award

Definition

The official prize or honor handed down when arbitrators or judges finally stop deliberating and commit to a decision—often involving money, trophies, or the satisfaction of being deemed 'right' by an authority figure. The winner's receipt proving they didn't waste their time in court or competition.

Example Usage

The arbitration tribunal issued an award of $2.5 million in damages to settle the contract dispute.

Source: Merriam-Webster via Free Dictionary API

Related Terms

Intermediate

appealed

The legal equivalent of 'I'm taking this to the principal'—a desperate plea to a higher court that the lower court got it spectacularly wrong, submitted with the hope that three robes are smarter than two.

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Noncompete Agreement

A legal contract that says 'if you leave this company, you can't work for competitors for X years in Y geographic area,' designed to trap employees and protect corporate interests. It's a legal cage disguised as a business arrangement.

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Intermediate

arbitrate

To play referee in a dispute by making a binding decision, typically when two parties can't adult their way through negotiations. It's less formal than court but more official than rock-paper-scissors, often used to avoid expensive litigation. The arbitrator's decision is usually final, so choose your arbitrator wisely—or prepare to live with consequences.

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material breach

A contract violation so significant it essentially destroys the entire agreement, not just a minor hiccup. It's the difference between being five minutes late to a meeting and not showing up for six months.

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Intermediate

motion to compel

A formal request asking the judge to force the other side to comply with discovery requests they've been avoiding. It's the legal equivalent of tattling to the teacher when someone won't share.

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Beginner

Billable Hour

The holy grail of law firm accounting—a 60-minute block of attorney time that clients pay for, regardless of whether the lawyer spent it productively or just refreshing email.

⚖️ Legal

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