Law Society of Ontario (LSO) Paralegal Practice Exam 2026 - Free Paralegal Practice Questions and Study Guide

Legal pleadings refer specifically to formal written documents that set out the claims and defenses of the parties involved in a legal action. These documents are crucial in the litigation process as they establish the issues at stake in the case and guide the court's proceedings. Pleadings typically include complaints, answers, counterclaims, and motions, among other forms, detailing what each party contends about the case.

The other options do not accurately describe legal pleadings. Informal discussions between parties in a dispute do not constitute pleadings, as they lack the formal structure and written nature. Legal terms used in courtroom arguments could refer to various terminology employed during oral proceedings but do not encompass the written documents that pleadings represent. Similarly, documents used for legal research, while important for preparing a case, are not the same as pleadings, which directly communicate each party's position in the litigation process. Thus, the emphasis on formal, written elements in option B is what distinctly identifies it as the correct definition of legal pleadings.