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Personal jurisdiction refers to the court’s authority to issue a decision regarding the party being sued in a case.

• jurisdiction
• civil procedure
• Federal Rules of Civil Procedure
• SERVICE OF PROCESS
• subject matter jurisdiction

Persuasive authority, unlike mandatory authority, describes a source of law—primary or secondary—that carries some authoritative weight but that does not bind a court.

A petition that asks an appellate court to grant a writ of certiorari. This type of petition usually argues that a lower court has incorrectly decided an important question of law, and that the mistake should be fixed to prevent confusion in similar cases.

• civil procedure

Pinkerton liability allows an actor to be held liable for substantive crimes committed by his coconspirators in certain circumstances. A defendant can be held vicariously liable for a substantive offense committed by another member of a conspiracy if: (1) the defendant was a party to the conspiracy; (2) the offense was “within the scope of the unlawful project“; (3) the offense was committed in furtherance of the conspiracy; and (4) the defendant could have reasonable foreseen the offense as a “necessary or natural consequence of the unlawful agreement.”

• criminal law
• white-collar crime

Plain-language law is a type of law that requires consumer contracts to be written in nontechnical, easily understood language.  Such contracts may include residential leases, loan agreements, software licenses, and insurance contracts.

Plenary authority refers to complete and unrestricted authority granted to a person or entity under a law, constitution, contract, or other governing instrument.

Plenary power refers to complete and exclusive authority over a particular subject matter, constrained only by constitutional limitations. When a governmental body holds plenary power, it may legislate or act within that area without requiring additional authorization.

• constitutional law

A meeting called by group leaders with the intention of having the full group in attendance.  Thus, a legislative plenary session is one attended by all legislators, and not just certain committee members.

Found inside the back cover of certain legal reference books. When examining such books, these small booklets are consulted to ensure that the most current law is examined.

• legal research

A possessory lien is a lien that secures payment or performance of an obligation for services or materials provided in connection with goods, where the lienholder retains po

• secured transactions