When preparing legal documents, or attempting to read or decipher judgments, you are likely to encounter some words that are very specific to law. The same goes for legal processes and proceedings. ‘Disp’, for instance, is a term you may find difficult to interpret when reading a legal document or judgment. Understanding law and legal nature, and all the terminologies that accompany it comes with time and experience. Not least of all, the terminologies used in law are often Latin or French terms, which tend to be foreign to many. As an example, there is the mention of ‘disp’ during court proceedings and in court judgments. It is likely that ‘disp’ is an abbreviation for ‘disposition’ in court judgment and court rulings. The term may refer to a decision made by a court regarding the resolution of a matter before it. It may also refer to the disposal of a case or the resolution of a case or matter. ‘Disp’ may be found in sentences such as: ‘the matter was disposed on this date’ or ‘the matter should be disp’. In these contexts, it is likely that the term refers to the disposal of a case and the finalization of a matter after a ruling was made. ‘Disp’ or ‘disposition’ can refer to whether a case was resolved in favor or against the appellant.
There have been a number of court proceedings wherein ‘disp’ played a significant role. One such case is Christine Rugby v Newcastle social care services. In this case, the matter came before a court for a ruling, on both liability and the quantum of damages. The court made a ruling in favor of the claimant. The court ruled that counsel was entitled to charge a reduced fee for the claimant in the matters. This was due to the fact that there was a very limited scope of work in the case before the court. The court ordered that the particulars of the amount that the counsel charged be handed to the court, for the court to inform the relevant authorities.
The importance and significance of ‘disp’ and therefore the understanding of ‘disp’, forms part of the study of law and is no different from other similar disciplines, such as computer sciences, the learning of a new language, or even the keeping of financial accounts. Understanding law and legal terminology is thus similar to the study of micro or chemical biology. It is similar to the study of intermolecular forces or the movement of gas molecules in a laboratory. Each of these studies, as with the study of law, requires an investment of time and effort in becoming accustomed to the terminology and jargon of the chosen field of study. It is crucial for any academic, regardless of the field of study, to understand law and the legal terminology used in the courts, in judgments and in legal processes. As such it is important that a study of law and legal terms be accompanied by a deliberate goal or intention.