Brief

What brief means

Put simply, brief is part of the working vocabulary of a civil case. The short definition above covers the usual meaning. Still, a specific rule, statute or contract can give it a narrower meaning. For that reason, check how it is used in your own documents.

Where brief comes up

For example, the term appears in these procedures:

• Opening Brief (Appellant's Brief) (Fed. R. App. P. 28(a), 31(a), 32(a)(7)): the appellant's main written argument in an appeal, explaining what the trial court got wrong and what the appellate court should do.
• Reply (Reply Brief or Reply to an Answer) (Fed. R. Civ. P. 7(a)(7); Fed. R. App. P. 27(a)(4), 28(c), 31(a)(1); local rules): the moving party's or appellant's answer to the other side's response or opposition, limited to the points raised there. In pleadings, a "reply to an answer" is allowed only if the court orders one.

How to research the term

First, read the term where it actually appears. A rule, statute or court decision may define it for its own purposes. Next, check whether your court has a local rule that uses brief in a special way. Then look at recent decisions from courts in your jurisdiction. They show how judges apply the term today. Also, remember that state law can differ from federal law. For that reason, use our state procedures guide to find your state’s rules. Finally, confirm every source is current before you rely on it.

You can read the official rule text online for free.

Related legal terms

• Body politic: a people organized as a political community under a government, or the government entity itself as an artificial person.
• Bona fide: latin for "in good faith." Genuine, real, made honestly and without fraud. For example, a bona fide purchaser buys property for value without notice of another person's competing claim, and many state recording laws protect such buyers.
• Bond: has several meanings.
• Bound: legally required to follow or perform something.

Why precise terms matter

Courts read legal terms closely. As a result, knowing the exact meaning of a word helps you follow orders, rules and filings. Each glossary entry on Lawtopolis is short on purpose and links to the pages where the term is used.