I. Learn the following words.

two-tiered – двухъярусный

claim – иск, претензия

circuit – округ

to preside – председательствовать

registrar – чиновник-регистратор

tenant – владелец недвижимости

complaint – жалоба

registry – регистрация, регистрационная запись

to merit – заслужить, быть достойным

tort – нарушение, дающее основание предъявить иск

recovery – возмещение

insolvency – банкротство, несостоятельность

to run – управлять

will – завещание

to overlap – частично не совпадать

II. Answer the following questions.

1. What does the jurisdiction of county courts cover?

2. What role do the county courts have?

3. Is the civil court structure three-tiered?

4. Where does the High Court have its main center?

5. Is the High Court divided into three or five divisions? Enumerate these divisions.

6. When are cases of exceptional importance transferred to the High Court?

III. Find in the text the words corresponding to the following definitions.

1. an argument or disagreement, especially an official one;

2. being unable to pay debts;

3. a legal arrangement in which a person or organization controls property or money for the benefit of another person or organization;

4. to cover partly by going over its edge;

5. a person who pays rent for the use of land or a building;

6. to pursue a particular line of study, work, or the like;

7. to deal with or direct attention to.

IV. Match the verbs (on the left) with the nouns (on the right).

to decide a claim

to deal with a case

to resolve jurisdiction

to specialize in disputes

to cover specific matters

V. Make up sentences with the phrases you’ve got.

VI. Match the words on the left with the definitions on the right.

1. magistrates	a) hears cases of young offenders
2. the Crown Court	b)deals with disputes related to contract
3. Juvenile Court	c) is presided over by a paid judge
4. the County Court	d) deals with more complicated civil matters
5. the Queen’s Bench Division	e) part-time officials
6. the High Court	f) tries more serious offences

7. Form a small group. Think of a problem for civil court. Discuss it with other students.

8. Insert the articles if necessary.

England and Wales are now divided into 270 districts with … county court for each district and … county court or circuit judge having responsibility for … number of courts. … county court is presided over by … paid judge, who almost always sits alone, although he may sit with … jury consisting of eight persons, if either party wishes it and the court makes … order to that effect. The judge is assisted by … registrar, who is usually … solicitor. … registrar hears cases and is normally in administrative charge of … court office.

As has been mentioned above, … county court can only deal with relatively minor matters that involve small amounts of money to be awarded. The jurisdiction of … county courts is limited, and covers, for example, actions for … recovery of land; trust and mortgage cases; cases involving disputes between landlords and tenants; complaints about race and sex discrimination, divorce cases and other family affairs.

9. Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions.

As has been mentioned above, the county court can only deal … relatively minor matters that involve small amounts of money to be awarded. The jurisdiction of the county courts is limited, and covers, … example, actions … the recovery … land; trust and mortgage cases; cases involving disputes between landlords and tenants; complaints … race and sex discrimination, divorce cases and other family affairs. All personal injury cases involving amounts below £50,000 begin … a county court, unless they are … particular importance and complexity. The county courts have a 'small claims' procedure, designed to provide a cheap, informal and speedy means … resolving small disputes, without the need for legal representation. These courts tend to be very busy and have a role equivalent to that of the magistrates' court. Some 90% of all cases are dealt … … the county courts.