Where do I find definitions of legal terms?
Last reviewed August 2026 by the Clicklaw editors
You can find legal definitions in books and online resources. We have chosen some online glossaries that contain common legal terms in several popular areas of the law.
General legal terms
- Glossary and Court Jargon (Provincial Court of British Columbia)
- Glossary of Legal Terms (Emond Publishing)
- Courts of BC’s Legal Dictionary (Justice Education Society)
- Glossary (BC Laws)
Criminal law
- Criminal Justice Glossary (Emond Publishing)
- LSLAP Manual: Criminal Law - Glossary (Law Students’ Legal Advice Program)
Family law
- JP Boyd on Family Law’s Terminology (John-Paul Boyd, KC)
- LSLAP Manual: Family Law - Glossary (Law Students’ Legal Advice Program)
- Family Law in BC’s Glossary (Justice Education Society)
Wills, estates & planning
- Glossary (Public Guardian and Trustee of British Columbia)
- Glossary – Commonly Used Terms in Advance Care Planning (BC Centre for Palliative Care)
- LSLAP Manual: Wills and Estate Administration - Glossary (Law Students’ Legal Advice Program)
Human rights
- Glossary (BC Human Rights Tribunal)