Vocabulary tasks

A Match the following English expressions with their Russian equivalents.

1	shipping disputes	a	гражданско-правовая задолженность
2	wardship and adoption applications	b	дела о наследовании по завещанию, в которых имеет место спор между сторонами
3	non-contentious probate	c	дела о наследовании по завещанию, в которых отсутствует спор между сторонами
4	intestacy laws	d	заявления об установлении опеки / попечительства, об усыновлении
5	contentious probate	e	иски, связанные с защитой права владения имуществом
6	actions for the possession of property	f	магистрат или мировой судья – профессионал
7	concurrent jurisdiction	g	законодательство, регулирующее наследование при отсутствии завещания (наследование по закону)
8	civil debt	h	рассмотреть дело в порядке упрощённого производства
9	stipendiary magistrate	i	совпадающая юрисдикция
10	to try the case summarily	j	споры, связанные с морской перевозкой грузов

B Find in the text above the English equivalents for the following key words and expressions.

1 апелляционная юрисдикция

2 иск о возмещении убытков

3 гражданский иск

4 усыновление детей

5 полномочия в отношении назначения наказания

6 магистрат или мировой судья (непрофессионал)

7 направить дело на рассмотрение в суд

8 исполнять судебные функции

9 рассматривать апелляции

10 подать апелляцию

11 рассматривать гражданские споры

12 составить завещание

13 взыскать долг

14 требовать возмещения ущерба

С Consult a legal dictionary and explain the meaning of the following legal terms.

• tort • will

• breach of contract • trust

• libel • bankruptcy

• defamation • intellectual property

• slander • insolvency

• damages • divorce

D Match the following English expressions with their Russian equivalents.

1	to argue / plead a case	a	возбудить иск, обвинение, судебное дело
2	to decide a case	b	выиграть дело, выиграть процесс
3	to hear / try a case	c	вынести решение по делу
4	to lose a case	d	рассматривать судебное дело
5	to win a case	e	оспаривать обвинение, выступать в защиту обвиняемого
6	to dismiss a case	f	пересмотреть дело
7	to file a case	g	подать иск
8	to initiate a case	h	прекратить дело
9	to review a case	i	проиграть дело / судебный процесс

E The English Court System

Every jurisdiction organizes the administration of justice in different ways. In England, the basic division between criminal and civil law is reflected in the court system. Look at the chart below and then complete the description that refers to each court.

1 Claims of lesser value will start in a County Court . There are 250 of these around the country. They can also deal with divorce and bankruptcy matters.

2 Matters of important legal dispute arising in the Crown Court may be appealed to the ______.

3 From the Court of Appeal, there can be an appeal to the ______ on fact or law, but usually appeal is only allowed on matters of legal importance.

4 If the case involves a serious crime, it is heard in the ______ (there is only one ______ but it has about 70 centres around the jurisdiction).

5 In less serious criminal cases (which comprise over 90% of criminal cases), the case is sent for trial in one of over 400 ______ .

6 More substantial civil claims (over around £25,000) are heard in the ______ .

7 The ______ was set up under the Treaty of Rome of 1957, by which the European Community was established. The court can overrule all other courts on matters of Community law.

8 Under the system of appeals in civil cases, it is possible to appeal from a County Court or the High Court to the ______ .

* The judges in the House of Lords are known as Law Lords. They typically sit as a committee to develop and define the law of the land.

F The courts

Link the courts in the left-hand column with their definitions on the right.

	Court		Definition
1	small claims court	a	court responsible for settling disputes relating to European Community Law, and also acting as a last Court of Appeal against laws in individual countries
2	Court of Appeal	b	court presided over by a coroner
3	County Court	c	court which hears appeals from industrial tribunals
4	European Court of Human Rights	d	main civil court in England and Wales
5	industrial tribunal	e	highest court of appeal in both civil and criminal cases in England and Wales
6	magistrates' court	f	court which decides in disputes involving ships
7	coroner's court	g	court which hears local civil cases
8	Crown Court	h	court which deals with disputes over small amounts of money
9	Lands Tribunal	i	civil or criminal court to which a person may go to ask for an award or a sentence to be changed
10	Judicial Committee of the Privy Council	j	court considering the rights of citizens of states which are parties to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights
11	Commercial Court	k	court which can decide in disputes between employers and employees
12	rent tribunal	l	court presided over by magistrates
13	High Court	m	court which administers the property of people suffering from disability
14	European Court of Justice	n	court, formed of a circuit judge and jury, which hears criminal cases
15	Court of Protection	o	court which adjudicates in disputes about rent, and can award a fair rent
16	Employment Appeal Tribunal	p	appeal court for appeals from courts outside the UK, such as the courts of some Commonwealth countries
17	Judicial Committee of the House of Lords	q	court which deals with compensation claims relating to land
18	Admiralty Court	r	court in the Queen's Bench division which hears cases relating to business disputes
19	Divisions	s	division of the High Court with civil and criminal jurisdiction which is also responsible for judicial review
20	Chancery Division	t	division of the High Court with jurisdiction over cases relating to Family Law and the transfer of property or death
21	Queen’s Bench Division	u	separate sections of the High Court and Court of Appeal
22	Family Division	v	division of the High Court of Justice, presided over by the Lord Chancellor with the jurisdiction concerning the law of property, trusts, land matters, etc.