Exercise 1

1. Which profession have you chosen as your career? Why? Which profession doesn’t appeal to you as a career perspective? Why not?

2. Find in Internet what kind of jobs are paralegal and court reporter

3. Apply your experience and knowledge of the legal jobs. Add more information (or facts) to each job description

4. Personify the professionals above – give names to them and some other personal information. Make up a legend.

e.g.

Jerry Stone is a court clerk. He lives and works in Manchester. 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…………………………………

Fundamentals

What Solicitors, Barristers and Attorneys Do?

solicitor solicit – ходатайствовать, хлопотать, So, 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, barrister is a lawyer who is a member of the bar and who can speak before the bar. attorney attorn - передавать кому-либо правa, поручать So, attorney is a lawyer whom a client attorns the case, or transfers the right to deal with the case.

Exercise 2

Read the dialogue to find out the difference between the professions of solicitor, barrister and attorney.

A	I have some problems and need a lawyer’s advice. 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 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.