We here at FindLaw know that legal jargon can be confusing. We hear people misusing legal words and phrases all the time. So we’ve decided to help you better understand all the legal phrases tossed around on Law & Order. Here is a new educational series we like to call FindLaw’s Legalese 101.
Quid pro quo is a phrase that seems to come up around here quite frequently. It’s fun to say and sounds kind of cool, at least in some circles. But like many legal terms, it is often misunderstood. The phrase is Latin, and translates to “this for that,” meaning an exchange or trade is being made.
Quid pro quo is also used in other contexts. Bribery, for example. Suppose a politician makes a deal with a corporation saying “You donate $10 million to my campaign, and I will vote against that bill for you.”
So at the end of the day, quid pro quo is “you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours.” And in a lot of contexts, of course, the practice is perfectly legal. You give your girlfriend a massage, she gives you one…nothing wrong with that.
Related Resources:
- What is quid pro quo harassment? (FindLaw)
- Per Se Rule (FindLaw)
- Legalese 101: What is Hearsay? (FindLaw’s Law & Daily Life)
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