What is the definition of "Necessary" in a legal context?

In a legal context, "necessary" refers to something that is unavoidable or essential for achieving a particular outcome or fulfilling a requirement. This definition emphasizes the idea that certain actions or conditions must be met for a legal process to proceed or for a legal right to be exercised. For example, in criminal law, a necessary element of a crime must be proven for a conviction, meaning it is fundamental and cannot be omitted.

In contrast, while the other options may seem relevant in certain contexts, they do not encapsulate the essence of "necessary" in the legal sense. For instance, "permissible under law" relates to actions that are allowed but does not carry the weight of urgency or requirement that "necessary" does. "Fair and appropriate" touches on concepts of justice and ethics but does not define necessity. "Preliminary procedural step" implies a process but lacks the core meaning of being essential or unavoidable in the context of legal definitions. Thus, the understanding of necessity as being "unavoidable, needful" accurately reflects its significance in law, where some conditions must be met to achieve a legal result.