This lesson practises 31 C2 collocations on Law, Crime & Justice. Collocations are fixed word pairings that native speakers expect — Cambridge examiners test them in Use of English Part 1 and reward precise lexis in Writing. Run through the interactive drills first, then open this glossary to revise every item in the set. For question-by-question feedback, use Review mode after you finish the session.
look into an arms deal
The oversight body agreed to look into an arms deal after receiving a complaint.
suffer at the hands of the defendant
The report describes people who suffer at the hands of an abusive employer.
extenuating circumstances
The judge considered the extenuating circumstances before passing sentence.
unanimous verdict
After long deliberation, the jury returned a unanimous verdict.
take the flak
The manager had to take the flak for the failed campaign.
remand in custody
The suspect may be remanded in custody pending a further hearing.
investigate an arms deal
A parliamentary committee will investigate an arms deal under public scrutiny.
find the defendant not guilty
The jury chose to find the defendant not guilty after deliberation.
collateral damage
The ruling considered the collateral damage caused by closing the only local clinic.
fraudulent claim
The insurer rejected a fraudulent claim for damage that never occurred.
soaring crime rates
Residents were concerned about soaring crime rates in the district.
uphold the rule of law
Independent courts are essential to uphold the rule of law.
probe an arms deal
Investigators will probe an arms deal that raised compliance concerns.
congestion charge
The city introduced a congestion charge to reduce traffic in the centre.
find the defendant guilty
The jury may find the defendant guilty only if the evidence meets the legal test.
a threat hangs over
During the trial, a threat hangs over the defendant.
adjourn a trial
The judge had to adjourn a trial until a key witness could attend.
establish criminal liability
Prosecutors must establish criminal liability beyond reasonable doubt.
dismiss a case
The court may dismiss a case when there is insufficient evidence.
trumped-up charges
The campaign claimed that the activist faced trumped-up charges.
conduct an investigation into a crime
The police will conduct an investigation into a crime reported near the station.
spate of thefts
Police linked the reports to a spate of thefts near the station.
hurl insults
The judge warned both sides not to hurl insults across the courtroom.
mitigating factor
The defendant's cooperation was treated as a mitigating factor.
falsify records
It is a serious offence to falsify records submitted to a regulator.
custodial sentence
The judge imposed a custodial sentence after considering the evidence.
dig out info about a crime
The reporter managed to dig out information about the fraud from public records.
lapse of judgement
The lawyer accepted that the remark was a lapse of judgement.
award damages
The court may award damages to compensate the claimant for the loss.
miscarriage of justice
The appeal court examined whether the conviction was a miscarriage of justice.
protest innocence
The accused continued to protest innocence throughout the hearing.