1. All the conservatism and exclusiveness of old institutions is said to be found in the legal profession, which has grown up alongside the old universities[1], as part of the classic route to parliament and political power with its roots deep in history and religion. The law is the most extreme British example of a closed and self-regulating community, with all its strength and weaknesses. Its proud traditions allow judges to stand apart from the state apparatus, as the ultimate guarantors of human liberties; but they have also allowed lawyers to resist reforms more stubbornly than anyone, and to fortify their own privileges.
2. The chief theatre of English law is the gothic Royal Courts of Justice in the Strand [2], built in 1880 when the legal profession was at its height, with an atmosphere which makes the law seem part of religion. Barristers cover their ordinariness with gowns and horse-hair wigs [3], and judges surround themselves with ancient pomp. The legal profession often seems to have stood still the nineteenth century.
Barristers and Solicitors
3. The legal monopoly is being supported by the strict division between solicitors and barristers which was enforced in the late nineteenth century. Most barristers are known to be professional advocates earning their living by the presentation of civil and criminal cases in court. A barrister must be capable of prosecuting in a criminal case one day, and deal with a case of defending an accused person the next, or prepare the pleadings and take the case for a plaintiff in a civil action one day, and do the same for a defendant the next. Barristers are experts in the interpretation of the law. They are called in to advice on really difficult points.
4. A would-be barrister [4] must first register as a student member of one of the four Inns of Court [4]. A student must pass a group of examinations to obtain a law degree and then proceed to a vocational course, the passing of which will result in his being called to the Bar [6]. All practicing barristers are junior counsels unless they have been designated Queen’s Counsels (QC)[7]. QC is expected to appear only in the most important cases.
5. If a person has a legal problem he is expected to go and see a solicitor. A solicitor is a legal adviser of the public. There is no end to the variety of matters which a solicitor deals with. He does legal work involved in buying a house, he writes legal letters for you and carries on legal arguments outside Court, he prepares the case and the evidence. If you want a will to be made the best man to advise you is a solicitor. In a civil action solicitors have a right to speak in the County Court, when the case is divorce or one of recovering some debts, and they deal with petty crimes and some matrimonial matters in Magistrates’ Courts, the lowest Courts.
6. 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 [8] exams. When you have passed all the necessary exams, you may apply to the Law Society to be admitted. After that you can practice, which means you can start business on your own.
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[1] - to grow up alongside the old universities — вырастать на университетской почве
[2] - Royal Courts of Justice in the Strand — здания Королевского суда на улице Стренд в Лондоне.
[3] - horse-hair wig — парик из конского волоса.
[4 ]- would-be barrister – будущий барристер
[5] Inns of Court – «Судебные инны» (четыре корпорации барристеров в Лондоне; пользуются исключительным правом приёма в адвокатуру; в школах при этих корпорациях готовят барристеров; существуют с XIV в.)
[6] to be called to the Bar – быть принятым в коллегию адвокатов
[7] Queen’s Counsel (QC) – королевский адвокат (высшее адвокатское звание)
[8] Law Society – Общество юристов (профессиональный союз солиситоров)
VII.B. Упражнения к тексту.
Упр.1. Подчеркните пунктирной линией все случаи употребления герундия в тексте.
Упр. 2. Выпишите из текста существительные с левыми и правыми определениями, выраженными неличными формами глагола (Participle I (2), Participle II (4), Gerund (2), Infinitive (3). Полученные пары разместите соответственно в два столбца.
Например, accused person (P II) the case of recovering (Ger)
right to speak (Inf)
Упр. З. Найдите в тексте и подчеркните волнистой линией инфинитивные обороты: сложное подлежащее (Complex Subject-4) и сложное дополнение (Complex Object-4).
Упр. 4. Опираясь на текст, переведите на английский язык следующие группы слов:
Консерватизм и исключительность; профессия юриста; зд. показательный (яркий) пример; держаться в стороне; позволять; полные гаранты свобод; выступать против реформ; находиться на вершине; посредственность (ординарность); мантия; античное великолепие; присяжный поверенный (солиситор); адвокат (барристер); гражданские и уголовные дела; защищать; обвиняемый; истец; консультировать по сложным вопросам; получить степень в области права; советовать; иметь дело с ч-л; свидетельские показания; завещание; мелкие правонарушения.
Упр. 5. Письменно ответьте на вопросы к тексту:
1. What can you say about British law?
2. What must a barrister be capable of?
3. What matters does a solicitor deal with?