What is pro bono work?

Legal work done for free for the public good

What does a subpoena do?

Orders someone to appear or provide evidence

Legal Latin Quiz: Habeas Corpus, Pro Bono and Affidavits

This legal Latin quiz translates the old phrases lawyers still use in courtrooms and contracts. Play 10 interactive questions on habeas corpus, pro bono, affidavit, subpoena, prima facie, mens rea, amicus curiae, bona fide, in absentia and de facto, plus why Latin survives in law.

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🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 150 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 150s

Habeas
What does habeas corpus protect against?
Bono
What is pro bono work?
Affidavit
What is an affidavit?
Subpoena
What does a subpoena do?
Prima
What does prima facie mean?
Mens
What does mens rea refer to?
Amicus
Who is an amicus curiae?
Bona
What does bona fide mean?
Absentia
What does in absentia mean?
Facto
What does de facto mean?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: What does habeas corpus protect against?
Answer: Unlawful detention
It means you shall have the body.
Q2: What is pro bono work?
Answer: Legal work done for free for the public good
Many lawyers give free hours.
Q3: What is an affidavit?
Answer: A written statement made under oath
It comes from Latin for he has declared on oath.
Q4: What does a subpoena do?
Answer: Orders someone to appear or provide evidence
It means under penalty.
Q5: What does prima facie mean?
Answer: At first sight
Prima facie evidence seems true until challenged.
Q6: What does mens rea refer to?
Answer: A guilty mind
Intent matters in many crimes.
Q7: Who is an amicus curiae?
Answer: A friend of the court
They offer outside expertise.
Q8: What does bona fide mean?
Answer: In good faith
A bona fide offer is genuine.
Q9: What does in absentia mean?
Answer: While absent
Some trials happen in absentia.
Q10: What does de facto mean?
Answer: In fact or in practice
Its opposite is de jure.

Legal Latin Quiz – Habeas Corpus, Pro Bono and Affidavits

Latin was the language of learning and the church in medieval Europe, and many legal terms passed from it into English law. Courts kept these short phrases because they carry precise meanings built up over centuries.

Habeas corpus lets a person challenge unlawful detention, and a subpoena orders someone to appear under penalty. An affidavit is a written statement made under oath, and pro bono work is done for free for the public good.

Criminal law speaks of mens rea, the guilty mind, alongside the guilty act. Other terms such as prima facie, bona fide, amicus curiae and de facto appear in courts, contracts and even everyday speech.

What This Quiz Teaches

Language fans will enjoy these questions.

What habeas corpus means
What pro bono work is
What an affidavit is
What mens rea refers to
How Latin phrases are used

Did You Know?

Some courts now encourage plain English instead of Latin.
Quid pro quo means something for something.
Actus reus means the guilty act.
Sub judice means under judicial consideration.
Per se means by itself.