Word formation. Complete this table by filling in the correct forms.

Verb	Noun
	division
	certificate
represent
	advice
recover
appear
	litigation
specialize
	employment
draft
govern
	appointment
	qualification

 

Match the columns.

a.

1. to give 2. to recover 3. to appear 4. to prepare 5. to draft 6. to draw up

a. wills b. contracts c. opinions d. in court e. briefs f. debts

 

B.

1. private 2. personal 3. in-house 4. employment  5. legal 6. petty 7. environmental

a. lawyers b. law c. crimes d. injury e. advice

 

Fill in the gaps with prepositions if necessary.

1) We are being trained ___ the law.

2) A lawyer must listen carefully ___ his clients.

3) The solicitor deals _____ a great number of problems.

4) Solicitors cannot appear ___ any court.

5) I want to specialize ___ criminal law.

6) If you want to draw ___ wills you will go to see a solicitor.

7) Senior appointments are made by the Queen ___ the recommendation of the Prime Minister.

8) The partner was offered a share ___ the profits of the company.

9) I greatly rely ___ the advice given by my lawyer.

10) The barrister is referred ___ as ‘counsel’ in court.

11) To become a judge the candidate must meet ___certain requirements laid ____ by an Act of Parliament.

 

Read the text and decide whether the statements are true (T) or false (F).

1) In England and Wales there are two types of lawyers, solicitors and barristers.

2) Any solicitor can represent his clients in the Higher Court.

3) Only barristers can speak for their clients in court.

4) Barristers draft contracts and draw up wills.

5) Many solicitors work together in partnerships but barristers don’t. 

6) A barrister is an expert in the interpretation of law.

7) Barristers never specialize in particular areas of law.

8) To become a judge the candidate must meet certain requirements laid down by the Prime Minister or the Lord Chancellor.

9) Lord Chancellor is a senior member of the government and head of the judicial system.

Chose the phrase which best completes each statement.

1. In most countries a person is referred to as a lawyer if he …

a. has passed a considerable number of exams in law.

b. is officially qualified to deal with legal matters.

c. works in a lawyer’s office but has no official proof that he has successfully completed the course in law.

2. In England a law student chooses between becoming …

a. a solicitor or a prosecutor.  

b. a barrister or a judge.

c. a solicitor or a barrister.

3. The requirements which barristers and solicitors must meet are …

a. the same.

b. practically the same.

c. quite different.

4. To become a judge in Great Britain it is necessary …

a. to pass a particular kind of examination.

b. to become an experienced lawyer first, and then apply to become a judge.

c. to be enrolled in the list of potential judges.

5. The solicitor usually deals with ….

a. arguing criminal and civil matters in higher courts.

b. presenting cases in any court.

c. petty crimes and matrimonial matters.

6. Barristers specialize in …

a. representing cases in Magistrates’ Court.

b. pleading cases before the court.

c. briefing solicitors.

7. A solicitor is allowed to represent his clients in higher courts if …

a. he gets a certificate in advocacy.

b. he specializes in one particular area of law.

c. he is a member of a Law Society.

8. Barristers who are asked by solicitors to act for them in a case ….

a. are employed by the Law Society.

b.  render legal assistance voluntarily.

c. cannot be employed directly by clients.

 

 

SPEAKING

Speak about the work of lawyers in Russia. Use the vocabulary from the text.

 

 

ADDITIONAL READING

Text 1

ENTERING THE PROFESSION

Solicitors are controlled by their own professional body called the Law Society. To become a solicitor is usual to have a law degree and then to take a one-year Legal Practice Course. This is followed by a two-year training period, where the trainee solicitor works in a firm of solicitors or for other organization such as the Crown Prosecution Service or local or central government. During this two-year period he will be paid, though not at the same rate as a fully qualified solicitor, and will do his own work supervised by a qualified solicitor. He will also have to complete a Professional Skills Course, which gives training in interviewing clients and witnesses, negotiating, advocacy and business management including dealing with accounts. Finally the trainee will be admitted as a solicitor by the Law Society and his name will be added to the list of solicitors. Those who have a degree in another subject must take an extra one-year course on law, called the Common Professional Examination before going on to take the Legal Practice Course.

Barristers are controlled by their own professional body called the General Council of the Bar. To become a barrister it is usual to start by obtaining a law degree. Those with a degree in other subjects will have to do a one-year course on law and pass the Common Professional Examination. In order to go on to the next stage of training it is necessary to join an Inn of Court and be accepted on the Bar’s Vocational Training Course which lasts one academic year. The course concentrates on practical skills, particularly advocacy, and students learn to draft legal documents and present cases in court. Joining an Inn of Court and attending there to dine or for week courses is compulsory but students may choose which of the four Inns they would like to join. 

Once the student has passed the Vocational Course and dined the correct number of times he will be called to the Bar by his Inn of Court. He is then a barrister but will not be allowed to practice in court until he has completed the first six months of the next stage of his training which is called pupilage. Being a pupil barrister means studying under an experienced barrister, reading his work, practicing giving advice and writing opinions on points of law, drafting other legal documents and going to court with the pupil master to observe cases. The total length of pupilage is one year and this can be served with the same pupil master or as two periods of six months with different pupil masters. During this period the barrister must also take part in a program of continuing education organized by the Bar Council.  

Do the task.