsibility’ and ‘provocation’ are partial defences that reduce murder to culpable homicide. Remember: Culpable = Careless/lesser blame.

与杀人罪相关的术语：’murder’（谋杀）需要邪恶的杀人意图或邪恶的轻率，而 ‘culpable homicide’（相当于非预谋杀人）是没有谋杀所需犯罪意图的非法杀人。’diminished responsibility’（减轻责任）和 ‘provocation’（挑衅）是可将谋杀降为 culpable homicide 的部分辩护理由。记忆：Culpable = Careless/lesser blame（粗心/较轻的责备）。

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3. Delict (Tort) Vocabulary | 侵权法术语

Delict is the Scots law equivalent of the English tort. The fundamental principle is the ‘duty of care’, established by the neighbour principle from Donoghue v Stevenson (1932) – a famous Scottish case involving a snail in a ginger beer bottle. To establish negligence, a pursuer must prove duty of care, ‘breach of duty’, ‘causation’, and ‘remoteness of damage’.

Delict 相当于英格兰法中的侵权。其基本原则是 ‘duty of care’（注意义务），由 Donoghue v Stevenson (1932) 案中的邻人原则确立——这是著名的苏格兰案例，涉及姜汁啤酒瓶中的蜗牛。要证明过失，原告必须证明注意义务的存在、’breach of duty’（违反义务）、’causation’（因果关系）以及 ‘remoteness of damage’（损害的遥远性）。

‘Causation’ is split into factual causation (the ‘but for’ test) and legal causation, where the court considers novus actus interveniens – a new intervening act that breaks the chain of causation. ‘Volenti non fit injuria’ is a defence meaning a willing person cannot suffer a legal wrong. A quick mnemonic: ‘BUT FOR your brake failure, I wouldn’t have crashed’ – factual causation.

‘Causation’（因果关系）分为事实因果关系（’but for’ 检验）和法律因果关系，法院会考虑是否存在 novus actus interveniens——一种打断因果关系链的新介入行为。’Volenti non fit injuria’（同意者不得主张侵权）是一项抗辩，意为自愿者不构成违法。简易助记：’BUT FOR your brake failure, I wouldn’t have crashed’——若无你的刹车失灵，我就不会撞车——事实因果关系。

‘Vicarious liability’ holds an employer liable for the delicts of an employee committed in the course of employment. To memorise, pair ‘vicarious’ with ‘vigilant employer’ – the employer must be vigilant because they bear the risk.

‘Vicarious liability’（替代责任）使雇主对雇员在雇佣过程中实施的侵权行为承担责任。记忆时可把 ‘vicarious’ 与 ‘vigilant employer’（警惕的雇主）配对——雇主必须警惕，因为他们承担风险。

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4. Fundamental Contract Law Lexicon | 合同法基础词汇

A valid contract in Scots law requires agreement on ‘essential terms’ – parties, price, and subject matter. ‘Consensus in idem’ means a meeting of minds, while ‘invitations to treat’ are preliminary communications not constituting an offer. A classic example is goods displayed on a shelf, which is an invitation to treat, not an offer, as per Pharmaceutical Society v Boots.

苏格兰法中一个有效的合同需要对 ‘essential terms’（必要条款）达成一致——当事人、价格和标的物。’Consensus in idem’ 意为意思表示一致，而 ‘invitations to treat’（要约邀请）是不构成要约的初步沟通。经典例子如货架上的商品展示，根据 Pharmaceutical Society v Boots 案，属于要约邀请而非要约。

‘Promissory estoppel’ prevents a party from going back on a promise even if consideration is lacking, provided the other party relied on it to their detriment. Scots law also recognises ‘unilateral promise’ – a binding promise without acceptance, unique to mixed legal systems. Associate ‘unilateral’ with ‘one-sided but still binding’.

‘Promissory estoppel’（允诺禁反言）防止一方反悔承诺，即使缺乏对价，但另一方已基于此受损。苏格兰法还承认 ‘unilateral promise’（单方允诺）——无需接受即具约束力的允诺，这是混合法系独特之处。联想 ‘unilateral’ 为 ‘one-sided but still binding’（单方但仍具约束力）。

Breach of contract remedies include ‘specific implement’ (compelling performance) and ‘damages’. ‘Mutual contract’ (synallagmatic) creates obligations on both sides. Remember: SPECIFIC IMPLEMENT = specifically forced to perform.

违约救济包括 ‘specific implement’（实际履行，强制履行）和 ‘damages’（损害赔偿）。’Mutual contract’（双务合同）为双方创设义务。记忆：SPECIFIC IMPLEMENT = specifically forced to perform（被专门强制履行）。

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5. Must-Know Evidence Terms | 证据法必备术语

In Scottish criminal procedure, evidence must meet the test of ‘sufficiency’ – which intertwines with corroboration. ‘Real evidence’ is physical, whereas ‘testimonial evidence’ comes from witnesses. The ‘best evidence rule’ requires the original document, not a copy, although this has been relaxed in modern practice.

在苏格兰刑事诉讼中，证据必须通过 ‘sufficiency’（充分性）检验——这与佐证紧密相连。’Real evidence’（实物证据）是物证，而 ‘testimonial evidence’（证言证据）来自证人。’Best evidence rule’（最佳证据规则）要求提供文件原件而非副本，尽管在现代实践中已有所放宽。

‘Hearsay’ is a statement made out of court being used to prove the truth of the matter asserted, generally inadmissible, but with exceptions like res gestae (part of the res gestae – spontaneous statements). ‘Judicial knowledge’ allows the court to accept certain facts without proof. To recall hearsay exceptions, think ‘SPRINT’: Spontaneous, Public documents, Record, Interest (against interest), New res gestae, Traditional business records.

‘Hearsay’（传闻证据）是于庭外作出的、用以证明所主张事实真实性的陈述，通常不可采纳，但存在例外，如 res gestae（事件过程中的自发性陈述）。’Judicial knowledge’（司法认知）允许法院无需证据即接受某些事实。为记住传闻例外，可以想 ‘SPRINT’：Spontaneous（自发性）、Public documents（公共文件）、Record（记录）、Interest（违背利益）、New res gestae（新的事故过程）、Traditional business records（传统业务记录）。

‘Burden of proof’ in criminal cases lies on the prosecution to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt, while in civil cases, the standard is ‘on the balance of probabilities’. The ‘presumption of innocence’ protects the accused. Mnemonic: Criminal = Convinced Completely; Civil = calculated chance (more likely than not).

刑事案件中的 ‘burden of proof’（举证责任）由控方承担，需排除合理怀疑证明有罪；而在民事案件中，证明标准是 ‘on the balance of probabilities’（盖然性权衡）。’Presumption of innocence’（无罪推定）保护被告。助记：Criminal = Convinced Completely（完全确信）；Civil = calculated chance（计算后的几率，更可能为真）。

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6. Human Rights and EU Law Lexicon | 人权法与欧盟法术语

The Human Rights Act 1998 incorporates the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) into Scots law. Key articles include Article 2 (right to life), Article 3 (prohibition of torture), Article 6 (right to a fair trial), and Article 8 (right to respect for private and family life). The Scotland Act 1998 binds the Scottish Parliament to the Convention rights; any act incompatible can be struck down by the courts.

《1998 年人权法》将《欧洲人权公约》(ECHR) 引入苏格兰法律。关键条款包括第 2 条（生命权）、第 3 条（禁止酷刑）、第 6 条（公平审判权）和第 8 条（私人与家庭生活受尊重的权利）。《1998 年苏格兰法》要求苏格兰议会遵守公约权利；任何不符合的法律都可能被法院推翻。

‘Proportionality’ is a key concept in human rights adjudication – any interference with a qualified right must be proportionate to a legitimate aim. ‘Margin of appreciation’ allows states a degree of discretion in implementing Convention rights. Pair ‘margin’ with ‘manoeuvre room’ to recall it.

‘Proportionality’（合比例性）是人权裁判中的关键概念——对受限制权利的任何干涉，必须与合法目的成比例。’Margin of appreciation’（裁量余地）允许各国在实施公约权利时拥有一定程度的裁量权。可将 ‘margin’ 联想为 ‘manoeuvre room’（回旋余地）以助记忆。

EU law terms still relevant due to retained EU law: ‘direct effect’ allows individuals to rely on EU regulations in domestic courts; ‘supremacy’ (or primacy) means EU law prevails over conflicting domestic law. Since Brexit, the impact is limited to retained law, but these concepts remain in the SQA syllabus. Think ‘SUPER’ for Supremacy Prevails Even Retained.

因保留的欧盟法律，欧盟法术语仍具相关性：’direct effect’（直接效力）允许个人在国内法院援引欧盟法规；’supremacy’（最高效力，或优先效力）指欧盟法优先于冲突的国内法。脱欧后，其影响限于保留的法律，但这些概念仍留在 SQA 大纲中。可联想 ‘SUPER’：Supremacy Prevails Even Retained（优先效力即使保留仍占上风）。

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7. Judicial Precedent and Legal Reasoning | 司法先例与法律推理

The doctrine of precedent, or stare decisis, requires lower courts to follow decisions of higher courts. The ‘ratio decidendi’ is the binding legal reasoning, while ‘obiter dicta’ are incidental remarks that may be persuasive. In Scotland, decisions of the UK Supreme Court bind all Scottish courts, and the inner House of the Court of Session binds the outer House and sheriff courts.

先例原则，或称 stare decisis，要求下级法院遵循上级法院的判决。’Ratio decidendi’（判决理由）是具有约束力的法律推理，而 ‘obiter dicta’（附带意见）是可能具有说服力的附随评论。在苏格兰，英国最高法院的判决约束所有苏格兰法院，而高等民事法院内院约束外院和郡法院。

‘Distinguishing’ allows a court to avoid a precedent if the material facts differ; ‘overruling’ occurs when a higher court sets aside a previous decision. ‘Per incuriam’ means a decision made in ignorance of a relevant statute or binding precedent, and it may be considered weak. Memorise: Ratio = Ruling; Obiter = Other comments.

‘Distinguishing’（区别）允许法院在关键事实不同时回避先例；’overruling’（推翻）发生在上级法院撤销先前判决时。’Per incuriam’ 指作出判决时因疏忽未注意到相关制定法或约束性先例，该判决可能被视为效力较弱。记忆：Ratio = Ruling（裁定）；Obiter = Other comments（其他评论）。

Statutory interpretation tools include the ‘literal rule’, ‘golden rule’, ‘mischief rule’, and the ‘purposive approach’. Under Scots law, the court may also consider pre-legislative reports to ascertain the intention of the Scottish Parliament. Think ‘LAMP’ – Literal, Ascertain (purposive), Mischief, Plain meaning (golden).

成文法解释工具包括 ‘literal rule’（字面规则）、’golden rule’（黄金规则）、’mischief rule’（弥补漏洞规则）和 ‘purposive approach’（目的解释法）。根据苏格兰法律，法院还可以参考立法前报告以确定苏格兰议会的意图。联想 ‘LAMP’——Literal, Ascertain (purposive), Mischief, Plain meaning (golden)。

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8. Quick Memorisation Techniques and Common Confusions | 高效记忆技巧与常见混淆辨析

Differentiate ‘sheriff court’ (local, handles most civil and criminal cases) from ‘High Court of Justiciary’ (supreme criminal court, for serious crimes on solemn procedure). Remember that the Court of Session is civil, and High Court of Justiciary is criminal. ‘JUSTiciary’ links to ‘JUSTice in serious crime’.

区分 ‘sheriff court’（地方法院，处理大多数民事和刑事案件）与 ‘High Court of Justiciary’（最高刑事法院，处理重罪的正式程序案件）。请记住，高等民事法院是民事法院，而高等刑事法院是刑事法院。’JUSTiciary’ 可联想为 ‘JUSTice in serious crime’（严重犯罪中的正义）。

Do not confuse ‘culpable homicide’ with ‘murder’ – the latter includes wicked intent; the former arises from recklessness or diminished responsibility. Comprehend ‘voluntary’ and ‘involuntary’ culpable homicide: voluntary = murder reduced by partial defence; involuntary = unlawful killing without intention to kill. Picture: Voluntary = very nearly murder but partially excused.

不要混淆 ‘culpable homicide’ 和 ‘murder’——后者包含邪恶意图；前者源于轻率或减轻责任。理解 ‘voluntary’ 与 ‘involuntary’ culpable homicide：自愿的 = 因部分辩护理由从谋杀降级；非自愿的 = 无杀人意图的非法杀人。形象记忆：Voluntary = very nearly murder but partially excused（近乎谋杀但部分情有可原）。

For ‘private law’ vs ‘public law’: private law governs relationships between individuals (contract, delict, family), while public law governs the state-individual relationship (constitutional, administrative, criminal). Use ‘PRIvate = PeRsonal Issues’.

对于 ‘private law’（私法）与 ‘public law’（公法）：私法调整个人之间的关系（合同、侵权、家庭）；公法调整国家与个人之间的关系（宪法、行政、刑事）。利用 ‘PRIvate = PeRsonal Issues’（私人事务）来记忆。

The terms ‘legislation’, ‘statute’, and ‘act of parliament’ are synonymous. ‘Delegated legislation’ covers orders, regulations, and rules made by ministers under an enabling act. A handy recall: ‘Statute = Standing law passed by parliament’.

‘Legislation’、’statute’ 和 ‘act of parliament’（议会立法）同义。’Delegated legislation’（授权立法）包括部长依据授权法制定的命令、条例和规则。简便回忆法：’Statute = Standing law passed by parliament’（议会通过的常设法律）。

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