A legal proceeding at law is an ACTION taken in a court of law to enforce a legal right. It is the process by which a court of law, or other legal authority, resolves legal disputes between parties and enforces legal rights. Legal proceedings can involve civil or criminal matters, and may include a variety of different types of legal actions, such as lawsuits, arbitration, mediation, and appeals. The term 'ACTION' is used to refer to any type of legal proceeding, including those that are initiated by a party or by the court itself.