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social guest See GUEST.

social harm An adverse effect on any social interest that is protected by the criminal law. "If the phrase 'social harm' is used to include every invasion of any social interest which has been placed under the protection of a criminal sanction (whether by common law or by statute), every crime may be said to involve, in addition to other requirements, (1) the happening of social harm and (2) the fact that the act of some person was the cause of this harm." Rollin M. Perkins & Ronald N. Boyce, Criminal Law 830 (3d ed. 1982).

social harm See HARM.

social insurance Insurance provided by a government to persons facing particular perils (such as unemployment or disability) or to persons who have a certain status (such as the elderly or the blind). Social insurance such as that created by the Social Security Act of 1935 is usu. part of a governments broader social policy. See WELFARE STATE.

social justice See JUSTICE (1).

social justice 1. Justice that conforms to a moral principle, such as that all people are equal. 2. One or more equitable resolutions sought on behalf of individuals and communities who are disenfran-chised, underrepresented, or otherwise excluded from meaningful partiCipation in legal, economic, cultural, and social structures, with the ultimate goal of removing barriers to participation and effecting social change. Also termed justice in rem. Cf. personal justice; CAUSE LAWYERING.

social restriction 1. The curtailment of individuals liberties ostenSibly for the general benefit. 2. A governmental measure that has this effect.

Social Security Administration A federal agency in the executive branch responsible for administering the nations retirement program and its survivorsand disability-insurance program. The agency was established under the Social Security Act of 1935 and became independent in 1995. - Abbr. SSA.

Social Security Disability Insurance A benefit for adults with disabilities, paid by the Social Security Administration to wage-earners who have accumulated enough quarters of coverage and then become disabled. Benefits are also available to disabled adult children and to disabled widows and widowers of qualified wage-earners. Abbr. SSDI.

social study See HOME-STUDY REPORT.

social-service state See STATE.

social-service state A state that uses its power to create laws and regulations to provide for the welfare of its citizens.

socida (sa-si-da), n. [Latin] Civil law. A contract of bailment bv which the bailee assumes the risk of loss; specif., a bailment by which a person delivers animals to another for a fee, on the condition that if any animals perish, the bailee will be liable for the loss.

societas (sa-si-a-tas), n. [Latin] Roman law. A partnership between two or more people agreeing to share profits and losses; a partnership contract. "Societas in its widest acceptation denotes two or more persons who unite or combine for the prosecution of a common object; in its more restricted sense it denotes a mercantile partnership ... , the individual members being termed Socii." William Ramsay, A Manual ofRoman Antiquities 316 (Rodolfo Lanciani ed., 15th ed. 1894).

societas leonina (sa-si-a tas lee-a-ni-na). [Latin "partnership with a lion"] Roman law. An illegal partnership in which a partner shares in only the losses, not the profits; a partnership in which one person takes the lions share. - Also termed leonina societas. "But an arrangement by which one party should have all the gain was not recognized as binding; it was considered as contrary to the nature and purposes of the societas, the aim of which was gain for all the parties concerned. Such an arrangement the lawyers called societas leonina, a partnership like that which the lion in the fable imposed upon the cow, the sheep, and the she-goat, his associates in the chase." James Hadley, Introduction to Roman Law 231-32 (1881).

societas navalis (sa-si-a-tas na-vay-lis), n. [Latin]. A naval partnership; an assembly of vessels for mutual protection. Also termed admiralitas.

societas universorum bonorum (sa-si-a-tas yoo-ni-var¬sor-am ba-nor-am). An entire partnership, including all the individual partners property.

societe (soh-see-ay-tay), n. [French] French law. A partnership.

societe anonyme (soh-see-ay-tay an-aw-neem), [French] French law. An incorporated joint-stock company.

societe d acquets (soh-see-ay-tay dah-kay), n. [French] French law. A written agreement between husband and wife designating community property to be only that property acquired during marriage.

societe en commandite (soh-see-ay-tay awn koh-mawn-deet), n. [French] French law. A limited partnership.

societe en nom collectif (soh-see-ay-tay awn nawn koh¬lek-teef), n. [Prench] French law. A partnership in which all members are jointly and severally liable for the partnership debts; an ordinary partnership.

societe en participation (soh-see-ay-tay awn pahr-tee¬see-pah-syawn), rI. French law. A joint venture.

societe par actions (soh-see-ay-tay pahr ak-syawn), French law. A joint-stock company.

society 1. A community of people, as of a state, nation, or locality, with common cultures, traditions, and interests.

sociological jurisprUdence See JURISPRUDENCE.

sociological jurisprudence A philosophical approach to law stressing the actual social effects of legal institutions, doctrines, and practices. This influential approach was started by Roscoe Pound in 1906 and became a precursor to legal realism. Also termed sociology of law. See LEGAL REALISM.

sociology of law See Sociological jurisprudence under JURISPRUDENCE.

sociopath See PSYCHOPATH. - sociopathy, n. ¬sociopathic, adj.

socius (soh-shee-as), n. [Latin] Roman law. 1. A partner. 2. An accomplice; an accessory. 3. A political ally. PI. socii (soh-shee-i).

socius criminis (soh-shee-as krim-a-nis). An associate in crime; an accomplice.

sockman See SOC MAN.

socman (sok-man). A person who holds land by socage tenure. Also spelled sokeman; sackman. Also termed socager; gainor. See SOCAGE.

socmanry (sok-man-ree). 1. Free tenure by socage. 2. Land and tenements held only by simple services; land enfranchised by the sovereign from ancient demesne. The tenants were socmen. 3. The state of being a socman.

socna (sok-na). A privilege; a liberty; a franchise.

Socratic method A technique of philosophical discussion and of law-school instruction by which the questioner (a law professor) questions one or more followers (the law students), building on each answer with another question, esp. an analogy incorporating the answer. This method takes its name from the Greek philosopher Socrates, who lived in Athens from about 469-399 B.C. His method is a traditional one in law schools, primarily because it forces law students to think through issues rationally and deductively a skill required in the practice oflaw. Most law professors who employ this method call on students randomly, an approach designed to teach students to think quickly, without stage fright. Also termed question-andanswer method. See QUESTTON-AND-ANSWER (3). Cf. CASEBOOK METHOD; HORNBOOK METHOD. "[Socrates] himself did not profess to be capable of teaching anything, except consciousness of ignorance. He called his method of discussion (the Socratic method) obstetrics . .. because it was an art of inducing his interlocutors to develop their own ideas under a catechetical system." 5 The Century Dictionary and Cvclopedla 5746 (rev. ed. 1914).

socrus (sok-ras), [Latin] Roman law. A mother-in-law.

sodal insurance See INSURANCE.

Sodal Security Act A federal law, originally enacted in 1935 in response to the Great Depression, creating a system of benefits, including old-age and survivors benefits, and establishing the Social Security Administration. 42 USCA §§ 401-433.

sodal value See VALUE (1).

SODDI See SODDI DEFENSE.

SODDI defense (sahd-ee). Slang. The some-other-dudedid-it defense; a claim that somebody else committed a crime, usu. made by a criminal defendant who cannot identify the third party.

sodomy (sod-a-mee), 1. Oral or anal copulation between humans, esp. those of the same sex. 2. Oral or anal copulation between a human and an animal; bestiality. Also termed buggery; crime against nature; abominable and detestable crime against nature; unnatural offense; unspeakable crime; (archaically) sodomitry; (in Latin) crimen imlOminatum. Cf. PEDERASTY. sodomize, vb. sodomitic, adj. - sodomist, sodomite, n. "Sodomitry is a carnal copulation against nature; to wit, of man or woman in the same sex, or of either of them with beasts." Sir Henry Finch, Law, or a Discourse Thereof 219 (1759). "Sodomy was not a crime under the common law of England but was an ecclesiastical offense only. It was made a felony by an English statute so early that it is a common-law felony in this country, and statutes expressly making it a felony were widely adopted. Sodomy is a generic term including both bestiality and buggery. Rollin M. Perkins & Ronald N, Boyce, Criminal Law465 (3d ed. 1982),

SOF abbr. STATUTE OF FRAUDS.

SOFA abbr. See STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL AFFAIRS.

soft currency See CURRENCY.

soft currency Currency not backed by reserves and therefore subject to sharp fluctuations in value.

soft dollars 1. Securities. The credits that brokers give their clients in return for the clients stock-trading business. 2. The portion of an equity investment that is tax-deductible in the first year. Cf. HARD DOLLARS.

soft goods Consumer goods (such as clothing) that are not durable goods.

soft goods See GOODS.

soft law 1. Collectively, rules that are neither strictly binding nor completely lacking in legal significance. 2. Guidelines, policy declarations, or codes of conduct that set standards of conduct but are not legally binding.

soft market See MARKET.

soft positivism See INCORPORATIONISM.

soft sell A low-key sales practice characterized by sincerity and professionalism. Cf. HARD SELL.

software beta-test agreement See BETA-TEST AGREEMENT.

Software Directive See DIRECTIVE ON THE LEGAL PROTECTION OF COMPUTER PROGRAMS.

Software Patent Institute A Kansas-based nonprofit institute that collects and organizes nonpatented prior-art software references in a database for patent researchers.

software-based invention See INVENTION.

software-based invention A device or machine that uses innovative software to achieve results. A software-based invention, process, or method may qualify for a patent, but the physical components and the underlying software are usu. not separately patentable.

soil bank A federal agricultural program in which farmers are paid to not grow crops or to grow noncommercial vegetation, to preserve the quality of the soil and stabilize commodity prices by avoiding surpluses. See LAND BANK (2).

Soil Conservation Service See NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE.

soit (swah). [Law French] Be; let it be. This term was used in English-law phrases, esp. to indicate the will of the sovereign in a formal communication with Parliament.

soit baile aux commo (swah bayl oh kom-anz). [Law French] Let it be delivered to the commons. This is an indorsement on a bill sent to the House of Commons.

soit baile aux seigneurs (swah bayl oh sen-yarz). [Law French] Let it be delivered to the lords. This is an indorsement on a bill sent to the House of Lords.

soit droit fait al partie (swah droyt [or drwah] fayt [or fay] ahl pahr-tee). [Law French] Rist. Let right be done to the party. This phrase is written on a petition of right and subscribed by the Crown.

soit fait comme if est desire (swah fay[t] kawm eel ay day-zeer-ay). [Law French] Let it be as it is desired. This is the phrase indicating royal assent to a private act of Parliament.

sojourn (soh-jarn), n. A temporary stay by someone who is not just passing through a place but is also not a permanent resident <she set up a three-month sojourn in France>. - sojourn (soh-jarn or soh-jarn), vb. sojourner (soh-jar-nar or soh-jar-nar), n.

soke See soc.

sokeman See SOCMAN.

soke-reeve (sohk-reev). The lords rent-collector in the soc.

sola superviventia (soh-la soo-par-vi-ven-shee-a). [Law Latin. By mere survivance.

solar (soh-lahr). Spanish & Mexican law. A residentiallot; a small, privately owned tract of land. This term is sometimes found (esp. in the plural form solares) in old land grants in states that were formerly Spanish provinces or governed by Mexico.

solar day See DAY.

solar day 1. See artificial day. 2. The 24-hour period from noon to noon. Also termed astronomical day.

solar easement An easement created to protect the dominant estate's exposure to direct sunlight. A solar easement is often created to prevent the servient-estate owner from constructing any building that would cause shadows on the dominant estate, thus interfering with the use of a solar-energy system. Cf.light-and-air easement. "Solar easements ... remain difficult to describe because of the relationship of the sun to the earth. Shadow variables include land slope, terrain. solar orientation, latitude, time of day, and height of potential obstructions. Lawyers, engineers, land planners, title companies and others have expressed concern over the complexity required to write a solar easement containing highly detailed, technical information often included in these easements." Sandy F. Kraemer, Solar Law 42 (l978).

solar easement See EASEMENT.

solar month See MONTH (4).

solarium (sa-lair-ee-am), n. [Latin fro solum "soil"] Roman law. Rent paid for building on public land; ground rent.

solatium (sa-Iay-shee-am), n. (Latin "solace"] Scots law. Compensation; esp., damages allowed for hurt feelings or grief, as distingUished from damages for physical injury.

sold note 1. See NOTE (1). 2. See CONFIRMATION SLIP.

soldier s and sailor s will See soldiers will under WILL.

soldier s will See WILL.

Soldiers and Sailors Civil Relief Act A federal law, originally enacted in 1940, protecting the civil rights of persons in military service, as by modifying their civil liability, placing limits on interest rates charged against their obligations, and prescribing specific procedures for claims made against them. 50 USCA app. §§ 501 et seq.

sole and separate use See entire use under USE (4).

sole and unconditional owner See OWNER.

sole and unconditional owner The owner who has full equitable title to, and exclusive interest in, the insured property.

sole cause The only cause that, from a legal viewpoint, produces an event or injury. If it comes between a defendant's action and the event or injury at issue, it is treated as a superseding cause. "When this one dominant cause is found it is treated as the 'sole cause' for the purposes of the particular case, even if it might not be so treated in a different kind of cause of action. A 'sole cause' which intervenes between defendant's act and the result in question is spoken of as a 'superseding cause.'The phrase 'sole cause,' meaning the only cause which will receive juridical recognition for the purposes of the particular case, is convenient to give emphaSis to three points: (1) If defendant's act was the sole cause of the death or other socially-harmful occurrence, it is by definition a proximate cause thereof; (2) if something other than his act was the sole cause of the harm there need be no further inquiry so far as he is concerned: (3) it is not necessary that defendant's act should have been the sole cause of the harm, which is merely another form of stating that a contributory cause is sufficient." Rollin M. Perkins & Ronald N. Boyce, Criminal Law 781-82 (3d ed. 1982).

sole cause See CAUSE (1).

sole corporation A corporation having or acting through only a single member.

sole corporation See CORPORATION.

sole custody See CUSTODY (2).

sole custody An arrangement by which one parent has full control and sole decision-making responsibility to the exclusion of the other parent on matters such as health, education, religion, and living arrangements.

sole discretion See DISCRETION (2).

sole practitioner A lawyer who practices law without any partners or associates. - Often shortened to solo. - Also termed solo practitioner.

sole proprietorship 1. A business in which one person owns all the assets, owes all the liabilities, and operates in his or her personal capacity. 2. Ownership of such a business. Also termed individual proprietorship.

sole selling agency See exclusive agency under AGENCY (1).

sole use See entire use under USE (4).

sole-actor doctrine Agency. The rule charging a principal with knowledge of the agents actions, even if the agent acted fraudulently.

solemn admission See judicial admission.

solemn admission See judicial admission under ADMISSION (1).