Legal Terminology and
Texts in English
Sources of law
legislation
It is the principal source of modern law.
It means the formation of legal rules by the
competent authority.
Custom
Custom is defined as the “a practice of the
people which by common adaption and
acquiescence and by long and unvarying
habit, has become compulsory”.
Custom should be general , ancient, stable
and continuous.
Custom should not contravene the
provisions of the law, public order or
morals.
equity
Equity in its broad sense means fairness ,
reasonableness and natural justice.
Judicial precedent (case law)
This source consists of the decisions of courts
made in the course of litigation.
The decisions of certain courts are more than just
authoritative statements of the law since they
can be binding in subsequent cases where the
legally material facts are the same, whether or
not the later courts considers them to be correct
or appropriate.
Jurisprudence
It is also known as legal opinion.