Legal Maxim's

A mensa et thoro
— From bed and board.
A vinculo matrimoni
— From the bond of matrimony.
Ab extra
— From outside.
Ab initio
— From the beginning.
Absoluta sententia expositore non indiget
— An absolute judgment needs no expositor.
Abundans cautela non nocet
— Abundant caution does no harm.
Accessorium non ducit sed sequitur suum principale
— An accessory does not draw, but follows its principal.
Accessorius sequitur
— One who is an accessory to the crime cannot be guilty of a more serious crime than the principal offender.
Acta exteriora iudicant interiora secreta
— Outward acts indicate the inward intent.
Actio non accrevit infra sex annos
— The action has not accrued within six years.
Actio non datur non damnificato
— An action is not given to one who is not injured.
Actio personalis moritur cum persona
— A personal action dies with the person.
Actiones legis
— Law suits.
Actori incumbit onus probandi
— The burden of proof lies on the plaintiff.
Actus nemini facit injuriam
— The act of the law does no one wrong.
Actus non facit reum nisi mens sit rea
— The act does not make one guilty unless there be a criminal intent.
Actus reus
— A guilty deed or act.
Ad ea quae frequentius acciduunt jura adaptantur
— The laws are adapted to those cases which occur more frequently.
Ad hoc
— For this purpose.
Ad infinitum
— Forever, without limit, to infinity.
Ad perpetuam rei memoriam
— For a perpetual memorial of the matter.
Ad quaestionem facti non respondent judices; ad quaestionem legis non respondent juratores
— The judges do not answer to a question of fact; the jury do not answer to a question of Law.
Aedificare in tuo proprio solo non licet quod alteri noceat
— It is not lawful to build on ones own land what may be injurious to another.
Aequitas legem sequitur
— Equity follows the law.
Aequitas nunquam contravenit legem
— Equity never contradicts the law.
Alibi
— At another place, elsewhere.
Alienatio rei praefertur juri accrescendi
— Alienation is preferred by law rather than accumulation.
Aliunde
— From elsewhere, or, from a different source
Allegans contraria non est audiendus
— One making contradictory statements is not to be heard.
Allegans suam turpitudinem non est audiendus
— One alleging his own infamy is not to be heard.
Allegatio contra factum non est admittenda
— An allegation contrary to a deed is not to be heard.
Ambiguitas contra stipulatorem est
— An ambiguity is most strongly construed against the party using it.
Ambiguitas verborum patens nulla verificatione excluditur
— A patent ambiguity is never helped by averment.
Amicus curiae
— A friend of the Court.
Angliae jura in omni casu libertati dant favorem
— The laws of England are favorable in every case to liberty.
Animo furandi
— With an intention of stealing.
Animo testandi
— With an intention of making a will.
Annus luctus
— The year of mourning.
Ante
— Before.
Aqua currit et debet currere, ut currere solebat
— Water runs and ought to run.
Arbitrium est judicium
— An award is a judgment.
Arbor dum crescit; lignum cum crescere nescit
— A tree while it grows, wood when it cannot grow.
Argumentum ab auctoritate fortissimum est in lege
— An argument drawn from authority is the strongest in law.
Argumentum ab impossibilii plurimum valet in lege
— An argument from impossibility is very strong in law.
Argumentum ad hominem
— An argument directed a the person.
Argumentum ad ignoratiam
— An argument based upon ignorance (i.e. of one's adversary).
Arma in armatos sumere jura sinunt
— The laws permit the taking up of arms against the armed.
Assentio mentium
— The meeting of minds, i.e. mutual assent.
Assignatus utitur jure auctoris
— An assignee is clothed with rights of his assignor.
Audi alteram partem
— Hear the other side.
Aula regis
— The King's Court.