Text-study

I. Learn the following words.

to amend – внести поправки

to reverse – пересмотреть

income – доход

to resort – прибегнуть к чему-л; обращаться за помощью

litigation – тяжба

to threaten – угрожать

closure – закрытие

appointee – получивший назначение

overall – всеобъемлющий

mercy – милосердие

judiciary – судебный, законный.

II. Answer the following questions.

1. What appeals is the High Court concerned with?

2. How are payments to lawyers made?

3. Why was the legal aid system established?

4. What responsibility does the Lord Chancellor have?

5. What functions do the Attorney General and the Solicitor General perform?

III. Find in the text the words that correspond to the following definitions.

1. to request a higher law court to consider again a decision made by a lower court, especially in order to reduce or prevent a punishment;

2. to change the words of a law or a legal document;

3. a helpful or good effect, or smth intended to help;

4. money that is earned from doing work, or received from investments;

5. connected with or allowed by the law;

6. a duty one has because of one’s job or position;

7. kindness and forgiveness shown towards someone whom one has the power to treat severely or punish.

IV. Choose a), b) or c) to complete the following statements about the text.

1. Lords Justice of Appeal can … the decision of the lower court.

1. amend;

2. obtain;

3. include.

2. Government … in the legal aid fund suggest problems for poor people.

1. reductions;

2. rising;

3. limits.

3. Responsibility for the administration of the English legal system is divided between … .

1. counties;

2. government departments;

3. judges.

4.… may preside over the Law Lords.

1. the magistrates;

2. the solicitor;

3. the Lord Chancellor.

5. People with low incomes have their bills paid by … .

1. the Court;

2. the State;

3. the House of Lords.

V. Match the verbs (on the left) with the nouns (on the right).

to promote	fund
to exercise	a department
to administer	reforms
to select	law functions
to head	judges
to receive	appeals
to hear	legal aid

VI. Make up sentences with the phrases you’ve got.

VII. Give the English equivalents for the following:

рассматривать апелляции;

получить помощь юриста;

управлять фондом;

выбирать судей;

возглавлять отдел;

способствовать продвижению реформ;

выполнять юридические функции.

VIII. Explain the italicized grammar constructions in the following sentences.

1. The main avenue of appeal is to the Court of Appeal (Civil Division), which can deal with appeals from all lower civil courts.

2. In court the accused person can receive legal aid.

3. It is a scheme whereby those persons who are unable to afford the costs of legal advice and representation in criminal and civil matters will have their bills paid by the state.

4. Generally speaking, only those with very low incomes or who are already receiving state welfare benefits will qualify for legal aid.

5. The situation at present means that, given the high costs of legal actions, only the poor or the very rich can afford to resort to litigation.