Орловский государственный университет Юридический факультет Кафедра профильного обучения иностранным языкам

ENGLISH FOR LAWYERS Part II

Учебно-методическое пособие для студентов юридического факультета Направление подготовки 030900.62 Юриспруденция Квалификация (степень) - бакалавр

Составитель Лейкина М.М., к.ф.н., доцент

Module 1

READING

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Before you read the text do the quiz. Don’t look in the text for answers.

1. How many separate legal systems does the United Kingdom have?

A two

B three

C four

2. The highest court in the UK is called

A the House of Lords.

B the Supreme Court.

C the High Court.

3. How many judges are there in the Court of Appeal?

A five

B twelve

C forty

4. How many people sit on a jury in an English court?

A six

B ten

C twelve

5. What cases does the Crown Court deal with?

A civil

B criminal

C both civil and criminal

6. A teenager stole a wallet and a mobile phone from another boy at school. In which court will his case be tried?

	A High Court		B magistrates’ court	C youth court
2222222223		Now read the text quickly to check your answers in 1.

T he United Kingdom does not have a single unified judicial system – England and Wales have one system, Scotland another, and Northern Ireland a third. The UK Supreme Court, in most cases, sits above all three of the UK judicial systems.

The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom

T

The UK Supreme Court is situated in the Middlesex Guildhall on Parliament Square, Westminster.

he Supreme Court of the United Kingdom was established by the Constitutional Reform Act (2005). It started work on 1 October 2009. It has taken over the judicial functions of the House of Lords, which were previously exercised by twelve Law Lords, who became the first Supreme Court Justices. All new judges appointed to the Supreme Court after its creation will not be members of the House of Lords. The Supreme Court is the court of last resort (the highest appellate court) in all matters under English law, Welsh law and Northern Irish law and in civil cases in Scotland.

T

Badge of the Supreme Court, featuring the symbols for both Omega (representing finality) and Libra (symbolising the scales of justice); in addition to the four floral emblems of the United Kingdom - a Tudor Rose, Flax, Thistle and Leek.

he Court of Appeal

The Court of Appeal deals only with appeals from other courts. It normally sits in up to 12 courts in the Royal Courts of Justice. The court consists of two divisions: the Civil Division hears appeals from the High Court and county courts, while the Criminal Division hears appeals from the Crown Court. Its decisions are binding on all courts except for the Supreme Court. The Master of the Rolls is the President of the Civil Division and the Lord Chief Justice is the President of the Criminal Division. There are 38 other regular judges of the Court of Appeal whose title is Lord/Lady Justice. They usually sit in panels of three judges.

The High Court (of Justice)

T he High Court is a civil court and has the authority to hear any civil case in England and Wales. It is divided into three divisions: the Queen's Bench Division, the Chancery Division, and the Family Division.

T

The Royal Court of Justice building accommodates both the Court of Appeal and the High Court.

he Queen's Bench Division (QBD) is headed by the Lord Chief Justice, and has nearly 70 judges. It hears contract and tort cases where the claimant is seeking damages above £5000. A judge usually sits alone, but a jury of 12 may be employed to hear certain cases such as fraud, slander or false imprisonment.

The Chancery Division is headed by the Lord Chancellor and has about 17 judges. Disputes concerning insolvency, mortgages, copyright and patents, intellectual property matters are referred to this court. Cases are heard by a single judge and juries are never used.

The Family Division is headed by the President of the Family Division, and has about 17 judges. It hears cases concerning adoption and care of children, divorce and other matters concerning the family. It consists of a single judge and never uses a jury.

T he Crown Court

The Crown Court deals with more serious criminal cases such as murder, rape or robbery. The Crown Court is based at 77 centres across England and Wales¹.

T

The most famous Crown Court is 'The Old Bailey' in London, otherwise known as the Central Criminal Court

rials are heard by a Judge and a 12- person jury. The Crown Court holds trial by jury for the most serious crimes and only if the defendant pleads not guilty. When there is a jury, the judge's role is limited to deciding matters of law and summing up for the jury. The jury decides whether the accused is guilty or not, by looking at the facts that have been established.

The Crown Court tries cases transferred from the magistrates' courts. It also hears appeals against decisions of magistrates' courts and deals with cases sent for sentence from magistrates' courts.

Subordinate (lower) courts

The most common subordinate courts in England and Wales are the Magistrates' Courts, Youth courts and County Courts.

Magistrates' courts are a key part of the criminal justice system since over 95 per cent of criminal cases are completed there. Trials in the magistrates' courts are usually conducted by a panel of three lay magistrates (Justices of the Peace), or a legally-trained district judge (formerly known as a stipendiary magistrate). There are no juries. These courts hear minor criminal cases, as well as some civil cases e.g. family matters and licensing applications.

A courtroom at Harrogate Magistrates’ Court

Magistrates are appointed by the Crown and must retire at the age of 70. They come from all walks of life and do not usually have any legal qualifications. Qualified court clerks advise them on the law. Although magistrates are unpaid, they receive some money compensation for travel expenses and for loss of earnings. There are around 30,000 magistrates in England and Wales. In addition, there are also about 130 District Judges who must have at least seven years experience as a barrister or solicitor. They sit alone and deal with more complex cases. Magistrates cannot normally order sentences of imprisonment that exceed 6 months, or fines exceeding £5000.

Youth courts deal with offenders between the ages of 10 and 17. Youth courts are presided over by a specially trained experienced magistrate or a district judge. Youth magistrates often hear more serious cases against youths (which for adults would normally go to the Crown Court). Youth courts are not open to the public, only the parties involved in a case are admitted.

County Courts, often referred to as the Small Claims Courts, deal with civil matters such as claims for debt repayment, personal injury, breach of contract, family issues such as divorce or adoption and housing disputes. These courts are presided over by either a district or circuit judge. Claims for small amounts are generally simple and there is usually no need for the parties to use solicitors. The hearing is usually before a single judge, in private and informal. There are 216 county courts.

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Read the text again using the Legal Vocabulary. Are these statements true (T) or false (F)? Correct the false statements.

1. Before the creation of the Supreme Court the highest judges in the United Kingdom were a few members of the House of Lords.

2. The Supreme Court of the UK does not have authority over criminal cases tried in Scottish courts.

3. The Court of Appeals hears both criminal and civil appeals.

4. The Criminal Division of the Court of Appeal is headed by the Master of the Rolls.

5. Over a hundred judges sit in the High Court.

6. Juries are never used in the Queen’s Bench Division.

7. The Chancery Division deals with serious criminal offences.

8. The Crown Court is both a trial court and an appellate court.

9. Justices of the Peace do not hear cases alone.

10. In a magistrates’ court the defendant may be sentenced to up to three years in prison.

11. The mass media cannot attend hearings in a youth court as members of the public.

12. Most County Court cases are between people or companies who believe that someone owes them money.

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Find in the text the following numbers.

1. the number of Lords/Ladies Justices in the Court of Appeal panel

2. the number of jurors at a High Court trial

3. the maximum fine that a magistrate may order

4. the number of county courts in England and Wales

5. the minimum age for a person to stand before an Adult Magistrate

6. the number of district judges

7. the retirement age for magistrates

8. the number of Supreme Court Justices

9. the proportion of criminal cases tried in the Magistrates Courts

10. the number of judges who hear a case in the Family Division

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Find in the text the English equivalents for the following phrases.

A The Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal

1) занимать положение выше;  2) все вопросы английского законодательства;  3) Королевские суды правосудия;  4) принимать на себя чьи-либо функции;  5) единая унифицированная судебная система;  6) Отделение по гражданским делам.

B The High Court and the Crown Court

1) авторское право и патенты;  2) забота о детях;  3) подводить итоги;  4) направленный для вынесения приговора;  5) решать вопросы права;  6) заявлять о своей невиновности;  7) председатель Отделения по семейным делам.

C Subordinate courts

1) иметь юридическое образование;  2) нарушение договора;  3) расходы на проезд и потеря заработка;  4) стаж работы адвокатом;  5) штраф свыше;  6) возврат долга; 7) заявка на выдачу лицензии;  8) консультировать по вопросам права; 9) относиться к разным социальным и профессиональным группам

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Answer the questions.

A The Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal

1. When did the Supreme Court come into being?

2. Who became the first Supreme Court Justices?

3. How would you describe the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court?

4. Where is the Court of Appeal located?

5. From which courts are appeals directed to the Court of Appeals?

6. Do all English courts have to follow the decisions of the Court of Appeal?

B The High Court and the Crown Court

1. Does the High Court have an original jurisdiction (the authority to hear cases for the first time)?

2. Who presides over the QBD?

3. What claims are heard in the High Court?

4. In which cases may a jury be used?

5. What sort of matters does the Chancery division deal with?

6. When may a defendant be given a jury trial in the Crown Court?

7. What does the judge do when there is a jury?

8. Does the Crown Court have an appellate jurisdiction?

C Subordinate courts

1. Can you explain the difference between lay magistrates and district judges? What were district judges called before?

2. What is the role of the court clerk in the magistrates’ court?

3. How are youth courts different from adult magistrates’ courts?

4. What is the other name of county courts?

5. What types of civil cases are under the jurisdiction of the County Court?

Vocabulary

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Study the Legal Vocabulary and try to remember the words and phrases.

LEGAL VOCABULARY
Names of courts
the Supreme Court of the UK	Верховный суд Соединенного Королевства
the Court of Appeal	Апелляционный суд
the High Court (of Justice)	Высокий суд (правосудия)
the Queen’s Bench Division	Отделение королевской скамьи
the Chancery Division	Канцлерское отделение
the Family Division	Отделение по семейным делам
the Crown Court	Суд короны
magistrates’ court	мировой суд
youth court	суд по делам несовершеннолетних
county court	суд графства
small claims court	суд мелких тяжб (малых исков)
Names of judges
Law Lord	судебный лорд, лорд-судья
Supreme Court Justice	судья Верховного суда
Master of the Rolls	глава государственного архива, председатель Апелляционного суда
Lord Chief Justice	лорд - главный судья
Lord/Lady Justice	лорд(леди)-судья Апелляционного суда
Lord Chancellor	Лорд-канцлер
lay magistrate (syn. Justice of the Peace)	мировой судья
district judge	районный судья
stipendiary magistrate	оплачиваемый магистрат
court clerk	секретарь суда
youth magistrates	магистрат по делам несовершеннолетних
circuit judge	окружной судья
accused	обвиняемый
adoption	усыновление, удочерение
adult	взрослый, совершеннолетний
barrister	барристер (адвокат, имеющий право выступать в высших судах)
binding (on)	обязательный, имеющий обязательную силу
claimant (syn. plaintiff)	истец
court of last resort	последняя судебная инстанция
defendant	подсудимый; обвиняемый; ответчик
divorce	развод
fraud	обман; мошенничество
imprisonment false imprisonment	тюремное заключение; лишение свободы неправомерное лишение свободы
insolvency	несостоятельность, банкротство
jurisdiction original jurisdiction be under the jurisdiction	подсудность; юрисдикция юрисдикция суда первой инстанции относиться к юрисдикции
minor case/offence	малозначительное правонарушение
mortgage	ипотека
murder (syn. homicide)	тяжкое (умышленное) убийство лишение человека жизни
panel of judges/jurors	состав судей/присяжных
party	сторона (по делу)
personal injury	личный вред; оскорбление личности
plead guilty	признавать себя виновным
plead not guilty	заявлять о своей невиновности
seek damages	требовать возмещение убытков
sentence (n) to impose/give/order a sentence sentence (v) sentence to death	приговор; наказание выносить приговор приговаривать приговорить к смертной казни
slander	клевета
solicitor	солиситор, адвокат (дающий советы клиенту и выступающий только в судах низшей инстанции)
subordinate (lower) court	суд низшей инстанции
trial jury trial/trial by jury to hold/conduct a trial to go on trial/stand trial	судебное разбирательство; судеб. процесс рассмотрение дела в суде присяжных вести судебный процесс предстать перед судом
trial court	суд первой инстанции

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Complete the definitions below with appropriate words from the Legal Vocabulary.

1. ………… is a court that deals with young offenders.

2. ………… is the right or power to administer justice and to apply laws.

3. ………… is a local court with jurisdiction to try civil actions involving small claims.

4. ………… is an ordinary judge of the Court of Appeal.

5. ………… is a person who brings a civil action in a court.

6. ………… is a person against whom an action or claim is brought in a court.

7. ………… is a lawyer who advises clients on matters of law and who may represent clients only in lower courts.

8. …………. is the unlawful premeditated killing of one person by another.

9. ……….…. is the judicial decision as to what punishment is to be imposed.

10. ……..….. is the person or persons taking part in legal proceedings, such as plaintiff or prosecutor.

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Complete the sentences.

1. A magistrates' court is normally composed of at least two, and not more than seven, m_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _s, when trying a c_ _ _ _. 2. Murderers are still sentenced to d_ _ _ _ in some countries. 3. County courts are courts with only civil j _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . 4. The US Supreme Court is the court of l _ _ _ r _ _ _ _ _ for the nation. 5. In Britain, lawyers are divided into two types, s _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _s and b _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _s. 6. Justices of the Peace are assisted by a legally qualified c _ _ _ _ c_ _ _ _. 7. They have been accused of f_ _ _ _ and stock market manipulations. 8. An a _ _ _ _ under British law is someone over 18 years old. 9. A trial in the county court is normally c _ _ _ _ _ _ ed by a single judge. 10. He brought civil proceedings against the police for f _ _ _ _ i _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .

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Match the synonyms. Make up 5 sentences with any of them.

1

claimant

hear

2

defendant

bankruptcy

3

deal with

authority

4

conduct

highest

5

lawyer

solicitor

6

subordinate

plaintiff

7

jurisdiction

accused

8

murder

hold

9

insolvency

homicide

10

supreme

lower

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Match the verbs with the nouns. Make up 5 sentences with any of the phrases.

1	to appoint		an appeal
2	to hear		a compensation
3	to transfer		a defendant
4	to accuse of		a magistrate
5	to have		a fine
6	to sentence		a case
7	to sentence to		damages
8	to preside over		rape
9	to receive		jurisdiction
10	to seek		a trial

GRAMMAR

1222222223	Complete with the prepositions.
	under over of to with before for on by

1. He was sentenced ___ life imprisonment. 2. Both parties were asked to attend a hearing ___ a judge. 3. County courts are presided ___ by a district or circuit judge. 4. Her assistant was accused ___ theft and fraud. 5. That case is ___ the jurisdiction of this court. 6. He will go ___ trial later this month for murder. 7. Circuit judges are appointed ___ the Monarch on the recommendation of the Lord Chancellor. 8. Magistrates are given compensation___ travel expenses. 9. The Crown Court deals ___ more serious criminal cases.

2222222223	Complete with the conjunctions and adverbs.
	since except for however as well as although

1. The judge in the county court sits alone, ____ civil actions against the police. 2. ____ there are no hearings this week, some judges are busy with paperwork. 3. ____ small claims are usually simple, parties are not often represented by solicitors. 4. You need a barrister to represent you in the High Court. _____, you should go to a solicitor first. 5. A solicitor’s job includes advising clients on matters of law, drawing up legal documents _____ preparing cases for barristers.

SPEAKING

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Give a broad outline of the judicial system in the United Kingdom.

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Speak about a) the appeal courts; b) the High Court and Crown Court; c) the subordinate courts.

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Find more information about one of the English courts and report it to the class.

TEST YOURSELF

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Translate into English.

A The Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal

1. Верховный суд Соединенного Королевства – последняя судебная инстанция в Англии, Уэльсе, Северной Ирландии и для гражданских дел в Шотландии. 2. Апелляции из Высокого суда и судов графств направляются в Отделение по гражданским делам Апелляционного суда, где они рассматриваются составом из трех судей. 3. Апелляционный суд состоит из председателя Апелляционного суда, лорда-главного судьи и около 40 лордов(леди)-судей. 4. Решения Апелляционного суда имеют обязательную силу для всех английских судов за исключением Верховного суда.

B The High Court and the Crown Court

1. Высокий суд обладает только гражданской юрисдикцией.  2. Отделение королевской скамьи рассматривает иски на суммы выше 5000 фунтов. 3. Споры относительно банкротства или ипотеки рассматриваются одним судьей в Канцлерском отделении Высокого суда. 4. Суд присяжных никогда не используется в Отделении по семейным делам. 5. Суд короны является судом первой инстанции и апелляционным судом. 6. В суде присяжных судья контролирует процедуру (the proceedings), решает вопросы права и обобщает установленные факты для присяжных.

C Subordinate courts

1. Суды низшей инстанции включают мировые суды, суды графств, суды по делам несовершеннолетних, а также некоторые другие суды. 2. Мировые суды рассматривают мелкие уголовные правонарушения, а также некоторые гражданские дела, касающиеся семейных отношений и выдачи лицензий. 3. Мировому судье помогает секретарь суда, который имеет юридическое образование. 4. Более 95% уголовных дел начинаются и завершаются в мировом суде. 5. В Англии и Уэльсе более 200 судов графств. Эти суды также называют судами мелких тяжб. Они рассматривают иски о возврате долга, нарушении договора или оскорблении личности. 6. Уголовные дела против несовершеннолетних нарушителей рассматриваются специально подготовленными магистратами по делам о правонарушениях молодёжи.

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Choose the correct alternative.

1. The UK Supreme Court has no jurisdiction over __________ .

A criminal cases in Scotland	C appeals from Welsh courts
B civil cases in Scotland	D matters under English civil law

2. The High Court is divided into _______ divisions.

A two

B three

C four

D five

3. The president of one division of the High Court is called _________ .

A the Master of the Rolls	C the Lord Justice
B the Lord Chief Justice	D the Law Lord

4. The Crown Court hears appeals against decisions of _________ .

A county courts	C the High Court
B magistrates’ courts	D the Court of Appeal

5. Until August 2000 district judges were known as __________.

A circuit judges	C youth magistrates
B magistrates	D stipendiary magistrates

6. The jury decides whether the _______ is guilty or not.

A judge

B adult

C accused

D clerk

7. The money paid as compensation to a person for injury or loss is ______ .

A expenses

B damages

C a fine

D a claim

8. In Britain magistrates ______ by the Crown.

A appoint

B appoints

C are appointed

D were appointed

9. Magistrates do not have any legal qualifications. ______, they receive some training.

A Since

B However

C Although

D In addition

10. Youth courts are presided _____ by a specially trained experienced magistrate or a district judge.

A under

B on

C with

D over

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Read the text and decide whether the sentences below are true (T), false (F) or unknown (UK).

1. The youth courts were set up after the Criminal Justice Act 1991.

2. The age of criminal responsibility is 14 years.

3. Serious cases are referred to the High Court.

4. The offender's identity is hidden from the public.

5. The youth courts deal with offenders aged 10 to 18 years.

6. The youth magistrates are selected from a youth court panel, which is appointed by the justices in the local area each year.