Legal Latin Resources

Latin is a dead language

As dead as it can be

Once it killed the Romans

Now it's killing me

-Anonymous Latin student

Paraphrasing Mark Twain, the death of Latin has been greatly exaggerated.  While researching the law, one will frequently discover a range of Latin terms casually dropped into articles and cases as if Rome never fell.  To decode Latin legal maxims and terms such as Ignorantia legis neminem excusat* or in loco parentis*, the library has a number of useful resources.

Black's Law Dictionary (Reference, KF156.B53 2004)

Cassell's New Latin Dictionary (Reference, PA2365.L3 C3 1960)

Essential Latin for Lawyers (Reference, K52.L3 V47 1990)

Latin for Lawyers (Reference, K52.L37 1960)

Latin Words and Phrases for Lawyers (4th floor, K52.L3 L3)

*"ignorance of the law is no excuse" and "in the place of a parent"

Tom Hemstock