Legal Definitions - effective

Definition: Effective, adjective. 1. Refers to a statute, order, contract, or any other legal document that is in operation at a specific time, such as "effective June 1st." 2. Refers to performing within the range of normal and expected standards, such as "effective counsel." 3. Refers to being productive and achieving a result, such as "effective cause."

• A new law banning smoking in public places will be effective starting next month.
• The lawyer provided effective counsel to his client, resulting in a favorable outcome in court.
• The vaccine was effective in preventing the spread of the disease.

The first example illustrates the first definition of effective, where a law becomes effective at a specific time. The second example illustrates the second definition of effective, where a lawyer performs within the expected standards of their profession. The third example illustrates the third definition of effective, where a vaccine is productive in achieving the desired result of preventing the spread of a disease.