UNIT 5

Lawyers at work

LIST OF WORDS

attorney

magistrate (n)

the judiciary

advocacy

public prosecutor

barrister

solicitor

recorder

clerk

lay judges

legalese

ambiguity

omission

loophole

pre-trial work

to investigate

litigation

legitimacy

integrity

impartiality

nuisance

consideration

painstaking

sentencing

conveyancing

probate

conciliation

mediator

to conduct a case

to practice at the bar / at the bench

experience at the bar

to enter into a contract

to have a right to be heard

the right of audience

to charge the defendant (or accused) with…

Ex. 1. Complete the missing forms

Noun	Verb	Adjective
1) prosecutor 2) —	—	—
—	qualify	—
—	—	experienced
1) judge 2) —	—	—
—	argue	—
1) — 2) —	—	various
omission	—	—
—	distinguish	—
survival	—	—
—	—	ambiguous
1) claim 2) —	—	—
1) — 2) —	arbitrate	—

Ex. 2. Look through the list of the derivatives of the word "law" and supply them in the sentences below.

a law, lawful, lawfully, lawless, lawlessness, lawyer

1) We cannot tolerate such ______ behaviour.

2) Many doctors want to see ______ banning all tobacco advertisements.

3) The widespread atmosphere of ______ has caused chaos and insecurity.

4) Judge Keenan concluded that the surveillance had been ______.

5) Jake Coker, ______ for a number of those detained, said yesterday that she would be making applications for habeas corpus.

6) Such a policy could not ______ be adopted.

Ex. 3. Supply an appropriate preposition for each blank space. Point out the main principles of a lawyer’s liability to his clients and to the law.

In most countries, once a lawyer is fully qualified he receives a certificate proving his right to sell his services. There are also insurance provisions so that if a lawyer is ever successfully sued ¹⁾ ___ a client ²⁾ ___ professional incompetence there will be funds available to enable him to pay damages — which may be extremely large ³⁾ ___ the case ⁴⁾ ___ lawyers dealing ⁵⁾ ___ property transactions. Even if a lawyer is very competent, he must take care not to break the many rules ⁶⁾ ___ procedure and ethics set ⁷⁾ ___ the body which regulates his profession ⁸⁾ ___ England, the body regulating the conduct ⁹⁾ ___ solicitors is the Law Society. Among other things, it sets rules ¹⁰⁾ ___ lawyers accounting procedures and investigates complaints ¹¹⁾ ___ lawyers ¹²⁾ ___ their clients. There is also a Solicitor’s Disciplinary Tribunal ¹³⁾ ___ the power to suspend or even disqualify. Since its members are themselves solicitors some people fear then that it may not be completely impartial. But members ¹⁴⁾ ___ the public do, of course, have the right to sue their solicitor, for example ¹⁵⁾ ___ an action ¹⁶⁾ ___ negligence.

Ex. 4. Complete the sentences with prepositions.

1. High Court judges are appointed ___ the Queen ___ the recommendation ___ the Lord Chancellor.

2. There are many reasons ___ the increase ___ crime.

3. Lawyers ___ considerable experience can be appointed ___ the judiciary.

4. The constitution is based ___ the separation ___ powers.

5. The Attorney-General is responsible ___ prosecution policy.

6. The judge advises the jury ___ the relevant law.

7. In a civil case the jury must decide ___ the amount of damages.

8. Less than 1 per cent of all criminal cases result ___ a jury verdict.

9. People ___ age 18 are qualified ___ jury service.

10. A nurse may excuse herself ___ jury service.

Ex. 5. Match the words with their definitions and learn them.

prosecutor, judge, barrister, solicitor, legalese, painstaking, eventuality, loophole, ambiguous, litigation

1) A lawyer in Britain, Australia, etc. who is qualified to argue a case in higher and lower law courts.

2) Having or expressing more than one possible meaning, sometimes intentionally.

3) A person who is in charge of a trial in a court and decides how a person who is guilty of a crime should be punished, or who makes decisions on legal matters.

4) A legal representative who officially institutes criminal proceedings on behalf of the Crown/ the State and accuses someone of committing a crime, esp. in a court of law.

5) Formal language which is similar to the language in which legal documents are written and is difficult to understand.

6) The cause (an argument) to be discussed in a law court so that a judgement can be made which must be accepted by both sides.

7) Extremely careful and correct, and using a lot of effort.

8) A chance to avoid doing something or to do something, esp. because of a mistake in the way rules or laws have been written.

9) A type of lawyer in Britain and Australia who is trained to give advice about the law and sometimes to represent people in court.

10) Something unpleasant or unexpected that might happen or exist in the future.

Ex. 6. Compare the definitions of the following words:

PROSECUTION

1) a) the conducting of criminal procedures in court against a person;

b) the conducting of any lawsuit.

2) the State as the party that institutes and carries on criminal proceedings in court.

PERSECUTION

1) harassment or being constantly harassed so as to injure or distress;

2) cruel oppression, esp. for reasons of religion, politics or race.

Choose one of the above words to complete the sentences:

1. It was concluded that refugees from much of Iraq no longer face ______ if they return voluntarily.

2. The ______ built its case, claiming only two shots were fired.

3. He assisted in the ______ of Jews and other civilians from 1943 to 1945.

4. The ______ opposed the move and accused the journalists of using delaying tactics.

5. The son of the man accused of killing a 7-year-old boy appeared as a reluctant witness for the ______.

6. Today 35 million people worldwide are fleeing war or ______.

TEXT 1. Read the text. Fulfil the tasks after it.