1. Most barristers are professional advocates earning their living by the presentation of civil and criminal cases in court.
2. All practicing barristers are junior counsels unless they have been designated Queen’s Counsels.
3. A solicitor does legal work involved in buying a house.
4. Making a will, the best man to advise you is a solicitor.
5. To become a solicitor a young man joins a solicitor as a “clerk” and works for him while studying part-time for the Law Society exams.
6. Many kinds of people working in or studying legal affairs are referred to as lawyers.
7. A barrister spends most of his time in a courtroom or preparing his arguments for the court.
8. Petty crimes are dealt with by a solicitor.
9. Barristers belong to the institutions called Inns of Court.
Task 15. Read and translate the following sentences paying attention to complex subject and complex object:
1. A solicitor is considered to be one of the most important figures in the British legal system.
2. Barristers seem to be experts in the interpretation of the law.
3. A barrister is unlikely to be found without a solicitor being with him.
4. To qualify as a solicitor a young man or a woman is expected to join a solicitor as a “clerk” and work for him.
5. One can see barristers wear wigs and gowns.
6. We wanted our solicitor to sell the house.
7. This man expects the solicitor to prepare all the evidence.
8. Queen’s Counsels are expected to appear only in most important cases.
Task 16. Open the brackets using the right form of the verb in the conditional subordinate clauses:
1. If the jury (to consider) a prisoner guilty, the judge pronounces a sentence.
2. He would have never taken the case, if the barrister (not to believe) in his innocence.
3. If the investigator (to have) more evidence, he would be able to prove the case.
4. You won’t be forgiven, unless you (to return) the money you have taken.
5. He would certainly plead guilty, if he (to be) in your place.
6. What would you do with your money, if the police (not to get) you?
7. If he (to realize) the danger, he would have run away.
Task 17. Translate the following sentences paying attention to the tense forms:
1. The word “lawyer” describes a person who has become officially qualified to act in certain legal matters.
2. If a person has a legal problem, he will go and see a solicitor.
3. The number of solicitors in Britain is increasing.
4. The solicitor deals with petty crimes and some matrimonial matters in Magistrate’s Courts.
5. Mr. Smith is a well-known solicitor who has gained a lot of practical experience. Preparing documents.
6. When a person has passed all the exams necessary to become a solicitor, he may apply to the Law Society to be “admitted”.
Task 18. Translate the following sentences paying attention to the passive tense forms:
1. Barristers are employed by solicitors.
2. It can be said that a barrister spends most of his time in a courtroom.
3. Many problems are dealt with exclusively by a solicitor.
4. Barristers are called in to advise on really difficult points.
5. The US attorneys are appointed by the President.
All practicing barristers are junior counsels unless they have been designated Queen’s Counsels.
Task 19. Look through the text and answer the following questions:
1. What does the word “lawyer” mean?
2. Do all countries have the same groups of lawyers?
3. What is the difference between the work of a barrister and that of a solicitor?
4. What matters does a solicitor deal with?
5. In what courts does a solicitor have the right to speak?
6. Who deals with the interpretation of the law: barristers or solicitors?
7. Where do barristers work?
8. How many attorneys are there in the USA?
9. How are they appointed?
10. What does the number of assistant attorneys depend on?
Task 20. Sum up the text. Touch upon the following points.
1. The meaning of the word “lawyer”.
2. Kinds of lawyers in Great Britain.
3. The main difference between barristers and solicitors.
4. The US lawyers.
Task 21. Read the text. Then agree or disagree with the statement:“It’s very difficult to become a lawyer.”
TEXT B
ENTERING THE PROFESSION
How does someone become a lawyer?
In some countries in order to practise as a lawyer it is necessary to get a university degree in law. However, in others, a degree may be insufficient; professional examinations must be passed. In Britain, it is not in fact necessary to have a degree, although nowadays most people entering the profession do. The main requirement is to pass the Bar Final examination* (for barristers) or the Law Society Final examination* (for solicitors). Someone with University degree in a subject other than law needs first to take a preparatory course. Someone without a degree at all may also prepare for the final examination, but this will take several years. In most countries, lawyers will tell you that the time they spent studying for their law finals was one of the worst periods of their life! This is because an enormous number of procedural rules covering a wide area of law must be memorized. In Japan, where there are relatively few lawyers, the examinations are supposed to be particularly hard: less than 5 percent of candidates pass. Even after passing the examination, though, a lawyer is not necessarily qualified. A solicitor in England, for example, must then spend two years as an articled clerk, during this time his work is closely supervised by an experienced lawyer, and he must take further courses. A barrister must spend a similar year as a pupil.
The rate at which the legal profession grows is terrific. In the 21st century the number of lawyers will probably outpace the rate of population growth.
Why is the career in law so popular? In the USA the average salary of experienced lawyers in private practice is more than $100,000.
Lawyers’ salaries are substantially greater than those of many other professionals. The glamour of legal practice strengthens the attraction of its financial rewards.
*the Bar Final examination — экзамен, который сдается при поступлении в Коллегию Адвокатов
*the Law Society Final examination — экзамен, дающий право быть членом Общества юристов (профессионального союза солиситоров)