Vocabulary and comprehension exercises

Exercise 3. Using the text, explain the meaning of the following phrases, or paraphrase them:

1. to enjoy a high level of trust;

2. lawyers are subject to standardized examination;

3. to regulate one's competence;

4. to be sufficient/insufficient;

5. to enter the profession;

6. to take a preparatory course;

7. to study for the law finals;

8. conversations between a lawyer and his client are privileged;

9. he receives a certificate proving his right to sell his services;

10. professional incompetence;

11. to suspend, disqualify (or strike off) a solicitor;

12. to pose difficult ethical problems for a lawyer;

13. to point out weaknesses in the prosecution case;

14. to transfer a clients to another lawyer;

15. he lacked the necessary mental state to be guilty.

Exercise 4. Answer the following questions:

1. How does someone become a lawyer?

2. Name three differences between barristers and solicitors.

3. What is an articled clerk ?

4. Describe two ethical problems a lawyer may face.

5. Give reasons for the slow pace of modernizing legal language.

Exercise 5. Reconstruct the sentences, explain or paraphrase them:

1. In some countries/to practice/it is necessary /to get/ / in law /in order /as a lawyer / a university degree /

2. Lawyers / that the time /will tell you/ they spent studying /was one/for their law finals/of the worst/of their life!/periods /

3. A solicitor / two years / must spend/ during which time/as an articled clerk,/ his work /by an experienced /lawyer./in England/is closely supervised /

4. A lawyer /not to break/of procedure /set by the body / his profession. /must take care / the many rules /and ethics / which regulates /

5. Barristers/ for negligent services / in the courtroom./ may not be sued/ in England and Wales/

6. A lawyer /therefore /defend his client / could / simply by /point out /trying to / in the prosecution case./ weaknesses/

7. / The client / permission. / someone else / should know / says / that / will not be / what / he / passed on/ to / without his/

8. The lawyer / first/ guilt. / how / client's / sure / he / decide / is / must / of the /

9. Members of the public,/ solicitor. / of course, their / the right /have / to sue /

10. The lawyer/ lawyer. / to transfer / has a right / to another / of the clients / one /

Exercise 6. Make up sentences of your own with the following word combinations:

to become a lawyer; to practice as a lawyer;

to get a university degree (in law); to be memorized; to take care of smb./smth.; to pay damages;

to set rules (for); to be sure of smb.’s guilt; to prove guilt; to prove innocence.

Exercise 7. Translate the text into English:

Работа юриста когда-то была более или менее спокойной. Однако в настоящее время она также связана с риском высокой ответственности. Неправильный совет может принести огромный ущерб фирме и репутации самого юриста. Разумеется, риск ответственности зависит от характера принимаемых решений, их масштабности. В целом работу юриста нельзя назвать спокойной. У юриста очень напряженная работа, отсутствие нормированного рабочего дня и даже рабочей недели. Юристы часто вынуждены работать по вечерам, в выходные дни. Во время рабочего дня могут поступать самые различные задания, требующие немедленного решения. Привлекательность профессии юриста состоит в ее определенной самостоятельности. Юристы обычно так или иначе подчинены своему руководству, кроме судей и лиц свободной профессии - адвокатов. Но всё же они принимают решения в соответствии с законом, а толкование закона предполагает самостоятельность. Чем лучше соображает юрист, чем больше знает, чем он смелее и настойчивее, тем точнее будут его решения и тем самым выше репутация.