Legal Maxims

Concise Latin principles that explain
fundamental rules and concepts of law.

S.No.	Legal Maxim	Meaning (Latin)	Explanation
1	Actus non facit reum nisi mens sit rea	The act itself does not make a person guilty unless there is a guilty mind.	A person who accidentally kills someone while driving recklessly may not be guilty if there was no intention or malice.
2	Audi alteram partem	Hear the other side (right to a fair hearing).	Before dismissing an employee, the employer must provide the employee with an opportunity to explain.
3	Nemo judex in causa sua	No one can be a judge in their own case.	A judge must recuse themselves from cases where they have a personal interest.
4	Res ipsa loquitur	The thing speaks for itself.	In a case where a surgeon leaves a foreign object inside a patient’s body, negligence is presumed.
5	Caveat emptor	Let the buyer beware.	If a person buys used goods, they cannot later sue the seller for defects if they did not inspect the car properly.
6	Ignorantia juris non excusat	Ignorance of the law is no excuse.	A person cannot claim ignorance of the law if he breaks it.
7	Volenti non fit injuria	To a willing person, no injury is done.	If someone participates in a dangerous sport and gets injured, they cannot sue for damages.
8	Sudden Emergency	One is not held to a strict standard of care in a sudden emergency.	A driver swerves to avoid an animal and causes an accident may not be liable if the action was reasonable.
9	Lex loci delicti commissi	The law of the place where the wrong was committed.	If a tort occurs in a foreign country, the laws of that country would govern the tort.
10	Nemo dat quod non habet	No one can give what they do not have.	A person who steals a car cannot transfer ownership of the car to another person.