In the context of a CICA claim this is relevant for “co-operation with the police”. This means assisting the police in their enquiries and being prepared to go through with taking the offender to court, if the CPS agree to press charges.

Where two or more people jointly own a property and are legally entitled to it.

A document that amends, rather than replaces, a will.

A form of legal agreement reached between an unmarried couple who have chosen to live together defining their rights and obligations, usually around financial and property issues.

Civil and criminal law is divided into that which arises from specific legislation, such as the Road Traffic Act 1988, and law that has arisen from the decisions of the courts over time. This latter type is known as the common law. Under the common law certain people owe a duty to others. For example, those who drive on the road owe a duty to other road users not to drive in a way that might cause injury to others.

The payment made by the CICA in recognition of the suffering as a result of a crime.

The maximum an employee can be awarded is set by legislation annually. This award is intended to compensate the employee for financial loss relating to their dismissal, including expenses and loss of benefits.

When calculating a Compensatory Award the employment tribunal considers the following:

• loss of wages;
• future loss of wages;
• loss of perks;
• how the employee was dismissed;
• loss of employment protection; and
• loss of pension rights.

The moment when the buyer becomes the new owner of the seller’s house and the day the seller must have left the property.

This is the day that ownership of the property passes from the seller to the buyer.

A written calculation of all the receipts and payments due in respect of the transaction.

The ACAS officer who mediates between both parties in an attempt to negotiate settlement before the final hearing.

An agreement between a client and a law firm which states the client will only pay the law firm’s fee if the firm are successful in the claim (usually payment of compensation). The amount the firm is paid is not set out as a percentage of the compensation.

Agreements between a solicitor and client relating to the payment of the solicitors costs in order to fund your injury claim. The agreement will normally provide that the solicitor will work without payment from the client unless the solicitor is successful in recovering compensation for the client. At this point the solicitor would normally recover his fees from the losing party together with an additional ‘success fee’ for taking the risk of acting without payment in the first place. These agreements are often called no win no fee agreements.

The first stage in the court divorce process confirming that you are able to end your marriage/civil partnership.

Constructive Dismissal is where an employer has acted in such a way towards the employee that allows them to leave their job and treat themselves as dismissed. Whilst the employer has not actually fired the employee, they may have brought the employment to an end by their behaviour.

If an employer fails to consult employees (and their representatives if applicable) in a redundancy situation, the redundancy dismissals may be deemed unfair.

Land affected by contamination which could arise from a past use of a property (e.g. oil refinery) or by things stored on the property in the past (e.g. petrol station).

An agreement between a client and a law firm which states that the client will only pay the law firm’s fees if the firm achieve a pre-agreed result in the claim (usually payment of compensation). The agreement will state the legal fees in terms of a percentage of the compensation.