Discussion

Ex. 1. Complete the following sentences in part A by adding the phrases given in part B.

A:

1. The legal profession is one of the most…

2. England is almost unique .....

3. Each branch of legal profession has .....

4. A general practitioner, confined mainly to the office ...

5. The solicitors deal with preparing .....

6. The solicitor has the right to speak in the Lowest Courts when ....

7. The barrister plans his advocacy .....

8. A young man joins a practicing solisitor as a clerk .....

9. When you have passed all the necessary exams and you are admitted to the Law Society .....

10. Barristers specialize .....

11. A barrister must be capable .....

12. Barristers are .....

13. Judges are chosen .....

14. When the student obtains a law degree and passes highly practical in nature vocational course .....

15. Clerks who undertake a lot of work in English solicitor’s offices .....

B:

1. the case is one of divorce, recovery some debts, petty crimes.

2. to qualify as a solicitor.

3. its own characteristic functions and a separate governing body.

4. in the form of a brief prepared by a solicitor.

5. is the solicitor.

6. in having two different kinds of lawyers.

7. legal documents for the clients.

8. you can start business on your own.

9. in representing clients in court.

10. of prosecuting in a criminal case one day and defending an accused person the next.

11. experts in the interpretation of the Law.

12. from the most senior barristers.

13. he may be called to the Bar.

14. are a third type of lawyers called “legal executives”.

15. prestigious and well-paid in Britain.

Ex. 2. Choose the best way to complete the sentences.

1. England has two different kinds of lawyers: .....

a) solicitors and barristers

b) barristers and legal executives

c) solicitors and judges

2. The client with a legal problem will first approach…

a) a legal executive

b) a solicitor

c) a judge

3. Solicitors work on court cases of clients .....

a) in the court

b) outside the court

c) at home

4. ..... is a governing body of solicitors.

a) the Bar

b) the Highest Court

c) the Law Society

5. The highest level barristers have the title of .....

a) Queen’s Counsel

b) Queen’s Advocate

c) Senior Barrister

6. The status to the barrister is bestowed by the Queen on the advice of .....

a) the Lord Chancellor

b) the Prime Minister

c) the Attorney-General

7. In order to become a barrister one must first be registered .....

a) as a member of the Law Society

b) as a student member of one of the four Inns of Court

c) as a member of the Bar

8. Many people believe the distinction between barristers and solicitors .....

a) should be adopted

b) should be eliminated

c) should be kept

9. The barrister career starts…

a) as a judge

b) as a senior barrister

c) as a junior barrister

10. All judges are appointed from…

a) the ranks of junior barrister

b) solicitors

c) the ranks of senior barrister

11. There are promotional steps within the judiciary…

a) from recorder to circuit judge to high court judge

b) from recorder to high court to the court of appeal

c) from recorder to circuit judge to the House of Lords

Ex. 3. Mark the statements which are true. Prove your idea.

1. The legal profession is one of low paid in Britain.

2. The division of the legal profession is of long standing and each branch has its own characteristic functions.

3. The training and career structures for the two types of lawyers are quite the same.

4. Solicitors specialise in representing clients in the Higher courts.

5. A barrister can only be consulted indirectly through a solicitor.

6. Barristers are paid directly by the clients.

7. A barrister is regarded to be an advocate.

8. In court, barristers wear wigs and gowns in keeping with the extreme formalities of the proceedings.

9. Judges are chosen from the most senior barristers and they can continue to practise as barristers.

10. Before a junior counsel can achieve the status of QC he must be able to point to at least 10 years successful practice as a barrister.

11. The government doesn’t consider it necessary to eliminate the distinction between barristers and solicitors.

12. The judge is the presiding officer of the court.

13. Judges themselves are a separate profession.

14. A barrister always enters the judiciary at the highest level.

15. The judge decides the interpretation of the law.

16. Judges are capable of “making law” through the doctrine of precedent.

17. Judges are under the control of Parliament.

18. Judicial independence is a fundamental principle of constitutional law.

19. Professional judges are paid salaries by the state.

20. Magistrates are also the professional judges but they deal with the less serious crimes.

21. Magistrates are selected by special committees in every town and district.

Ex. 4. Explain and expand on the following:

1. Each branch of legal profession in Britain has its own characteristic functions.

2. Most sections of the general public cannot approach a barrister directly.

3. Barristers are self-employed individuals.

4. The solicitors’ branch is still a middle-class profession.

5. Solicitor is a general practitioner.

6. Judges themselves are not a separate profession.

7. A barrister enters the judiciary at the lower trial level.

8. The judge decides the interpretation of the law.

9. Judges are capable of making laws.

10. Judges are not under the control of Parliament.

11. Alongside with the professional judges there are unpaid judges.

12. Magistrates are selected by special Committees.

Ex. 5 Choose someone to act as a solicitor and answer the visitors’ questions.

What is (are) What do you mean by Could you explain to me Can you tell me about (who, what)

having two different kinds of lawyers variety of matters on solicitors’ desks work on court cases of clients outside the court the right to speak in the Lowest Courts the Law Society when I can start business on my own experts in the interpretation of the law the status of Queen’s Counsel being called to the Bar the distinction between barristers and solicitors training and career structures for the two types of lawyers

Ex. 6. Speak on the legal profession in Great Britain.

1.  General characteristics: two kinds of lawyers; separate jobs; governing body; training structure; one practising lawyer per 1200 people; to compare with the USA; to increase rapidly; to make up;

2.  Solicitor: to seek legal advice; variety of matters; to deal with legal documents; to buy and sell houses; to make a will; to write legal letters; conveyancing; probate; divorce; to work on court cases; to prepare a case for a barrister; to speak in the lowest courts; to recover some debts; matrimonial matters; petty crimes; criminal and civil litigation; tax; finance affairs;

3.  Barrister: an expert in the interpretation of the law; to specialize in representing clients in court; to be consulted indirectly through a solicitor; to be employed by a solicitor; to be a professional advocate; to advise on really difficult legal matters; to spend a lot of time at paper work; to wear wigs and gowns; to have the title of Queen’s Counsel; to drop out;

4. Judge: to choose from; senior barristers; to continue, to practise as a barrister; to deal with; to be located; the independence of the judiciary;

5. Legal executives: solicitor’s offices; to undertake; managing clerks; to be a third type of lawyers; to have a professional and examining body.

Ex. 7. Complete each sentence with a word from the list. Discuss the information

firms, company, apply, enterprise, contracts, matters, dealing with, legal, image, criminal, income, leads, secure, public, dangerous, murdered, procedures, payment, insures, human, law, stockbrokers, clients, to restrict, attorney, access, represent, lawyer

A. However, in both the United States and other industrialized countries, … are becoming more and more specialized. Working in small …, lawyers now tend to restrict themselves to certain kinds of work, and a lawyer working in large … firms or employed in the law department of a large commercial … work on highly specific areas of law. One lawyer may be employed by a mining … just to prepare … for the supply of coal. Another may work for a newspaper advising the editors on libel … Another may be a part of a Wall Street firm of over a hundred lawyers who specialize in advising … on share.

B. As well as the type of work, the working conditions and pay among members of the … profession also vary greatly. For some people the … of a lawyer is someone who … a very wealthy and comfortable life. However, it shouldn’t be forgotten that there are also lawyers whose lives are not … . The Wall Street … probably earns a high salary, but the small firm giving … to members of the … on welfare right or immigration … may have … salaries in order to stay in business. There are lawyers whose business with fee-paying … subsidizes the work they agree to do for little or no … for citizens’ right groups. Lawyers involved in … rights may ever find their profession is a … one. Amnesty international research show that more than 60 lawyers. In countries where the government … that all people have … to a lawyer in an emergency, there are firms that specialize in … people who would not be able to pay for legal services out of own pocket. For example, in England anyone facing … prosecution is entitled to choose a firm of lawyers to … him. If his … is below a certain level he will not be asked to pay: the firm will keep a record of its costs and will … the government-funded Legal Aid Board for payment.