7. Make up word-combinations; mind the prepositions:

to act	between	employment
to seek work	at	behalf of another person
legal solutions	to	lawyers
distinction	in	other occupations
by the lack	of	law
attorney	on	problems

8. Answer the following questions:

1. What is the meaning of the word attorney? 2. Are the functions of attorneys in the USA similar to the functions of barristers or solicitors in Great Britain? 3. What is the difference between an attorney-in-fact and an attorney-at-law? 4. What requirements should the attorneys meet to be admitted to the bar? 5. What activities does the work of an attorney include? 6. Is there any distinguishing feature in the profession of attorney? 7. What is most academic training of attorneys directed to? 8. Have law schools in the USA trained far more students than new job openings have become available?

9. Look through the text once again, point out complexes with the Infinitives, and state their functions.

A – 2

1. Read the following words; mind their pronunciation:

indicator [ndket], practitioner [prktn], atmosphere [tmsf], private [pravt], successful [sksesful], circle [skl].

2. Read the following international words and give their Russian equivalents stating differences in meaning of the English and Russian words, if any:

regularly, association, position, private, political, reserve, party, practice, indicator, business, aggregate, group, type, client, firm, individual, corporate, basic, commission, committee, operate, solo, rent, partner, atmosphere, financial.

3. Translate the following family words:

to differ – different, class – to classify – classification, practice – to practice – practitioner, low - lower – lowest, particular - particularly, success – successful, client – clientele, firm – mega-firm, government – governmental.

4. Skim the text and say which sentences refer to separate paragraphs of the text. Mind that there is one extra sentence:

1. There are different types of private practice firms. 2. There are similarities between solo practitioners and small firms. 3. Large firm lawyers have many opportunities. 4. There are many differences between solo practitioners and small firms. 5. The smallest payment is received by sole practitioners. 6. The size of a law firm is its practice indicator. 7. There are different types of legal practice.

TYPES OF LEGAL PRACTICE

In the USA lawyers in private practice are the most numerous group of lawyers, comprising approximately 72% of all lawyers in the country. It is hard to say much of a general nature about private practice because there are many different types of practice.

It has been traditional to classify private practice by size of law firm. Thus there are three basic sizes: small (from 1 to 10 lawyers), medium (from 11 to 50 lawyers) and large (more than 50 lawyers). But recently large firms have grown so much that a firm of more than 50 lawyers is not said to be “large” any more.

The size of a firm is usually an indicator of type of practice: smaller firms are more likely to represent individuals, while larger firms are more likely to practice “corporate law”, i.e. to represent business clients.

Solo practitioners and small firms have much in common. Indeed, small firms often operate more as an aggregate of solo practitioners. Solo or small-firm practitioners may be new lawyers who want to grow and add partners, or they may be experienced practitioners who like the independence and atmosphere of working alone or with a small group of lawyers.

Of private lawyers, solo practitioners receive the lowest pay. There are exceptions to this, but in many areas of the country – particularly in bad economic times – it is very difficult for a new lawyer to build and maintain a successful solo practice. The new lawyers must either have a good source of clients or sufficient financial reserves to help the lawyers while they are building their clientele or in difficult times.

The number of lawyers working in large firms comprises only 14.6% of private lawyers and only 10.5% of all lawyers. However, they are much more successful financially. In addition, senior partners in the “megafirms’ often move in powerful governmental and political circles, regularly serving in governmental positions when their political party is in power. They are also a major power in the profession because they more often serve on bar association committees and commissions than sole practitioners or lawyers from smaller firms.

5. Say what you have learnt from the text about:

1) connection of a size of a law firm and its type; 2) sole practitioners; 3) large firms.

A – 3

1. Read the following words; mind their pronunciation:

court [kt], supreme [supri:m], bar [ba:], judge [dd], association [susen].

2. Read the following international words and give their Russian equivalents stating differences in meaning of the English and Russian words, if any:

legal, institution, voluntary, specific, jurisdiction, activity, academic, standard, formulation, model, ethical, code, meeting, initiative, section, percent, mission, accreditation, respect, decade, journal, magazine, section, publish, subject.

3. Analyse the structure of the following words:

criticize, representative, national, justice, formulation, continuing, headquarters, excellence, graduation, foundation, unaccredited, generally, membership, nomination, nominee, rating, qualify, newsletters.

4. Scan the text and get ready to answer the following questions:

1. What is ABA? 2. What are its functions? 3. What journals does ABA publish? 4. Who may become a member of ABA?

AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION

Washington is not only the capital of the USA but also the center of legal life. Important legal institutions, such as the Supreme Court, headquarters of FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation), office of American Bar Association are located there. American Bar Association (ABA) is a voluntary bar association of lawyers and law students, which is not specific to any jurisdiction in the United States. The ABA's most important activities are the setting of academic standards for law schools, and the formulation of model ethical codes related to the legal profession.

ABA provides law school accreditation, continuing legal education, information about the law, programs to assist lawyers and judges in their work, and initiatives to improve the legal system for the public. The Mission of the American Bar Association is to be the national representative of the legal profession, serving the public and the profession by promoting justice, professional excellence and respect for the law.

ABA accreditation is important not only because it affects the recognition of the law schools involved, but it also affects a graduate's ability to practice law in a particular state. In most U.S. jurisdictions, graduation from an ABA-accredited law school is needed to be allowed to sit for that state's bar exam¹. It is also needed for existing lawyers to be admitted to the bar of another state. Even states which recognize unaccredited schools within their borders will generally not recognize such schools from other jurisdictions for purposes of bar admission.

ABA has got one more function. For decades, it has participated in the federal judicial nomination process by vetting nominees and giving them a rating from "not qualified" to "well qualified”.

The Association publishes a general magazine for all members, the ABA Journal. Many new serious conflicting cases are published there. ABA members may also join subject-specific "sections," and each section publishes many newsletters and magazines for its members. The sections also hold their own meetings.

Since the time of its foundation, 1878, ABA members were mostly white male defense attorneys. The ABA has been criticized for such membership. That is why in 1925, African-American lawyers formed the National Bar Association, similar to ABA.

However, since the 1960s, the ABA has increased the diversity² of its membership. Its membership has grown from less than 11 percent of all American lawyers to 50 percent today.

Notes:

¹to sit for an exam – сдавать экзамен

²diversity – разнообразие

5. Complete the sentences based on the text:

1. Washington is the legal centre of the country because … are situated there. 2. ABA provides … accreditation 3. ABA is the national representative of … 4. ABA participates in the federal judiciary … process. 5. ABA publishes … which provides information about recent conflicting cases. 6. Nowadays ABA numbers about … USA lawyers.

B – 1

1. Read the following words and proper names; mind their pronunciation:

impartial [mpa:l], system [sstm], judiciary [dudi:l], gymnasium [dmnezjm], hierarchy [hara:k];

Capitol [kptl], Washington [wtn].

2. Read the definitions and say what meaning the word “supreme” in the word-combination “supreme court” covers:

1) of highest status or power; 2) of highest quality, importance; 3) final or last, the ultimate supreme judgment

3. What functions of courts of final jurisdiction do you know?

4. Read and translate the text; explain your variants of translation of words in black type:

THE US SUPREME COURT

A merica’s court system as the court system of any other country is intended to provide a fair, open and impartial means for settling disputes. The disputes may involve individuals, businesses, or governments, but in each situation the goal is for an impartial decision–maker to resolve the dispute.

When the courts or the judiciary are mentioned in the United States it is common to think first of the United States Supreme Court. This is the court that sits at the top of the judicial hierarchy in America. Situated in Washington, it is a real magnificent symbol of justice.

The Supreme Court meets in Washington D.C. Before 1935 the Supreme Court occupied various spaces in the United States Capitol. In 1935 it moved into its own building, the United States Supreme Court building at One First Street Northeast, Washington, DC. The four-story building was designed in a classical style similar to the surrounding buildings of the Capitol Complex and Library of Congress. The building includes space for the Courtroom, Justices' chambers, an extensive law library, various meeting spaces, and auxiliary services such as workshop, stores, cafeteria and a gymnasium.

The Supreme Court has got two abbreviations - SCOTUS (Supreme Court of the United States) and USSC (United States Supreme Court).

The Court's yearly terms usually start on the first Monday in October and finish sometime during the following June or July. Each term consists of alternating two week intervals. During the first interval, the court is in session ('sitting') and hears cases, and during the second interval, the court is recessed to consider and write opinions on cases it has heard.

The court consists of nine Justices: the Chief Justice of the United States and eight Associate Justices. The Justices are nominated by the President and confirmed with the "advice and consent" of the Senate. As federal judges, the Justices serve during "good behavior". It means that as a rule the judges serve for life and can be removed only by resignation, or by impeachment and subsequent conviction.

The functions of the US Supreme Court differ from the functions of the Supreme Court of Great Britain. Although the US Supreme Court heads the federal judicial hierarchy, each of the fifty states has similar hierarchy. That is why it is not so overloaded in cases as the British one.

5. Give the Russian for:

impartial means for settling disputes, at the top of judicial hierarchy, to move into one’s own building, be similar to, various meeting spaces, alternating two weeks interval, to consider and write opinions, to be nominated, to be removed by resignation.

6. Give the English for:

разрешить спор, величественный символ правосудия, располагаться в разных частях Капитолия, окружающие здания, громадная юридическая библиотека, дополнительные услуги, заседание суда, заслушивать дела, утверждать назначение, впоследствии признать виновным.

7. Say if the following statements are true or false:

1. Any court system should provide a fair trial.

2. The goal of any trial is to resolve the dispute.

3. The USSC sits at the bottom of judicial hierarchy in America.

4. The Supreme Court occupies various spaces in the Capitol.

5. The building of the USSC was designed in a Gothic style.

6. In USSC there are places for the Courtroom, Justices' chambers, an extensive law library and various meeting spaces.

7. The Court’s yearly term usually starts on the first Monday in October and finish sometime during the following June or July.

8. Each term consists of alternating three week intervals.

9. During the second interval, the court is in session ('sitting') and hears cases, and during the first interval, the court is recessed to consider and write opinions on cases it has heard.

10. The Court consists of eight Justices.

11. The Justices are nominated by the President and confirmed with the "advice and consent" of the Senate.

12. The USSC is overloaded in cases as much as the Supreme Court of Great Britain.

8. Retell the text.

B – 2

1. Read the following proper names; mind their pronunciation:

Kenya [kenj], Tanzania [tenzn], Pennsylvania [penslven], Edgar Hoover [edg hu:v], Scotland [sktlnd].

2. Read the following international words and give their Russian equivalents stating differences in meaning of the English and Russian words, if any:

agency, bureau, federal, avenue, civil, service, agent, bank, role, terrorism, focus, act, patriotic, contact, grant, provision, potential, monitoring, public, corruption.

3. Translate the following family words:

to respond - response – responsible, to see – oversee, terror - terrorist, crime – criminal, note – to notify, grant – to grant, contract – to contract.

4. Remember the following words:

bill – законопроект

1. The Bill was passed. 2. When a Bill is passed in the Parliament it becomes law.

thief (pl. thieves) – вор

1. The thieves got away with $200,000. 2. A thief broke into the house last night.

bootlegger – 1) торговец контрабандными или самогонными спиртными напитками; 2) торговец запрещенными товарами

1. These bootleggers sell CDs in the street. 2. He is a video bootlegger.

to track down smb. – разыскивать

1. I try to track down the book he wanted. 2. Criminals are being tracked down.

5. Skim the text and make up its plan:

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

Federal Bureau of Investigation is the main USA law enforcement agency. Its office is located in Washington, D.C. The FBI can be contacted twenty-four hours a day, every day. Here’s how to contact it: FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C. Call [phone] or write to the following address: Federal Bureau of Investigation J. Edgar Hoover Building 935 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20535-0001.

The Bureau of Investigation, which on January 1, 1935, became the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), was created in response to a Sundry Civil Service Bill passed in 1908. The bill allowed to create a special agent force within the Department of Justice. Originally FBI was responsible for tracking down car thieves, bank robbers, bootleggers and any one else committing crimes in different states.

Today, the FBI plays a major role in investigating terrorism both within the USA and abroad. FBI agents work side by side with foreign authorities, e.g. those of Scotland, Kenya, Tanzania and other countries.

However, it was on September 11, 2001, that the goals of the FBI dramatically changed. After September 11, the FBI shifted its focus to the prevention of terrorism against the United States and its citizens. With the signing of the USA Patriotic Act in 2001, the FBI was given increased authority to track, oversee and hunt potential terrorists.

The new focus on terrorism has not prevented the FBI from continuing to trace down criminals within the United States. The USA Patriotic Act granted the FBI increased powers, especially in monitoring of the Internet activity. One of the most controversial provisions of the act is the so-called “sneak and peek” provision, granting the FBI powers to search a house while the residents are away, and not requiring them to notify the residents for several weeks afterwards. Under the Patriotic Act’s provisions the FBI also resumed inquiring into the library records of those who are suspected of terrorism. FBI is also charged with responsibility to investigate computer (cyber) crimes and public corruption.

6. Explain the meaning of the phrase “sneak and peak”.

7. Say how and why the FBI functions increased.

B – 3

1. Scan the text and entitle it. Explain your title:

People in the USA have created a special image of a good cop, which is based partly on famous fiction characters, partly on film stars. In everyday life it is important that a police officer does not allow people to get furious. It is important that he can remain objective during the situation at hand¹. He might go to the station house or talk to his police colleagues and complain about the situations that took place and blow off steam², but when he is out doing his job he does not overreact and is calm and detached from the action he is intervening into or the situation he is interrupting and the situation he is creating.

One of the most important qualities of the police officer is tact. A lot of problems with youth, especially the poor and Afro-American youth arise from unethical treatment of the police.

Actually, communities where police treat the general public and small business owners more fairly and practice integrity stimulate economic growth and wealth. It happens so because less number of crimes are committed in such communities.

Notes:

¹at hand – зд. рассматриваемый

²blow off steam - "выпустить пар"; дать выход чувствам, энергии; разрядиться

ORAL SPEECH PRACTICE