The law course at cambridge university

The law course at Cambridge gives a thorough grounding in the principles of law from academic rather than a vocational perspective. There are opportunities to study the history of law and consider the subject in its wider social context. The emphasis is on principle and technique. The law course develops skills of interpretation and logical reasoning and encourages students to consider broader questions such as ethical judgment, political liberty and social control.

Although many undergraduates who read law do so with the intention of practicing, many do not, preferring instead to go into administration, industrial management or accountancy. Candidates intending to read law do not have to study any particular subject at school. Pupils can have a scientific or mathematical background at A-level or they can study history or languages.

Undergraduates reading law for three years take part 1A of the Tripos at the end of the first year. This comprises four papers: Criminal Law, Constitutional Law, the Law of Tort and Roman Law. In the second year they study five subjects for part 1B of the Tripos, which they take at the end of the year. The range of subjects on offer is wide – from Family Law to International Law – though in practice most undergraduates take Contract and Land Law as two of their papers. In the third year, undergraduates study five subjects for Part II of the Tripos. The range of options is even wider than in Part IB. According to preference an undergraduate may develop his or her interest in Property Law (including Trusts and Conveyancing Law), Commercial Law, Public Law (including Administrative Law and EU Law), or in more academic and sociological aspects of law, such as Jurisprudence, Legal History, Labour Law and Criminology. Candidates may also participate in the seminar course, submitting a dissertation in place of one paper.

Candidates for the postgraduate LL.M take any four papers selected from a wide range of options in English Law, Legal History, Civil Law, Public Law, International Law, Comparative Law and Legal Philosophy.

3. Look through the text again and give the heading to each paragraph.

4. Give the Ukrainian equivalents to the following words and phrases.

Skills of interpretation; thorough grounding; vocational perspective; logical reasoning; ethical judgment; political liberty; social control; undergraduate; postgraduate; a graduate; to graduate; Tripos; accountancy; industrial management; the range of subjects; to go into administration; according to preference; to take any paper selected from a wide range of options; subjects on offer; in the second year; property law (including trusts and conveyancing law).

5. Find the English equivalents to the following words and phrases.

Заохочувати; академічна перспектива; математична підготовка; вивчати право; замість (2); можливості; складати іспит; на першому курсі; коло запропонованих предметів; коло вибору; розглядати ширші питання; подати письмову роботу (велику за обсягом) замість одного іспиту; розвивати свій інтерес; наголос; брати участь у семінарському курсі; кримінальне право; цивільне право; римське право; право деліктів; історія права; філософія права; міжнародне право; адміністративне право; сімейне право; земельне право; трудове право; право ЄС; конституційне право; торгівельне право; курс права; студент-юрист; випускний іспит (в школі); працювати/бути юристом.

6.Find in the text a word or a phrase that means:

1. a university student working for a bachelor’s degree; 2. property held or managed by one or more persons for the benefit of others; 3. to study law (at a university); 4. examination for an honours degree at Cambridge; 5. a set of printed examination questions on a given subject; 6. private or civil wrong for which the wronged person may get redress (відшкодування) in a law court; 7. a thing that may be chosen; 8. give hope, courage, confidence; 9. examinations of General Certificate of Education; 10. to take part; 11. long written account submitted for a higher university degree; 12. the study of crime; 13. science and philosophy of human law; 14. to work in; 15. the process of logic thinking; 16. abilities; 17. relating to moral principles; 18. things owned; possessions; 19 basic education; 20. relating to a profession or occupation.

7. Look through the text once more and say:

1. what abilities are developed at Cambridge University;

2. what subjects are studied at school to enter a university;

3. how many years a first degree course lasts.

8. Answer the following questions, and fill in the gaps.

1. A student who completes his or her course gets a ................................... from the University.

2. She/He is then called ........................................... .

3. How can you identify an English (American) graduate? And an English law graduate?

4. Do you know the name of the exams English schoolchildren can take at the age of 18? They must pass these exams if they want to go to university.

9. Decide if the following statements are true or false.

1. The purpose of the law course at Cambridge is to give basic education from a vocational perspective. 2. Candidates intending to read law must have legal background at school. 3. Many graduates work in different branches of the national economy.4. Undergraduates are encouraged to study various aspects of law. 5. At the end of the first year undergraduates can choose any four papers from a wide range of options.6. The first year students can choose from Family Law to International Law.7. At the end of the second year undergraduates take five papers. 8. The second year students prefer to take Contract and Land Law. 9. The range of subjects in the second year is wider than in the third year. 10. All undergraduates must submit a dissertation for a bachelor’s degree. 11. A candidate must take a postgraduate course to get a master’s degree. 12. Candidates intending to read law must take entrance exams.

10. Study the following chart and give the Ukrainian equivalents to the subjects studied at Cambridge.