In English Practice

The statements of a cause of action, given by a client to his attorney, and whicb, where such is the practice, are sent to his pleader to put into legal form of a declaration. Warren, Law Stud. 284. Instructions to counsel are their indemnity for any aspersions they may make on the opposite party; but attorneys who have a just regard to their own reputatioil will be cautious, even under instructions, not to make any unnecessary attack upon a party or witness. For such unjustifiable conduct the counsel will be held responsible. Eunom. Dial. 2, § 43, p. 132. For a form of instructions, see 3 Chit. Prac. 117, 120, note. In American Practice. The charge or directions as to the law, given by the court to the jury. In French Law. The means used and formality employed to prepare a case for trial. It is generally applied to criminal cases, and is then called "criminal instruction." It is then defined as the acts and proceedings which tend to prove positively a crime or delict, in order to inflict on the guilty person the punishment which he deserves.

Defined under Instructions in The Cyclopedic Law Dictionary.