Task: read the dialogue and reproduce it a) abridged b) in the form of a monologue.
This is the conversation between an experienced lawyer Dr. Howard and a graduate of law school Richard Warner.
Richard Warner: Dr. Harward, Ive just graduated from law school and Im at a loss, I dont know whether to start my own practice or to work for a firm. What do you think the pros and cons of private practice are?
Dr. Howard: You see, there are many reasons why I prefer to be self-employed. First of all freedom is very important. The opportunity to turn down cases and clients when you disagree morally with the legal principles expoused by the clients.
Richard Warner: Is legal practice secure enough?
Dr. Howard: No, there is no such thing as job security in legal practice. But still you feel much more secure when you are your own boss and dont depend on the success or failure of the firm you work for.
Richard Warner: Dr. Howard, did you face any difficulties when you started your private practice?
Dr. Howard: Sure! One of them was getting an office. You know, some lawyers work at home. But I dont think its a good idea. You should have business relations with your clients. And home atmosphere might spoil them. Anyway, if you cant get an office you can use the attorney conference room in the local courtroom or meet the client at his or her place of business.
Richard Warner: What is your attitude to a sole practice and partnership?
Dr. Howard: Well, you see, they both have some economic and psychological advantages and disadvantages. When I started my own practice I had a shared office arrangement. That means that I could remain a sole practitioner, get the second opinion any time I needed and paid much less for the rent.
Richard Warner: It must be not easy for a starting lawyer to get clients. Dr. Howard, did you have to advertise your services?
Dr. Howard: What is important for any business is the location of the office. It should be in the area where there is a need for it. My first clients were my friends and relatives. If fact it happens with every lawyer starting his own practice. Later they advertised my services to their friends and so it worked for some time though it was not enough. And I had to advertise my work in local newspapers.
Richard Warner: Dr. Howard, thank you very much for your recommendations and advice. I think Ill be self-employed. And the difficulties Im going to face will be justified by the rewards.
Dr. Howard: I think youll manage. Good luck!
Notes:
pros and cons
Ex. 1. How is the following expressed in the dialogue?
1. protected against danger or risk;
2. a state of being a partner, esp. in business;
3. a person who pays a professional person, esp. a lawyer, for help and advice;
4. personal, not shared with others;
5. earning money from ones own business and not as pay from an employer;
6. to meet an unpleasant state of affairs;
7. to make services known to the public;
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8. a favourable moment or occasion;
9. a sum of money fixed to be paid for a room or a building;
10. belonging or allowed to no other, unshared.
Ex. 2. Study the dialogue and make a list of expressions the speakers use to:
ask for suggestions;
make suggestions;
express preferences.
Ex. 3. Translate and activate the following sentences in your speech:
1. ?
2. .
3. - .
4. , .
5. , .
6. .
7. , .
8. .
Dialogue 2. Legal Education
Task: study the dialogue between Law students from the USA and from the Belarusian State University, Law Faculty.
| Andrew:What does it mean to study law in the USA? | : ? |
| Brian: Well, it means that more than 125,000 law students study in one of over 170 law schools that have been approved by the American Bar Association (ABA). And most of law schools are part of a university. The university may be private, without state support, or it may be supported by one of the fifty states. And where can one get legal education in Belarus? | : , , 125.000 170 , . . , , . ? |
| Andrew: You see, its available at state universities as well as at a number of non-state universities. | : , , . |
| Brian:And whats the difference between them? I suppose its the way they are financed. | : ? , . |
| Andrew: You are right. State universities are financed by the state. But its wrong to think that education is only free there. They provide both free and paid education. And this type of universities is very popular with the applicants. While at non-state universities all students have to pay for their studies. How long does one have to study to get legal education in the USA? | : . . , . , . . . , ? |
| Brian:Education in every law school lasts three years. For example, at Harvard the academic year consists of three trimesters: fall 3,5 months, winter 3,4 weeks (brief but very intensive) and spring 4 months. What about Belarus? | : . , () : 3,5 , 3,4 (, ) 4 . ? |
| Andrew: Law students at the Belarusian State University study five years to get a University degree. There is a one-year post-graduate course for those who do a higher degree (Masters degree). After that they can apply to do a second degree working towards a PhD. This course lasts three years. | : - , . , . . |
| Brian: Are students at your faculty free to select the subjects they want to study? | : , ? |
| Andrew: Yes, there are some optional courses but first of all they are to take traditional law courses. Is it the students choice what to study at your university? | :, , . , ? |
| Brian: It depends on the year of studies. The first year curriculum is entirely prescribed. We study Common Law courses: contracts, property and tort. Instruction is given in civil procedure and criminal law. Some schools offer a general constitutional course. In the second and third years of studies students choose what they want to study. | : . . : , . . . , . |
| Andrew: I think to make a good lawyer one needs some apprenticeship. It is included into the curriculum. And students can have it in administrative agencies, in the district procurators offices and in the courts. They are taught how to conduct preliminary investigations, draw up documents, prepare for the case hearing, etc. | : , , . . , . , . , , . . |
| Brian: No doubt, thats very interesting and useful! At our university a student in his second and third years should choose at least one course. In it a lot of attention is paid to practical work (the work of legal offices, legal aid to poor people, etc.). | :, . , , . ( , . .). |
| Andrew: Thanks, Brian. Ive learnt a lot. | :, , . |
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Ex. 1. Speak about legal education in the USA using the following words and word-combinations.
to be approved, to be available, private, state support, to last, academic year, trimester, curriculum, entirely, to be prescribed, Common Law course, civil procedure, Criminal Law, general constitutional course, practical work.
Ex. 2. Fill in the blanks with the appropriate derivatives from the box:
special specialize specialized; quality qualified qualification;
investigate investigation investigator; notary notarized notarial.
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1. Did you have to do any ________ action of your own during your practice? 2. _______ industrial courts deal with disputes over contracts on employment matters. 3. The advocate ________ the judges opinion as erroneous. 4. Your will is not valid unless it is _______. 5. He was disclaimed his ______ because he violated some moral rules. 6. What branch of law do you _______ in? 7. Your case will be tried by a ______ judge. 8. The Law Society ______ complaints against lawyers by their clients. 9. Only __________ lawyers can work in the Procurators office. 10. A _______ has the authority to witness signing of legal documents. 11. The _________ carefully examined the scene. 12. In the US there are a limited number of ______ offices established by law.
Ex. 3. Sum up the information you have learnt from the dialogue. Compare the process of getting legal education in Belarus and the USA. Focus your attention on:
types of universities;
terms of studies;
curriculum of studies.
