LEGAL PROFESSIONS
READING
I. Read the text about working in law.
The legal profession traditionally is one of the most influential professions in most
countries. A career as a lawyer can be challenging and rewarding. It takes a long time
of hard work and dedication to become a successful lawyer. The job of a lawyer is
rewarded not only with a good income, but also with the perception that you help people
and do justice.
There are two types of lawyers who practise in England. They are called barristers
and solicitors.
In the USA and most other countries lawyers don’t make this division – a lawyer is
simply known as an attorney.
The difference between barristers and solicitors is that barristers do the court work
and solicitors do the office work.
In practice, barristers provide consultancies and advocacy service. Most barristers
work in private practice. They can also be hired by different state organizations.
Solicitors make up the largest part of the legal profession in England. They provide
legal services, including advice, preparation of documents, negotiation, and
representation in lower courts.
In both England and the USA it is not possible to take a special exam to be a judge,
you must get a lot of experience as a lawyer first, then apply to be a judge and wait to
see if you are chosen.
Most law students in England become solicitors. When they finish their university
studies they do a one year legal practice course and then a two-year training contract
with a law firm. After that, they are qualified solicitors. Many solicitors work for a legal
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practice, which is usually a partnership of solicitors who work together. Solicitors
practise in many areas of law, although each solicitor usually chooses to specialize in
one particular area.
Barristers are self-employed lawyers and don’t work in partnerships in the way that
solicitors do. They are specialists in advocacy, which is the skill of speaking for someone
in court.
In the USA there is no separation between office lawyers (solicitors) and courtroom
lawyers (barristers). An American attorney often performs both office and court work. As
a result, there is a wide variety in the types of work performed by American lawyers.
Depending on the situation and needs of the client, the lawyer can be a counselor, a
negotiator and a litigator.
Lawyers have historically been active in the most important political issues facing the
nation. Currently, they are actively involved in various legal movements, including the
promotion of legislation on social reforms, the abolition of the death penalty,
immigration law and international human rights. Lawyers will continue to play an important
role in every problem that society must solve. Lawyers can also pursue careers as civil
and political leaders, judges, government officials, professors, or business leaders.
Exercise 2. Decide if the statements are true or false.
1. There are two types of lawyers practicing in England.
2. Last year I finished my training contract and I started working for a large international law
firm. And now I’m a qualified lawyer.
3. Only barristers can speak on behalf of clients in court.
4. Many solicitors work together in partnerships but barristers don’t.
5. In the USA and England lawyers can take a special exam to be a judge.
6. In the United States there is also a division between solicitors and barristers.
Exercise 3. Complete the sentences with the vocabulary from the text.
1. A career as a lawyer is challenging and________.
2. In England there are two types of lawyers:___________and___________.
3. Solicitors prepare documents, hold___________, and their clients in court.
4. After graduating a university law students in England do a one year
and then a two-year_______________with a law firm.
5. Lawyers are ____________in different legal movements.
6. Lawyers play an active role in promoting social____________.
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THE IMPORTANCE OF COLLOCATIONS
The key to successful learning of English is to master collocations, i.e. fixed expressions
often used in the language. Some nouns can form collocations with only one verb; others
make collocations with more than one verb.
to draft a contract
to honour a contract
to breach a contract
to sign a contract
