Legal Reasoning is an important section of the CLAT exam and legal maxims form a major part thereof. This blog will help you to learn and remember the 30 most important legal maxims as you prepare for CLAT 2026 and help you in enhancing your CLAT score!
In exams like CLAT and other Law Entrance Tests, legal maxims are used to test the understanding of law aspirants. Gaining familiarity with common legal maxims is helpful when preparing for the CLAT 2026 and other law entrance exams. You don’t need to mug up the information but knowing them to attempt general legal problems is always an advantage.
Legal Maxims often Asked in CLAT
A legal maxim is a well-established legal idea, proposal, or doctrine often expressed in Latin. The reason they are written in latin is due to their origin in Medieval Europe where Latin was the primary tongue and over time they just got adapted into legal systems around the world.
To help you become familiar with these principles, this blog provides some important legal maxims for the CLAT exam. Make your CLAT preparation more effective with the help of this blog!
30 Important Legal Maxims and Phrases for CLAT 2026
Here is a brief list of the CLAT examination’s top 25 legal maxims and phrases. Have a look at the most important legal maxims for CLAT!
1. Ab Initio – From the beginning.
2. Actionable per se – The act is punishable, and no proof of damage is required.
3. Actio personalis moritur cum persona – A personal right of action dies with the person.
4. Actori incumbit onus probandi – The burden of proof is on the plaintiff.
5. Actus Reus Non Facit Reum Nisi Mens Sit Rea – Conviction of a crime requires proof of a criminal act and intent. In essence, a crime is not completed unless the guilty mind (mens rea) is accompanied with a guilty act (actus reus).
6. Ad hoc – For the particular end or case at hand.
7. Alibi – At another place, elsewhere.
8. Amicus Curiae – A friend of the court or member of the Bar appointed to assist the Court.
9. Alteram Non Laedere- Hurt no one by word or deed.
10. Assentio mentium – The meeting of minds, mutual assents.
11. Audi alteram partem – No man shall be condemned unheard.
12. Bona fide – In good faith.
13. Bona vacantia – Goods without an owner.
14. Boni judicis est ampliare jurisdictionem – It is part of a good judge to enlarge their jurisdiction.
15. Caveat – A caution registered with the public court to indicate that they are not to act in a matter without giving prior notice to the caveator.
16. Caveat actor – Let the doer beware.
17. Caveat emptor – Let the buyer beware.
18. Caveat venditor – Let the seller beware.
19. Certiorari – A writ used to quash orders passed by an inferior court.
20. Corpus – Body.
21. Corpus delicti – The facts and circumstances constituting a crime and concrete evidence of a crime, such as a corpse (dead body).
22. Damnum sine injuria – Damage without injury.
23. De facto – In fact.
24. De jure – By law.
25. De minimis – About minimal things.
26. De Minimis Non Curat Lex – The law does not govern trifles or ignores insignificant details.
27. De novo – To make something anew.
28. Dictum – Statement of law made by a judge in the course of the decision but not necessary to the decision itself.
29. Doli incapax – Incapable of crime.
30. Detinue – The tort of wrongfully holding goods that belong to someone else.
These legal maxims will not only help you grasp a concept in the legal reasoning section but also help you in your journey while pursuing a career of law. You can learn more with Law Prep Tutorial’s classes on legal reasoning and comprehension. Join today by calling us on +91-8750581505!