The Basics
The exam you have to take in order to practice law
What is The Bar Exam
This type of law deals with disputes between individuals or businesses, often involving compensation rather than punishment.
What is Civil law
This level of government creates laws that apply to all 50 states, including New York.
What is The federal government
This document is the supreme law of the United States and outlines the structure and powers of the federal government.
What is the U.S. Constitution
This term refers to a crime in New York that is punishable by more than one year in state prison.
What is a Felony
This type of agreement outlines the scope of work and upfront payment a client provides to secure ongoing legal services from an attorney.
What is the Retainer Agreement
This type of law involves offenses against the state or society, where penalties can include fines, probation, or imprisonment.
What is Criminal Law
This New York State legislative body, along with the Assembly, creates state laws that apply only within New York.
What is The New York State Senate
This state document guarantees rights to New Yorkers and establishes the structure of New York’s government, including the Governor and Legislature.
What is The New York State Constitution
This New York law defines crimes and their classifications, including felonies, misdemeanors, and violations.
What is the New York Penal Law
These legal professionals assist attorneys by conducting research, drafting documents, and organizing case files, but they are prohibited from giving legal advice or representing clients in court.
What is Paralegals
In criminal cases, the government must prove the defendant’s guilt to this high standard of proof.
What is Beyond a reasonable doubt
This clause in the U.S. Constitution establishes that federal law overrides conflicting state laws.
What is The Supremacy Clause
Unlike the U.S. Constitution, the New York State Constitution requires this process every 20 years to let voters decide whether to rewrite the state constitution.
What is A constitutional convention vote
In New York, this type of intent means a person consciously aims to cause a specific result, such as injury or death.
What is Intent
This official is authorized by the state to verify identities, witness signatures, and administer oaths, helping prevent fraud in legal and business documents.
What is Notary Public
In civil cases, the party bringing the lawsuit is called this, while the accused party is called the defendant.
What is The plaintiff
This New York State agency enforces state‑specific labor laws, including minimum wage and workplace protections.
What is the New York State Department of Labor
While the U.S. Constitution has 27 amendments, this New York State document has been rewritten multiple times, most recently in this year.
What is The NYS Constitution was last rewritten in 1938
This NYS legal rule requires police to advise suspects of their rights before custodial interrogation, including the right to remain silent.
What is Miranda Rights
This legal document allows one person to grant another the authority to act on their behalf, and its scope can range from handling financial matters to making medical decisions, depending on how it is drafted.
What is the Power of Attorney
This constitutional protection prevents a person from being tried twice for the same criminal offense, but does not apply to civil lawsuits.
What is The Double Jeopardy Clause of the Fifth Amendment
These courts handle cases involving violations of federal statutes, constitutional issues, or disputes between citizens of different states involving large amounts of money.
This principle explains why both the federal and New York State constitutions can operate at the same time, with each governing different areas of law.
What is Federalism
This New York statute allows a person to use physical force, including deadly force in limited circumstances, to defend themselves or others from imminent harm.
What is Justification (Self‑Defense) under NY Penal Law Article 35