IV. Find in the text the words that correspond to the following definitions.

1. a type of lawyer in Britain and Australia who is trained to give advice about the law and sometimes to represent people in court;

2. to give approval to something by voting to make it law;

3. to work in an important skilled job for which a lot of training is necessary;

4. the legal process of deciding whether or not a person’s will has been made correctly;

5. the act or process of litigating;

6. relating to crime; opposed to civil;

7. better than average, or better than other people or things of the same type.

V. Find the English equivalents for the following Russian phrases.

1. престижная и высоко оплачиваемая профессия;

2. подвергаться критике;

3. дублирование функций;

4. предлагать широкий спектр услуг;

5. суд высшей инстанции.

VI. Insert the articles if necessary.

… legal profession is one of … most prestigious and well-paid in Britain. England is almost unique in having two different kinds of lawyers, with separate jobs in … legal system. There are two main branches, those of solicitors and barristers. Of these, barristers form … senior branch of … legal profession. Each branch has its own characteristic functions and … separate governing body. This system has been criticised in recent years because of the resulting duplication of services, delay in … legal process and its expense for consumers.

VII. Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions.

There are nearly 71,640 solicitors (1999), who practise mainly … private firms, but also … local and central government, … legal centres, and … industry. The solicitors' branch is still a middle-class profession. … order to become a solicitor, it is now generally necessary to have a university degree, preferably but not essentially in law. After the total period … about six years' education and training, the new solicitor can practise law.

VIII. Explain the italicized grammar constructions in the following sentences.

1. England is almost unique in having two different kinds of lawyers, with separate jobs in the legal system.

2. Each branch has its own characteristic functions and a separate governing body.

3. This system has been criticised in recent years because of the resulting duplication of services, delay in the legal process and its expense for consumers.

4. There are nearly 71,640 solicitors, who practise mainly in private firms, but also in local and central government, in legal centres, and in industry.

5. In order to become a solicitor, it is now generally necessary to have a university degree, preferably but not essentially in law.

IX. Discuss the main duties and career opportunities for solicitors in the uk with your partner.

4.1.2. Barristers

Read the text to fulfil the tasks.

The senior branch of the legal profession in England, Wales and Northern Ireland is a barrister. There are over 9,000 barristers, who have the right to fight a case in the higher courts (Crown courts and the High Courts) in England and Wales. Barristers belong to the Bar, which is an ancient legal institution and which is now controlled by the Bar Council. There are also the four legal societies or Inns of Court in London, they are Gray's Inn, Lincoln's Inn, Middle Temple and the Inner Temple. The four Inns of Court, law colleges date from the middle ages.

Barristers (professional advocates) have two main functions: first, to give specialised advice on legal matters and, secondly, to act as advocates in the higher courts.

In order to become a barrister, one must have a university degree, plus additional professional examinations organised by the Council of Legal Education. He will then become a member of one of the four Inns of Court. The barrister career starts as a 'junior' handling minor cases (or briefs). He or she may have difficulty in earning a reasonable living or in becoming established in the early years of practice, with the result that many barristers drop out and enter other fields. However, should the barrister persist and build up a successful practice as a junior, in due course he or she may then become a Queen's Counsel (QC), known within the profession as 'taking silk'. The appointment as a QC may lead to a future position as a judge, and it is regarded as a necessary career step for the ambitious.

Text-study

1. Learn these words.

a case – дело (в суде)

the Bar – коллегия адвокатов

(the) Inns of Court – юридические корпорации, готовящие адвокатов

to handle – иметь дело с …

reasonable – приемлемый

to drop out – прекращать

appointment – назначение на должность

to regard – рассматривать, считать

2. Answer the following questions.

1. How many barristers are there in Great Britain?

2. Which institution do barristers belong to?

3. What functions do barristers have?

4. When does a barrister become a Queen’s Counsel?

3. Fill in the questionnaire as if you were a barrister.

1. A barrister in England is ____________.

1. the higher branch of the legal profession;

2. independent branch of the legal profession;

3. the senior branch of the legal profession.

2. Barristers specialize in __________.

1. conveyancing;

2. the promoting general reforms in the civil law;

3. giving specialized advice on legal matters.

3. A barrister may then become _________________ .

1. a Queen’s Counsel;

2. the Prime Minister;

3. a High Court judge.

4. Barristers belong to _____________________.

1. the Law Society;

2. the Bar;

3. the judiciary.

4. Match the given Russian word-combinations on the left with the English word-combinations on the right.

1. иметь университетскую степень a) to give advice on legal matters

2. рассматривать незначительные b) to have a university degree

дела

3. давать советы по юридическим c) to handle minor cases

вопросам

4. суд высшей инстанции d) to fight a case

5. защищать дело e) higher court