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Glite Dictionary
legal relation

legal relation

6.7
A relationship between people or groups that the law recognizes, like lawyer and client
  • noun
  • /ˈliːgəl rɪˈleɪʃən/
  • Formal
translation icon : relación legal
  • There is a legal relation between a tenant and a landlord, established through a lease agreement.

Examples

  • A lawyer must maintain a legal relation with their client.

  • The confidentiality rules apply only if a legal relation exists between the client and the attorney.

  • When two parties enter into a contract, a legal relation is created and governed by the terms of the agreement.

  • The legal relations between parties are crucial in contract law.

  • The contract established a legal relation between the lawyer and the client, outlining their rights and obligations.

  • In cases of dispute, the legal relation ensures that both parties have a clear understanding of their responsibilities.

  • Before signing, she wanted to fully understand the legal relation created by the agreement with her attorney.

Synonyms

attorney-client relation
vslegal relation
  • Formal
4.5

A relationship where a lawyer must act for a client's best interests and keep matters private

is broader, covers professional ties regulated by law beyond that specific duty
lawyer-client relation
vslegal relation
  • Formal
4.1

A professional relationship in which a lawyer must act for a client's benefit and keep information secret

is broader and covers any regulated professional connection not only that duty

Surface Forms

legal relation singular
legal relations plural

Morphology

legal + relation

The meaning is directly and compositionally derived from 'legal' (relating to law) + 'relation' (a connection or relationship), so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer it refers to a relationship governed or defined by law. This construction is straightforward and cross-linguistically common, making the phrase immediately comprehensible without prior exposure.

Etymology

The noun legal relation may come from the simple image of two people tied by a signed paper. Legal means 'law' and relation means 'a link', so the phrase means a 'relationship' that is ruled 'by law' between people such as a client and a lawyer.