Learning a new language not only opens up new cultural gateways but also enhances your professional opportunities, especially in fields like law where precise terminology is vital. If you’re interested in the legal world and you are learning Estonian, it’s helpful to familiarize yourself with law and legal vocabulary. Here are some key legal terms in Estonian accompanied by their definitions and example sentences to assist your learning journey.

Seadus refers to a law or a statute. It is a formal rule that is officially recognized and enforced by the legal system of Estonia.

Parlamendi poolt vastu võetud uus seadus jõustub järgmisel aastal.

Õigus means right or law in a general sense. It usually indicates legal entitlement or correctness under the legal system.

Igaühel on õigus väljendada oma arvamust.

Advokaat translates as an advocate or a lawyer, a person who is professionally qualified to offer legal advice and representation in court.

Advokaat esitas kohtus tõendid, mis kinnitasid tema kliendi süütust.

Kohtunik refers to a judge, an official appointed to decide cases in a court of law.

Kohtunik kuulutas välja otsuse pärast tunnistajate ülekuulamist.

Kohtuprotsess denotes a legal process or a trial, the procedure of adjudicating disputes in a court.

Kohtuprotsess võib kesta mitu kuud või isegi aastaid.

Hagi means lawsuit or action, referring to a claim or complaint brought in a court for adjudication.

Ettevõte esitas konkurendi vastu hagi autorikaitse rikkumise pärast.

Menetlus is the term for procedure or proceedings, the series of steps taken legally to resolve disputes or enforce laws.

Kriminaalmenetlus algatati pärast röövimisteadet.

Süüdistus stands for an accusation or a charge in a legal context, a formal claim that someone has committed a criminal offense.

Süüdistus esitati ametiisikule korruptsiooni tõttu.

Karistus means punishment or penalty, sanctions imposed for breaking a law or rule.

Karistus peab olema proportsionaalne teo raskusega.

Apellatsioon refers to an appeal, a process by which a case is reviewed by a higher authority or court for reassessment.

Kaotaja esitas kohtuotsusele apellatsiooni.

Lepe denotes an agreement or contract, a legally binding document between parties with mutual obligations.

Lepe allkirjastati mõlema osapoole rahuloluks.

Vaidlus stands for a dispute or a contention, an instance of disagreement that may be settled legally.

Maavalduste üle peetav vaidlus nõuab kohtusse minekut.

Õiguskaitse translates to law enforcement, pertaining to the system of ensuring that laws and regulations are followed.

Õiguskaitse asutused töötavad ööpäevaringselt, et tagada avalik kord.

Tõend means evidence or proof, any material or testimony presented to prove or disprove allegations in the legal proceedings.

Kohtus esitatud tõend oli piisav süüdimõistmiseks.

Tsiviilkohtumenetlus stands for civil procedure, the process in law dealing with private disputes between individuals or organizations.

Tsiviilkohtumenetlus jätkus pärast uute tõendite ilmnemist.

Pädevus refers to jurisdiction, the official power to make legal decisions and judgments.

Selgeks tuleb teha, millise kohtu pädevusse antud juhtum kuulub.

Understanding these terms provides you with a solid foundation of legal vocabulary in Estonian, which can be of great significance whether you’re a professional in the legal field or simply someone with an interest in Estonian law. Remember, immersing yourself in legal texts and practicing the language in context will immensely aid in mastering this specialized vocabulary.