I. Reading : nature of legal work

1. Before you start reading study the following:*

1  backbone	основа
2 society	общество
3 to argue	спорить
4  to support	поддерживать
5  probate	дело о наследстве
6  insurance company	страховая компания
7  to assist	способствовать
8  legislative bodies	законодательные органы
9 to face pressure	испытывать давление
10 judicial decision	решение суда

 

Read the text and do the tasks after it.

The legal system affects nearly every aspect of our society, from buying a home to crossing the street. Lawyers form the backbone of this system.

Lawyers, also called attorneys, act as both advocates and advisors in our society. As advocates, they represent one of the parties in criminal and civil trials by presenting evidence and arguing in court to support their client. As advisors, lawyers counsel their clients about their legal rights and obligations.

Lawyers may specialize in a number of areas, such as bankruptcy, probate, international, or environmental law. Trial lawyers spend most of their time outside the courtroom, conducting research, and interviewing clients and witnesses. Some lawyers specialize in the field of intellectual property and help to protect clients’ claims to copyrights, artwork, and computer programs. Other lawyers advise insurance companies about the legality of insurance transactions. When claims are filed against insurance companies, these attorneys review the claims and represent the companies in court.

In criminal law, lawyers represent individuals who have been charged with crimes and argue their cases in courts of law. Attorneys dealing with civil law assist clients with litigation, wills, trusts, contracts, mortgages, and leases.

Lawyers do most of their work in offices, law libraries, and courtrooms. They sometimes meet in clients’ homes or places of business and, when necessary, in hospitals or prisons. They may travel to attend meetings, gather evidence, and appear before courts, and legislative bodies. They also may face particularly heavy pressure when a case is being tried. Preparation for court includes understanding the latest laws and judicial decisions.

(Аbridged from the original texts provided by http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos053.htm#nature)

3. Answer the following questions:

1) What does the legal system of any society influence?

2) What does the usual work of a lawyer involve?

3) What do lawyers specialize in?

4) Where do lawyers spend most of their time?

5) How do the lawyers work with criminal/civil cases?

 

4. Decide whether the following statements are True (T), False (F) or Not Given (NG):

1) Lawyers represent evidence to support their clients in the court. ______

2) Suspects get legal advice from the judge. __________

3) Lawyers usually specialize in a single area. ________

4) Lawyers are usually well paid. __________

5) Understanding the latest laws is necessary for a qualified lawyer. ______

 

Give English equivalents for the following verbs

Part I

1   влиять
2 давать юридическую консультацию
3 специализироваться в чем-либо
4 проводить расследование
5 опрашивать свидетелей
6   представлять компанию в суде
7 собирать доказательства

Give English equivalents for the following:

Part II

1 адвокат (3)
2 судебное разбирательство (2)
3 свидетельские показания
4 обязательство
5 зал судебного заседания
6 иск
7 авторское право
8 завещание
9 контракт
10 ипотечный кредит
11 договор аренды

 

6. Look through the text and choose the correct word:

A lawyer, also known as an _____________ (attorney/atonement), is someone who either gives _____________ (legal/law) advice to clients, or represents them in ______________ (court-room/court). People who are accused of a crime usually _____________ (hire/rent) lawyers to defend them. To be able to work as a lawyer, one must spend many years studying in _______________ (lawyer/law) school, and then become _______________ (licensed/litigated). In the United States, lawyers ______________ (urn/earn) a lot of money. They are not very________________ (good/well) liked by many people, because many ________________ (perceive/persuade) them to be dishonest. Most lawyers ________________ (specify/specialize) in one type of law (criminal law, family law, etc.).