What Is a Motion? It’s More than Just a Vernacular Term in the Legal Profession

Motion, in the legal profession, refers to a formal request made to a court or other legal authority for a decision or an order. You might remember requiring a lawyer to make a motion for your case from a previous court appearance. The term is often used interchangeably with “motion to dismiss” which is a legal request made to the courts to dismiss a case.

The term motion can also be used outside of the legal profession. It is used in everyday conversation to refer to actions or modifications made by an individual or group of people. For example, you may hear someone refer to motioning for someone to come over and help, or motioning for a group to proceed down a certain path.

In the business world, motions are generally used when making decisions or taking action within the scope of certain regulations or policies. For example, a team of business professionals may need to make a motion in order to approve or reject a project proposal. The motion is then voted on to determine the overall decision.

Motion is a key legal term and concept that is used in all types of business and legal environments. It is important to understand the definition of motion and the proper use of the term so that you can make informed decisions in your own business or in the legal profession.