It is always beneficial to have some knowledge of fundamental legal jargon. Basic terms are fairly simple to understand. These words appear in the daily news or newspapers. Most terms that are used on a daily basis are really general so that the average viewer can understand and interpret their meanings. This is an article on how to understand basic legal terms.
It is not necessary to attend law school in order to know the fundamentals of law. You do not even need to consult with a legal attorney for definitions. There are many other ways to learn how to understand terms used to describe legal situations. You can refer to books, for example the dictionary, and even online. Many bookstores have a reference section or a special law section where you can find books with basic terms.
The internet holds a great reference to find definitions of such terms. If you find a website you like to use, and you find it reliable, then you can just type in a word that you do not know and a definition will appear. You may even receive examples of how the word is used in its context.
Bookstores are an obvious resource you can turn to for books on law terms. If you are willing to spend some time looking for the right book to suit your needs, and to invest dollars in purchasing that book, then a bookstore is a great place to check out. Stores will have reference sections and even sections dedicated solely to law and the justice system. Having a book can come in handy if you want to have it as a steady item you can reference at your own accord.
If you do not care to own a book of your own, another means of research is visiting a local public library to review books without having to buy a book. You will receive just as much information. The only difference is your time with that book is limited.
Without going to law school as a grad student, you may still sign up for a class that will teach you the basics about law. This is probably for the more serious individual who wants to know more than just the basics, but you will still definitely learn the early elements of law terms. Classes are offered at many colleges and even online.
All the options listed above are good resources to learning more about basic law. Again, it can come in handy to know these terms because they are so often used in daily news and you run into them repeatedly while reading newspapers. When you read about criminal cases, you will be able to understand the basic elements of the case because you will have basic knowledge about the terms used to describe such affairs.