- •Business english for lawyers
- •Contents
- •Introduction to the Law of Contracts ………………………………………………….
- •Interviewing and Advising: Suggested Language ……………………………………
- •Legal English in Use
- •S tudy the information and answer the questions below.
- •Investigate the idea of Legal English. Write down the words and phrases related to Legal English.
- •Find the English equivalents to the following Russian word combinations:
- •Study the vocabulary.
- •Answer the following questions.
- •Read and entitle the text.
- •Сombine the words from the boxes and use the appropriate expressions to complete the definitions.
- •The History of the Development of Legal English
- •Study the vocabulary.
- •Read the text and answer the question: What are the main sources of Legal English? sources of legal english
- •3. Find the Russian equivalents to the following English word combinations:
- •4. Read and translate the text. Magna carta
- •Vocabulary
- •5. Choose the correct answer.
- •6. Read the text and answer these questions.
- •What is the Petition of Right?
- •7. Complete the text using the following words.
- •8. Listen to the extract of the text “Declaration of Independence” and fill in the gaps.
- •9. Answer the questions on the text.
- •The Characteristic Features of Legal English
- •1. Study the information and enumerate the characteristics of Legal Writing. Legal language
- •2. Match the words with their definitions.
- •3. Read the abstract and do the activities after it.
- •4. Read and translate the sentences.
- •5. Match the sentences containing Latin terms (1-7) with the sentences which have similar meaning (a—g).
- •6. Read the abstract and do the activities after it. Force majeure
- •Active vocabulary
- •7. Find the English equivalents to the following Russian word combinations:
- •8. All of the events listed in the box can prevent one of the parties from carrying out their contractual obligations. Look at the events and decide what type of event they are.
- •9. Study the information. What makes legal language difficult?
- •Vocabulary null and void – потерявший законную силу (о договоре)
- •10. Find the Russian equivalents to the following English word combinations:
- •12. Underline the characteristic features of legal writing (for example, using old words) in the following consumer contract terms (1-3). The characteristic features of legal writing:
- •Vocabulary
- •Legal Career Development
- •S tudy the information and say if you agree or disagree with the statements below.
- •Read the text and do the activities after it. Planning a career
- •Vocabulary
- •4. Match the words from the text and the definitions given below.
- •5. Say if you agree or disagree with the following statements. Give arguments to support your ideas. Exchange your opinions within the group.
- •6. Make up a dialogue between undergraduates about their future career. Discuss the following questions.
- •7. Read the following short advertisements for young American lawyers and decide which position you would apply for. Why? Why not?
- •8. Render the information of the 1-3 ads so as you will tell your friend about the positions. You needn’t follow the ads style.
- •Different Application Forms and cVs
- •1. Study the information and answer the questions below.
- •2. Read the text and do the activities after it. Creating a cv General Principles
- •Vocabulary
- •4. Give advice using the information from the text.
- •Stetson Business Consulting is looking for a Corporate Attorney. Read the following cv and decide whether the applying lawyer is a competitive suitable candidate.
- •7. Give commentary whether the applicant will be appropriate for an interview.
- •8. Study the information and do the activities after it. Graduate cv
- •9. You are reporting a new applicant to the open position in the law office. Render the formal data from the cv to make a short story about Cathleen Oyres.
- •Study the information. Cover letter
- •Write a covering letter in the name of a law graduate.
- •The Legal Job Interview
- •Read the text and do the activities after it. Successful job interview
- •Vocabulary
- •3. Say if the following statements are true or false, correct those that are false.
- •4. Answer the following questions.
- •5. Study the information and do the activity after it.
- •Interview at a law firm
- •6. Act a role-play and practise to answer the questions above.
- •Types of Legal Documents
- •Read the text and do the activities after it.
- •Study the vocabulary
- •Translate these word combinations into Russian.
- •Choose three combinations from above and write your own sentences using them.
- •Match the verbs with the nouns.
- •Match the words with their definitions.
- •Match different types of legal documents with their descriptions.
- •Consultancy Agreement
- •Employment Contract
- •Study the information about different types of marketing agreements.
- •Vocabulary
- •9. Mark the following statements as true or false. Comment on them.
- •Drafting Legal Documents
- •1. Study the text. Formulate the basic requirements for drafting legal documents.
- •Instructions
- •2. Study the information and answer the questions.
- •Drafting agreements
- •Agency agreement
- •4. Study the vocabulary.
- •5. Complete this letter regarding a personal injury claim at a ‘Get Fit’ fitness centre. Pay attention to the grammatical context. There is more than one possibility for three of the answers.
- •6. Complete the paragraphs with the words and expressions from the box.
- •8. Read the text and do the activities after it. Memoranda
- •9. Put the following phrases into the correct order to make up a typical structure of a memo (according to the text).
- •10. Read the manual on writing a legal memorandum. A Legal Memorandum
- •11. Mark the following statements as true or false.
- •13. Fill in the blanks with the correct word from the word bank.
- •14. Listen to a conversation between an attorney and a paralegal. Mark the following statements as true (t) or false (f).
- •15. Listen again and complete the conversation.
- •Legal Writing: the Language, Content and Structure
- •1. Read the text and do the activities after it. Legal documents: the language and structure
- •Make the sentences by matching the phrases from two columns.
- •3. Fill in the blanks:
- •4. Study the information about the arrangement of information in regulations.
- •Vocabulary
- •Vocabulary
- •5. Put the following actions into the correct order (according to the text).
- •7. Match two halves.
- •8. Read the text and complete the chart below with the recommendations from the checklist. Use the suitable phrases (f: Define the main aim of the document). Checklist
- •Introduction to the Law of Contracts
- •S tudy the information and answer the questions below.
- •Investigate the idea of Contracts. Write down the words and phrases related to Contracts.
- •4. Read the text. Do the activities after it. Formation of a contract
- •Vocabulary
- •5. Make word combinations using the words from the box.
- •6. Find the English equivalents to the following Russian word combinations.
- •7. Find the Russian equivalents to the following English word combinations.
- •8. Read the text. Which two remedies following a breach of contract are mentioned? Are any other options available in your own jurisdiction? breach of contract
- •Vocabulary
- •9. Read the text again and decide whether these statements are true or false.
- •Match the verbs in the box with the nouns they go with in the text.
- •Here is a brief summary of the law of contract. Complete the texts using the words in the box.
- •Listen to the beginning of the lecture on contract law. What is the general subject of the lecture?
- •Listen to the whole text and answer these questions. Which of these terms does the speaker mention? What topic will the lecturer talk about next time?
- •Listen again and complete this excerpt from a student’s lecture notes by writing one word in each space.
- •Types of Legal Contracts
- •Before you read the passage, talk about these questions.
- •Read the job advert and mark the following statements as true or false.
- •Match the words (1-6) with the definition (a-f).
- •Listen to a conversation between a client and a legal assistant. Mark the following statements as true (t) or false (f).
- •Listen again and complete the conversation.
- •Employment Law
- •Study the information from the website and do the activity after it.
- •Vocabulary
- •Study the text and do the activities after it. Contracts of employment
- •Vocabulary
- •6. Look at the following contract and decide if the contract is obligatory for both contracting parties? Define four elements of the contract.
- •Bill of sale
- •Chairing a Formal Meeting
- •Study the information and do the activities after it. Board meetings
- •Vocabulary
- •2. Complete the minutes of the company’s first board meeting by selecting the most appropriate word from the list below to place in each correspondingly numbered space in the draft minutes.
- •Maplink limited
- •Complete the following notice of the shareholder’s meeting, filling in the blanks by selecting the appropriate words from the list below.
- •Negotiation Styles and Strategies
- •Read the text and say if you agree or disagree with the statements below.
- •Vocabulary
- •Study the information and do the activities after it. Negotiation Strategies:
- •Negotiation styles
- •Match the negotiation styles with their descriptions.
- •Study the language for negotiating and do the activities.
- •Investigating options
- •Study the information and prepare to negotiate at the meeting on behalf of Travelgraph Limited by completing the negotiation plan. Use the phrases given above.
- •The Content of Legal Correspondence
- •Structure
- •Planning letter-writing style
- •Vocabulary
- •2. Read the text and do the activities after it.
- •Introduction to emails
- •Email writing style
- •3. Answer the following questions.
- •Match the words and phrases from the letter with the synonyms.
- •Match English phrases with their Russian equivalents.
- •All emails can be divided into two groups: formal and informal emails. Study the table below and do the activities after it.
- •Study the emails. Decide which one is a formal email.
- •Listen and read the email from a legal assistant to an attorney. Mark the following statements as true (t) or false (f).
- •Listen and read the text again. In three sentences summarize the email.
- •10. Complete this letter from Alex Paine to his client with appropriate phrases. There is more than one possibility for three of the answers.
- •11. Cathy o’Brien replies to Thierry’s email. Put the sentences in the correct order.
- •Interviewing and Advising: Suggested Language
- •1. Read the text. Do the activities after it.
- •Interviewing and advising
- •Vocabulary
- •2. Translate these combinations into Russian.
- •3. Fill in the blanks in the following sentences.
- •4. Study the information about the interacting with a client and complete the chart below with the useful expressions. Propose your own variants.
- •Initial client interview
- •5. Before you read the passage, talk about these questions.
- •6. Write a word (from the text ) that is similar in meaning to the underlined part.
- •7. Mark the following statements as true (t) or (f).
- •Listen to a conversation between an attorney and a potential client. Choose the correct answers.
- •Listen again and complete the conversation.
- •Read the text and match the headings (a-d) with the paragraphs (1-4) they belong to.
- •Language
- •11. Make a dialogue between an attorney and a client using the phrases from the text. Telephoning
- •1. Read the abstract and do the activities after it.
- •Active Vocabulary
- •3. Read the following statements and mark them as true or false. If it is necessary, correct the statements.
- •4. Match the telephone phrases below with the responses.
- •5. Look at the telephone conversation below. Put the conversation into the correct order.
- •7. Study the information. Leaving a message on an answering machine
- •Introduction
- •8. Leave a message on an answering machine for your colleague. Dealing with Difficult Situations
- •1. Read the text. Do the activities after it.
- •Vocabulary
- •2. Complete the chart below with the useful expressions for dealing with difficult situations. Propose your own variants.
- •3. Study the information. Explanations and clarification
- •5. Complete the sentences with words and phrases from c. There is more than one possibility for two of the answers.
- •6. Complete the sentences with words and phrases given below. There is more than one possibility for four of the answers.
- •Glossary
- •Internet resources
6. Act a role-play and practise to answer the questions above.
The HR manager of Stetson Business Consulting is interviewing Mary Jane Adams.
Student A. You are the HR Manager. Study Ms Adams’s CV and find what you would like to clear out. Make up your own list of questions choosing from the list above and adding some more special questions. Get ready to answer the questions Mary will ask you. Get ready to speak about your company Business Consulting.
Student B. You are Mary Jane Adams. You are applying for the position of Corporate Attorney at Stetson Business Consulting. To prepare for the interview read your CV so that you will be able to answer all the questions.
Legal Documents Unit 3
Types of Legal Documents
Read the text and do the activities after it.
Legal drafting is in many ways the very definition of practicing law. No matter what type of practice you pursue, drafting will be an integral part of your daily work.
Civil litigators draft complaints, other pleadings, interrogatories, jury instructions, settlement agreements, appellate briefs, etc. Transactional attorneys draft contracts of all types, leases, promissory notes, articles of incorporation, etc.
The formatting of the document will depend on what type of document it is. There are three basic types of legal documents that you may want to draft yourself:
Demand, notice, and negotiation letters are all legal documents that you may be able to prepare without the assistance of an attorney. Letters may be written, for example, to resolve a dispute without a lawsuit, in response to another’s demand or offer, or as legal notice that a lawsuit will be filed.
Directives and agreements describe parties’ obligations to one another and/or how some event or series of events will be governed. Wills and Trusts are examples of directives, and contracts to purchase a house and agreements to provide painting services are examples of agreements.
Pleadings are documents that are meant to be filed with the Court. A pleading may be a complaint, petition, motion, affidavit, or a set of interrogatories.
Study the vocabulary
to pursue – преследовать (цель)
litigator – адвокат, сторона в судебном процессе
complaint – жалоба
pleading – подача в суд заявления, ходатайство, прошение
interrogatory – вопрос, допрос, опросный лист (для показаний)
settlement agreements – мировое соглашение
brief – сводка, резюме, краткое письменное изложение дела
transactional – деловой, связанный со сделкой
lease – аренда, сдача в наём
promissory notes – долговое обязательство
motion – ходатайство, предложение
articles of incorporation – официальный акт о регистрации компании / акционерного общества
demand – требование, запрос
lawsuit – судебный процесс, иск, тяжба
will – завещание
trust – доверенность
affidavit – письменное показание под присягой
make a legal demand – предъявлять надлежаще заявленное требование
request for admissions – письменное изложение фактов дела, высылаемое противной стороне для признания или отрицания
subpoena – вызов в суд, повестка о явке в суд
discovery – (юр) предоставление документов суду
assessment of someone’s state of mind – оценка чьего-либо психического состояния
agenda – программа работы, повестка дня / собрания
entirely unknown company – совершенно незнакомая компания
income from sales – доходы от продаж
retainer – соглашение между клиентом и адвокатом (о ведении им дела)