Concise Australian Legal Dictionary

Australian Law Legal Education Legal Reference Law Dictionary Professional Law Academic Law

The 4th edition Concise Australian Legal Dictionary (9780409327311) is the go-to desk reference that law students, paralegals and practising solicitors reach for when they need an accurate, court-recognised definition without wading through a full encyclopaedia. In one 690-page paperback Peter Butt and David Hamer distil more than 4,000 legal terms—from “ab initio” to “writ of summons”—into plain-English explanations that cite the leading High Court and Federal Court authorities. Because it is written by two of Australia’s most respected legal lexicographers, the definitions track the exact language used in modern judgments, giving users the confidence to quote the dictionary directly in moots, pleadings and client advice.

What sets this 2011 LexisNexis edition apart is its compact yet authoritative coverage of contemporary developments such as the Personal Property Securities Act, the Competition and Consumer Act and the ever-expanding uniform evidence legislation. Cross-references link related concepts instantly, while Latin maxims are translated and explained in context so readers grasp both meaning and usage. At under 1 kg the book is light enough to carry to court or university, yet comprehensive enough to replace bulkier loose-leaf services on everyday terminology questions.

Collectors and professionals prize clean, unmarked copies like this one: no highlighting, no prior owner notes, just crisp pages and only minor shelf wear to the cover. Out-of-print in paperback and rarely available in such tidy condition, this intermediate-to-advanced level dictionary is an inexpensive way to own a recognised authority that still underpins Australian legal drafting today.

Refer to our eBay listing for a full condition report and many more high-quality pictures of this item.