Real English: What you need to know if you’re going to court

Have you ever broken the law? Today, I’m going to teach you courtroom vocabulary. It’s important to know the law so that you know your rights and know how to stay out of trouble. If you do end up in court, you need to know what to expect and how to communicate politely and intelligently so that you get the best outcome. The vocabulary and expressions you’ll learn will help you understand what is happening in courtrooms on television shows and movies, as well as if you have to appear in court yourself. Court isn’t just for hardened criminals -- sometimes we have to go to court for “misdemeanours“-- small crimes like parking violations and littering, or you may have to go to court because of a lawsuit or as part of your job. In this video, I’ll discuss different strategies that will help you speak with the people you’ll meet in court -- lawyers, judges, and police officers. My best advice is to stay out of trouble, know how to talk to the police, and be informed if you have to go to court.