Unit II legal professions

PART 1

Task 1. Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verbs in brackets. All the sentences are present.

1. The police usually ……….. (to question) the suspect in the police station.

2. A judge ………….. (to find) a person guilty or not guilty at the end of a trial.

3. A shoplifter ………… (to steal) things from shops.

4. Men or women who ………. (to look after) prisoners in prison are called prison officers or wardens.

5. If a person ………. (to die) in unusual circumstances, an investigation is held at a special court.

6. Jim Crawford is a student of Law. He ……….. (to study) Administrative Law at Cambridge.

7. Who usually ………..(to make) false money and documents in your town? – Mr. Brown …… (to do).

8. Crime ………… (to violate) the laws of a community.

9. The jury ………. (to listen) to the case and …………(to make) a verdict.

10. The accused usually ………… (to deny) their guilt.

Task 2. Make the sentences negative and interrogative.

1. An assassin kills for political reasons or reward. - An assassin doesn’t kill for political reasons or reward. Does an assassin kill for political reason or reward?

2. During the first year the students usually take major courses.

3. The students work under the close supervision of a legal research and writing instructor.

4. An embezzler steals from his own company.

5. Criminology deals with crime and its various aspects.

6. A lawyer always studies the case thoroughly before the trial.

7. The police keep law and order in towns and cities.

8. The laws set down the punishments for various crimes.

Task 3. Put special questions to the following sentences.

1. It takes 7 years to become a lawyer in the USA. (How long?)

2. The students usually attend the library, write legal memoranda, draft documents, and prepare briefs. (What?)

3. Some vandals often break the windows in our school. (Who?)

4. A lot of people take drugs nowadays. (What?)

5. If you want legal advice in Britain, you go to a solicitor. (Where?)

6. This lawyer speaks in court almost every day. (How often?)

7. A detective investigates serious crime. (What?)

8. He goes to the custody to speak to his client on Tuesdays. (When?)

9. A lawyer earns more money than a teacher. (Who?)

Task 4. A. Put the verbs in brackets into the Present Simple or Present Continuous.

Caller: Good morning, 1) is (be) Mr. Green there?

Man: No, he 2) ….. (not / be) here. He 3) ….. (work) at the moment. He usually 4) ….

until 4 p.m.

Caller: What about Mrs. Green? Where 5) ……. (be) she?

Man: She 6) ….. (do) the shopping. She always 7) …. (do) the shopping on Thursday

afternoons.

Caller: Where 8) ….. (be) the children?

Man: They 9) ……. (play) football. They always 10) ….. (play) football after school.

Caller: How 11) ….. (you / know) all this? Who are you?

Man: I 12) ……(be) the burglar!

B. Choose the correct form of the verb.

1. We usually (have / are having) exams at the end of each term.

2. Look! Somebody (breaks into / is breaking into) the house.

3. The judge always (decides / is deciding) the law during the trial.

4. Who (speaks / is speaking) in court now?

5. Sam Smith is happy. At last he (presents / is presenting) a client in court.

6. The jury (listen / are listening) to the facts. It is their duty.

7. What (do you do / are you doing) now? – I (draft / am drafting) a will. - It’s funny. As far as I know you usually (provide / are providing) expertise.

8. Andrew Lloyd is a judge. He (see / is seeing) into the evidence and (administers / is administering) justice. Now he is on holiday. He (doesn’t preside / isn’t presiding)in a court, he (relaxes / is relaxing) on the beach.

C. Translate into English.

1. Автор пишет, что убийца скрывается где-то, а полиция разыскивает его.

2. Моя секретарь обычно печатает такие письма, но сейчас она в отпуске, поэтому я сам печатаю письма, контракты и другие документы.

3. Уголовный розыск (the CID) собирает улики, чтобы доказать вину или невиновность подозреваемого.

4. Кто расследует ограбление банка? – Mr. Downy. – Но он же обычно занимается поиском пропавших. – Да, все меняется.

5. Как поживает брат твоей жены? – О, он продвигается по службе (to promote).

6. Смотри, она играет в компьютерные игры на рабочем месте. Но она всегда играет, когда начальника нет в офисе.

7. Завтра в 15.00 я встречаюсь со своим адвокатом.

8. Кто обычно выносит вердикт? – Присяжные.

9. Чем вы занимаетесь? – Я работаю в юридической фирме и консультирую граждан по юридическим вопросам. – А чем вы занимаетесь сейчас? – Я составляю завещание для своей клиентки.

PART 2

Task 1. Read the dialogue to find out the difference between the professions of a solicitor, a barrister and an attorney. Speak on their responsibilities.

A.: I have some problems and need to consult a lawyer. Can you tell me where to find a good attorney?

B.: Attorney? You see, here, in London, we have solicitors or barristers.

A.: Solicitors and barristers… Which one is better to approach?

B.: A solicitor will help you from the start. But solicitors can’t represent you in court. This lawyer deals with clients, advises them and prepares legal documents. Barristers speak for clients in court. Solicitors do most of the paper work for them.

A.: I see. In America counseling and advocacy in lawcourt is performed by attorneys.

B.: What is your problem? Anything serious?

A.: Yes, rather. I think of bringing the action to court. So, I’d like to find a good barrister.

B.: We’d better visit my solicitor first. He will have an interview with you, look into the matter and then introduce you to a barrister, if necessary.

A.: Of course it will be necessary!

B.: Is it a criminal case?

A.: No, why?

B.: Because barristers speak in higher courts. Solicitors can speak for their clients in lower courts. Minor civil cases are decided in lower courts.

A.: I see. Then we’d better make arrangements with your solicitor as soon as possible.

Solicitor

Solicit – ходатайствовать, хлопотать.

So, a solicitor is a lawyer who solicits for the client.

Barrister

Bar – 1) барьер, за которым находится суд;

2) суд в полном составе;

3) коллегия адвокатов.

So, a barrister is a lawyer who is a member of the bar and who can speak before the bar.

Attorney

Attorn – передавать кому-либо права, поручать

So, an attorney is a lawyer whom a client attorns the case, or transfers the right to deal with the case.

Task 2. Work with the dictionary to find out the meanings of the following legal job titles. Study the vocabulary.

1. A judge

2. A solicitor

3. A clerk

4. A detective

5. A juror (jury)

6. An advocate

7. An attorney

8. A prosecutor

9. A sheriff

10. A notary

11. A barrister

12. An in-house counsel / corporate lawyer

13. A jurist / a lawyer

Task 3. Complete the sentences with appropriate job titles. Mind there are four legal professionals under one item number that have similar job responsibilities. The first item is done for you.

1. A jurist is a person who has legal background and does research in a legal area or history of law, he writes articles or books on legal issues.

2. …….. presides in the courtroom and administers justice, resolves disputes between the parties, decides the case during the trial, directs the jury and gives the judgment.

3. …….. investigates a criminal case, aims to discover the criminal, collecting evidence and tracing him.

4. ........, ……..., ………., or………… advises the client on legal matters, prepares a case or documents, briefs a case, presents the case in a lawcourt, acts and speaks for the client, mediates a case, brings an action when somebody breaks law, drafts legal documents.

5. ……….usually initiates a criminal case and conducts criminal proceedings, presents the evidence of the committed crime.

6. …….. are elected community members who during the court proceedings carefully see into the evidence, determine the facts of the case, then accept the law given by the judge and apply that law when reaching a verdict.

7. …….. supports and counsels the business he works for, provides expertise in corporate, commercial, tax, insurance and other legal issues, drafts documents and contracts, acts for the company in negotiations, deals and lawsuits, or brings a legal action against those who break law.

8. ……… keeps law and order in the community or a region protecting the citizens from law-breakers; he is ready to find and arrest the criminal.

9. ……… is a court officer who files papers and keeps records of court proceedings.

10. ……… is a public officer who certifies the document’s or its copy’s authenticity and witnesses official acts: wills, commercial papers, etc.

PART 3

Task 1. Read and translate the text.

LAWYERS’ WORK

Lawyers work to assure the principle of equal justice under law to the people of the state.

A lawyer is both an advisor and an advocate. As an advisor, a lawyer informs clients about legal matters or represents persons, businesses, and the government in such matters as contracts and commercial transactions.

As an advocate, a lawyer acts for the client in court. A lawyer also advocates on behalf of clients in resolving disputes out of court.

Lawyers’ work can include defending or prosecuting those accused of committing a crime.

Lawyers research legal issues, draft contracts, wills and other documents, counsel, mediate and negotiate settlements.

Some lawyers specialize in advising corporations working as in-house counsel. They also act for the company in court if a dispute arises.

Usually, lawyers concentrate on a certain practice area: taxation or intellectual property, some practice public interest law, for example working to protect the environment.

Some lawyers may be appointed or elected to serve as judges. Judges preside in the courtroom. They resolve disputes and give the judgments. In a jury trial they rule on points of law and tell the jury about the law that governs the case.

There are law-related jobs for which law degree qualification is not required. These are clerks, court reporters and secretaries.

Careers in Law Enforcement, in the USA for example, such as Private and Criminal detectives, FBI agents, Police officers, Customs officers are possible after obtaining a Criminal Justice degree.

Task 2. Study the vocabulary.

- to advise / counsel on legal matters - консультировать по юридическим вопросам

- to act for / present a client - представлять клиента

- to resolve disputes - разрешать споры

- to defend the accused - защищать обвиняемого

- to prosecute - преследовать в судебном порядке

- the accused - обвиняемый

- to commit a crime - совершить преступление

- to draft wills - составлять завещания

- to mediate - содействовать соглашению между сторонами

- preside - председательствовать

- ~ in a court - председательствовать в суде

- ~ at trials - председательствовать на судебном процессе

- to give judgment - выносить решение по делу

- to rule / hold - постановить, огласить / вынести решение

Task 3. Find out if the following sentences are true. Correct the false ones.

1. A lawyer both counsels the people on the legal matters and presents them in a court.

2. A prosecutor either defends the accused or conducts criminal proceedings.

3. Lawyers also work for businesses and governments.

4. Lawyers do not do any paperwork at all.

5. It is important for a lawyer to choose an area of specialization.

6. Judges care appointed or elected.

7. Judges resolve disputes and administer justice in a criminal trial.

8. All law-related jobs require a law degree qualification.

Task 4.

A. Personify the professional from Task 3 – give names to them and some other personal information. Make up a legend. You can use some more additional vocabulary:

- to plead a case - защищать в суде

- to prepare / brief a case - готовить дело / составить сводку по делу

- to bring an action / to file a lawsuit - предъявлять иск / возбуждать судебное дело

- to provide expertise - давать заключение, экспертную оценку

- to initiate a criminal case - начинать уголовное дело

- to conduct criminal proceedings - проводить уголовное преследование

- to present the evidence - представлять доказательства

- to administer justice - отправлять правосудие

- to decide a case - принимать решение по делу

- to direct / instruct the jury - давать наставления / инструкцию присяжным

- to apply the law - применять закон

Example:

Jerry Barton is a court clerk. He lives and works in Liverpool. Jerry likes his job. Every day he comes to the court and works hard. He files papers, and there are a lot of papers in the court. Jerry also keeps records of court proceedings, and this is what he likes most: he can be present at the trial and listen to the judge, prosecutor and barrister……

B. Here are the job responsibilities of some legal professionals. Some of the sentences are wrong. Correct the information where necessary.

1. A notary brings an action if the person commits a crime. – False. A notary doesn’t bring an action. A notary certifies documents. / or: A solicitor brings an action if a person commits a crime.

2. Court reporters need special education and training.

3. A solicitor speaks for the client in court.

4. Some lawyers specialize in such areas as intellectual property or environment protection.

5. A judge presents and sees into (вникать) the evidence.

6. A prosecutor decides the case.

7. A detective investigates the case and looks for the witnesses and evidence.

8. In-house counsels advise the business on legal issues drafts contracts and wills.

9. A person appoints an advocate to act as his or her agent in business transactions and in legal proceedings.

10. The jury give a verdict “guilty” or “innocent”.

Task 5. Translate the sentences into English.

1. Стив всегда готовится к новому процессу тщательно. Он встречается со свидетелями, изучает доказательства и готовит речь для суда.

2. Юрист консультирует по юридическим вопросам и представляет человека в суде.

3. Полиция защищает и поддерживает закон и порядок в городах.

4. Кто обычно представляет доказательства? – Прокурор.

5. Даниэл и Сэм – штатные юристы. Они работают (work for) в крупной компании и специализируются на налогообложении (taxation).

6. Когда вы обычно начинаете уголовное дело? – Когда у нас есть основания (grounds) полагать, что человек совершил преступление.

7. Чем занимается Mr. Black? – Он нотариус. Он подписывает в качестве свидетеля (witness) документы.

8. Jenny Smith – студентка права. Она изучает гражданское право.

9. Судья не представляет доказательств по делу. Он выносит решение по делу.