2. Prosecution of cases in courts and litigation management

Legal department represents and defends the company interests and its employees in courts and government bodies. The department initiates litigation in case of court examinations, and the legal staff members are responsible for creating and enforcing ordinances and gathering existing claims in favor of the company. This function is fulfilled by the following activities:

• Preparation of protocols, claims and counter-claims to courts

• Representation of company in courts

• Protection of company's rights and interests in judicial sittings

3. Documentation preparation and drafting

This function concerns legal part of document management. Law department is responsible for drafting documents in forms which do not contradict or infringe existing legislation, both local and international (if company conducts oversees activities). The fulfillment of this function is based upon the following activities:

• Creation of legal documentation requirements

• Drafting and approving document layouts

• Complying documentation with existing local/international agreements and legislation

The russian federation chapter

Project creation

You are supposed to create a project “Russia-based Lawfirm” – the firm is fictitious.

It is both PowerPoint presentation with slides and paper file that contains the substantive text.

The Project contains the information usually presented and provided on the firm websites.

Follow the examples of your previous research and structure the presentation and text according to the titles of the site front page.

Part 3. How law professionals keep up legal correspondence

They say that lawyers are letter factories.

Why do lawyers write so many letters? A primary reason lies within the ethics of the profession.

• "A lawyer shall keep a client reasonably informed about the status of a matter and promptly comply with reasonable requests for information."

• "A lawyer shall explain a matter to the extent reasonably necessary to permit the client to make informed decisions regarding the representation."

While clients can be kept informed and given explanations orally, lawyers certainly know the value of the printed word over the spoken word: it is not as easily forgotten or misunderstood. Letters also create a record of advice given, which is useful to both the lawyer and the client. That is why letters are the preferred method of keeping clients informed and giving explanations to clients.

Lawyers can write an average five letters a day that include

• advice letters

• opinion letters

• information letters

• status letters

• inquiry letters

• retainer letters / client care letters

• demand letters (to opposing party)

Summary of the most important aims of legal letter writing:

• To convey information (including advice or opinion)

• To persuade

• To obtain information

• To create a particular impression

• To make an offer of settlement

• To confirm or record

The Recipients of Legal Letters

In writing a legal letter it is always important to bear in mind who the recipient is, as this will dictate the tone and content of the letter. These will be:

• Clients

• Witnesses (experts, lay witnesses)

• Court officials

• Other lawyers

• Miscellaneous others (title search officials, government officials, insurance personnel etc)